Providing for automated generation of tags (e.g., metadata descriptors) for items of e-mail or syndication formatted communication is described herein. By way of example, a system can include a filtering component that can generate one or more tags based on information relevant to content of the communication, a sender, or recipient, or combinations thereof. In addition, such tags can be automatically attached to a received item, or a presentation component can furnish the tags to a recipient (e.g., by way of a communication device user interface) for selection, whereby selected tags are associated with the item of communication. Accordingly, the subject innovation provides for improved classification and description of items of communication by automatic generation of descriptive and/or representative tags associated therewith.