How do I stop Outlook changing my incoming emails to "read"?

[GB]

How do I stop Outlook changing my incoming emails to "read" after I've read
them? Some require follow-up action and I want them to remain displeyed as
"unread"

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Why not mark them for follow up instead?
Anyway, you can use CTRL+U, right click on it and choose Mar as Unread or
use the Edit menu to find that option as well.
If you want to change the defaults settings, you can go to Tools-> Options->
tab Other-> Reading Pane

 

[VanguardLH]

... If you want to change the defaults settings, you can go to Tools->
Options-> tab Other-> Reading Pane

Or as a Preview pane option depending on what version of Outlook is
being used but which GB never mentioned.