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E-mail etiquette
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:39 am
by schwiss
A short question regarding U.S. social norms.
I use a salutation of "Dear Professor X" in my suck mails. Usually they do reply with a "Dear George" salutation. Is it okay/expected for me to use the first name salutation also after that?
Re: E-mail etiquette
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:44 am
by WhoaNonstop
To be completely safe I wouldn't.
I would always go by Dr. Last Name unless they specifically said not to. (As for when I'm a professor, I will insist on my first name only)
-Riley
Re: E-mail etiquette
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:52 am
by schwiss
WhoaNonstop wrote:To be completely safe I wouldn't.
I would always go by Dr. Last Name unless they specifically said not to. (As for when I'm a professor, I will insist on my first name only)
-Riley
Ok, thanks. I will insist on George only.
Re: E-mail etiquette
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:31 am
by satyad18
schwiss wrote:A short question regarding U.S. social norms.
I use a salutation of "Dear Professor X" in my suck mails. Usually they do reply with a "Dear George" salutation. Is it okay/expected for me to use the first name salutation also after that?
I know less of the U.S social norms, but IMO, addressing the professor as Dr. Last Name/ Prof. Last name looks decent.
Re: E-mail etiquette
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 7:37 am
by admissionprof
WhoaNonstop wrote:To be completely safe I wouldn't.
I would always go by Dr. Last Name unless they specifically said not to. (As for when I'm a professor, I will insist on my first name only)
-Riley
This is correct. I get plenty of suck e-mails, and either Dr. or Prof. is best. Sometimes Mr./Ms. is ok, and that isn't unusual for foreign students. First name seems awkward, even though I tell all of our current graduate students to call me by my first name (but I don't insist---most Asian cultures tend to resist first names for professors).
But then why do professors often respond with the first name? Well, suppose I were to get an e-mail from someone named Riley? I can't use Dr. or Prof., so the only option is Mr./Ms. But which is Riley? If I guess wrong, it is very embarrassing. So I will often respond with the first name, which is safer.
Re: E-mail etiquette
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:19 am
by schwiss
admissionprof wrote:This is correct. I get plenty of suck e-mails, and either Dr. or Prof. is best. Sometimes Mr./Ms. is ok, and that isn't unusual for foreign students. First name seems awkward, even though I tell all of our current graduate students to call me by my first name (but I don't insist---most Asian cultures tend to resist first names for professors).
But then why do professors often respond with the first name? Well, suppose I were to get an e-mail from someone named Riley? I can't use Dr. or Prof., so the only option is Mr./Ms. But which is Riley? If I guess wrong, it is very embarrassing. So I will often respond with the first name, which is safer.
Dear Prof. admissionprof,
This makes perfect sense.
Best regards,
George
Re: E-mail etiquette
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 5:46 am
by zxcv
The usual rule of thumb is to address professors by their first name only if that is how they sign their own name. So I address my first message as "Dear Professor."
Re: E-mail etiquette
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:08 am
by WhoaNonstop
Is it out of line to email a professor just to inquire about their music preferences?
-Riley
Re: E-mail etiquette
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:58 am
by twistor
I use a salutation of "Dear Professor X"
Dear Professor X,
Please tell Wolverine I said, "hi." Also, Jean Grey is hott!!!11 lol
thx,
twistor