I sent my adviser, who happens to be my future English professor, an email. She replied and her greeting was “Hi (First Name),” even though I wrote professionally (Dear Professor X, etc). I want to email her again to clarify something she said, and I’m wondering if it would be appropriate to open with “Hi Professor (Last Name)” and of course maintain professionalism throughout the email. Thank you.
Using Hi as a greeting would be fine for an email reply.
As a rule of thumb, look at a person’s signature line as to how they want to be addressed.
@itsgettingreal17 It just says “lecturer.”
Professor is the proper response.
But when I say signature line, I mean everything after the body of the email, if included. For example, If I email one of my D’s teachers/counselors and they respond, [First name] above their signature block (name, title, contact information), any follow up email will use their first name in the address. Almost all of my professors in college went by just their first names, so you can never assume.
@itsgettingreal17 Oh I understand now. Yeah, she just has her first name. So should I say “Hi Professor [First name]” or “Hi [First name]”? I still want to be professional with her of course. Sorry this is difficult for me to grasp; I’ve never addressed an educator with anything other than “Mr/Ms. [Last name]”
Say “Hi Professor (Last Name)”. To keep it professional and show proper respect, do not use a first name until a professor invites you to do so.
The use of first names for professors really varies from college to college, and even by professor. Safer not to make assumptions.
Always err on the side of formality.
Until you hear them say specifically “Call me Pat”, then use Prof. Lastname.
I agree; keep it professional until they Facebook friend you.
(said mostly in jest, but my photography professor, who is also my academic adviser AND the same age as me is now my facebook friend).
I have some professors who are social peers who I still refer to as “professor X” or “doctor Y” in class and in emails because that’s appropriate for them (unless they say “Call me Jane”, I don’t).
(I’m an adult learner in her 40’s, just for context and to illustrate how it is all about the class dynamics, not necessarily age).
I will also use “Hi Professor X” vs. “Dear Professor X”. Once you know them, I think “hi” is fine versus the more stuffy “Dear”.
Agreed. Keep it to Professor (Last Name) until invited otherwise.
Sometimes, my husband still calls my dad, “Dr. X,” because Dad was DH’s professor before we met.