mless communication, writing emails has become a lost art. No longer are humans binding themselves to the same rigid format for writing digital letters that they did for handwritten ones. That said, understanding how and when to write an email remains an important skill in the professional world.
Unlike text messages, which are instant yet often intrusive — perhaps even accompanied by a “ping!” — emails are like polite letters left at the recipient’s “doorstep.” Sending an email shows that you respect your interlocutor’s time by committing your own time to writing an email.
Since it is often a time sink, it’s important to know how and when you should write an email. At the same time, writing an email is a matter of formality, so there are a few basic formalities that one should understand.
The important parts of any email are the salutation, body and signature. The salutation is where you greet your professor. Note that it is delineated from the rest of the email using a colon rather than a comma. Emails that are addressed to “yo,” “hey” or “dude” are a professor’s worst nightmare.
The body is where your email’s main content should be. Use standard English grammar — not texting slang — and use a generally elevated diction. Treat your professor with respect; don’t call them “teach.”
Finally, your signature is how you end your email with grace, and it can be as simple as a “Thank you” followed by your name on the next line. Most email services like Gmail and Outlook have a way to create a signature which will automatically append itself to any future emails.
The last part of an email to which you should pay particular attention is the subject line. Write your subject line in a few descriptive words. Do not write a vague subject line such as “Help,” “I do not understand” if you want your professor to take your inquiry seriously. A better subject line may include the course code and topic such as “CRFA01 – Regarding yesterday’s homework” and “CRF20 – About the reading for next week.”
Both instant messaging and emailing have uses in society. Texting is an excellent and convenient way to invite a friend to dinner, while emailing is the proper way to let your professor know that you will be late for class. Understanding the nuances of both texting and emailing will be important for Kirkwood students pursuing their professional careers.
Categories: Opinion
