Emailing Staff and Faculty
As a student at Marquette, you are provided with an Marquette email address. You should use your Marquette email address for all university correspondence. Establishing correspondence with faculty and staff is vital to your academic career. Messaging your professor with your official Marquette email address will ensure that your professor knows who you are. It will also ensure that your message does not go into a spam folder. Below, you will find a sample email that can help you as you compose emails in the future.
Sample Email
Subject: PHIL 1001 Writing Assignment 5 - Plato’s Philebus
Salutation: Dear Professor/Dr. __________,
Body: I had a question regarding the PHIL 1001 Writing Assignment 5 on Plato’s Philebus that is due next Tuesday, February 12. I was wondering about the citation style for our references. Are we to use MLA or Chicago Style?
Closing: Thanks, Jane Doe
Tips for Composing Email
Subject: Include a subject line that briefly explains what your email is about. Do not leave the subject area blank because many professors do not respond to emails with no subject.
Salutation: Include a salutation. “Dear,” “Good morning/afternoon/evening,” or “Hello” Professor X is appropriate. (If a graduate student is teaching your course, or if you are writing to a teaching assistant, use Mr. or Ms./Mrs. in place of Dr., unless they tell you otherwise.) Never use “Hey,” “Yo,” or “Whatup.” Some professors will even consider “Hi” as too informal, so you are better off using formal salutations.
Body: If what you are writing is something you would write in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or a text message, you should rewrite it. Your emails should be appropriate and respectful. Write clear messages that effectively communicate your question or point, and do not use any profane language.
Closing: Ending your email with “Best/Best wishes,” “Sincerely,” “Thank you/Thanks,” or other respectful closings is appropriate. Always sign your email with your full name.
Other tips: Always proofread your message before you send it. Make sure your spelling and punctuation are correct. Avoid spelling abbreviations — ty, np. When you receive a response, write back to thank them or confirm that you received their message.
