Writing Email
Tips
Use a clear, specific subject line
✗ question for paper
✓ Question about ENGL 105 Feeder 1.1 prompt
✗ meeting
✓ 11/5 2 PM office hour meeting request
Use appropriate names
✗ John Smith
✓ Professor Smith (unless otherwise indicated)
✗ I am Juan.
✓ This is Juan, from your ENGL 105 section.
State your purpose in the first lines
✗ I have some questions about the reading and was wondering if I could ask you some questions.
✓ I was wondering if I can make an appointment with you on Monday at 2 to discuss some questions I have about the reading material.
✗ I’m really sorry about this e-mail, but lately I have sudden responsibilities and it’s been getting hard to manage everything.
✓ May I ask for an extension on essay 1? I have several other deadlines on the same day and would like 2 extra days to develop it.
Use polite phrases
✗ Send me the document ASAP.
✓ Please e-mail me the document as soon as possible. Thanks very much.
✗ Send me your reply.
✓ If you can reply to confirm the details, I’d appreciate it.
Proofread for spelling/grammar errors
✗ Is their a page limit?
✓ Is there a page limit?
✗ I can definately make the the time.
✓ I can definitely make the time.
Samples
| ✗ poorly written e-mail
FROM: 李诺拉 I have some questions about the reading but can’t come to your office hour. |
|
| ✓ well-written e-mail
FROM: Tina Fei Prof. Smith, I appreciate your help. Sincerely, |
|
Useful phrases
| ✓ Polite openings
People you don’t know: title and family name
Professors and other professionals: address them based on however they’ve signed
|
✓ Polite closings
Polite generic
Formal
Informal
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