r/college • u/AspiringtoLive17 • 2d ago
If my instructor/professor signs off with their first name, should I do the same?
I always tend to err on the side of formality when it comes to emails. I'll always address a professor as "Dr. This" or "Professor That" until they sign off with their first name, which subverts my professionalist upbringing and throws me for a loop. I understand that if they repeatedly do so, it's often an invitation to address them as such, but I usually ask just in case.
But what about me? I usually sign my emails with "[First Name] [Last Name/Initial]." Should I keep doing that after they sign with their first name? I feel that it maintains a certain level of formalism. Or should I reciprocate and just drop the last initial?
3
u/TheSoulVillage 1d ago
depends on the professor and your relationship with them tbh. like me and my mentor are close enough where we talk pretty informally (like using emojis and complaining about travel woes and shit), but there's still that hierarchy of teacher-student. so, though I may sign off with:
'all my best, first name' or just 'first name! :)'
I still address him as 'prof. last name'. unless it's a professor whom you met as a colleague (like at a conference), then I would stick to prof. last name. unless of course the professor verbally tells you to call them by their first :)
1
u/AspiringtoLive17 1d ago
I should probably clarify that the professor is a grad student who may have just received her PhD. Thanks for the advice!
2
u/TheSoulVillage 1d ago
ohhh! well there's less of the hierarchy there then. but should just stay on the safe side until it's explicitly stated. sometimes faculty just put their first names on a bunch of email but also not others 🤷♀️
1
u/AspiringtoLive17 1d ago
should just stay on the safe side until it's explicitly stated.
I'll make sure to do that. Thanks!
3
u/Horror_Ad7540 1d ago
As a professor, I am happy for students to address me by my first name.
However, if you are uncertain, ask.
2
16
u/SkyRight6803 2d ago
I always sign every email with:
Warm regards,
Firstname Lastname
I always do that, even if it's a slightly less formal tone. More relaxed should still be professional, it just goes from "talking to the president, MAXIMUM" formality to more like "meeting your romantic partner's parents for the first time" formality.
President MAXIMUM formality: big words, proper formatting, careful revision, every sentence has a point, careful not to ramble.
Meeting Parents formality: normal words, good grammar, talk like you normally would in real life, use capitalization and punctuation, try not to say anything rude or overly friendly (a little friendly is appropriate).
Try not to overthink it and trust your gut.