Writing to a teacher: what polite phrase to adopt?
These days, getting in touch with a teacher or professor through email is the easiest way. However, even if this simplicity is a precious advantage, we sometimes experience difficulties when it comes to writing this email. One of them is undoubtedly the greeting to adopt. If like many others, you are also feeling this difficulty, this article is for you.
A brief basic reminder when speaking to a teacher
When addressing an email to a professor or teacher, it is important to be easily identifiable through your email. It is indeed advisable to include your last name directly in the inbox of your correspondent, in this case the professor or the teacher.
In addition, the subject of the e-mail must be clearly defined, to prevent your correspondent from wasting time looking for it.
What civility for a teacher or a professor?
Usually in French, we use the civility "Madame" or "Monsieur" without the last name. However, it depends on the affinities or the state of your relations with your correspondent.
If you have very extensive interactions with the recipient of the email, you can opt for the polite phrase "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam".
In addition, you also have the possibility to follow the civility of a title. Depending on whether your correspondent is a professor, a director or a rector, it is possible to say “Mr. Professor”, “Mr. Director” or “Mr. Rector”.
If it is a woman, it is allowed to use "Madam Professor", "Madam Director" or "Madam Rector".
However, be aware that it is not acceptable to label Mr. or Mrs., proceeding by abbreviation, that is to say by using Mr. or Mrs. The mistake not to make is to write "Mr. ". People mistakenly think they are faced with an abbreviation of "Mister". Rather, it is an abbreviation of English origin.
Final courtesy for a professional email addressed to a teacher
For business emails, the final polite phrase can be an adverb such as "Respectfully" or "Respectfully". You can also use the polite expressions "Best regards" or "Best regards". It is also possible to make use of this polite formula which one meets in professional letters: "Please accept, Professor, my best regards".
On the other hand, for a teacher or a professor, it would be very awkward to use the polite phrase "Sincerely" or "Sincerely". Regarding the signature, be aware that we use the first name followed by the last name.
In addition, to give more credit to your email, you will gain a lot by respecting the syntax and the grammar. Smilies and abbreviations should also be avoided. After sending the email, if you still don't have an answer after a week, you can follow up with the teacher.
