So, you want to email your professor. That’s great! Your professors generally like to hear from you, whether you’re asking for help in a course or making a connection for a letter of recommendation down the road.
Are you worried about putting a strain on your professor, or of being a burden? Don’t. If it’s a question that a Teaching Assistant or Lab Manger can answer, they’ll likely just forward the email to the right person. If your professor is super busy, they will prioritize your inquiry with their other tasks. Some professors are super busy, so do be prepared to wait a little for a reply!
Start with a standard greeting:
“Dear Professor Smith,”
Note that I use “Professor” here. Titles are similar to pronouns in a lot of ways, and though they might not matter to some, they do matter to others.
“Professor” is a blanket term for someone who is teaching at a college or university. University teachers usually have either a doctorate (Ph.D.) or master’s (MA) degree. The term “professor” is inclusive of both, and includes full-time time teachers, adjuncts, and emeriti (a professor who is now retired, or mostly-so). It is widely-used and the best choice for when you’re not sure what his/her status is.
Some professors who also have a M.D. or Ph.D. prefer the term “Dr.” The term should not be used for a person who has not received a terminal degree in his/her field.
“Ms”. Is for a woman who is not married.
“Mrs.” Is for a woman who is married.
“Mr.” is for a man who is either married or not married.
Because these are gendered terms, they are less typically-used than “Professor.”
In the end, the best way to tell which tittle to use is to check what’s available to you. How did the person introduce himself/herself to you on the first day? How do they refer to themselves on the syllabus? How are they listed on the department website?
Investigating this way can help you start off on the right foot. Using the wrong title is not usually a big deal (sometimes the professor might kindly correct you), but it can cause some discomfort for the person.
To wit, a few years ago I booked a hotel room for myself and my then-boyfriend under the title “Dr.” When I arrived, the room was listed as “Mrs.” although we were certainly not married.
We did have a good laugh about it, though 🙂
