Email etiquette

Please always bear in mind the following when emailing us:

1. Offer a concise and direct subject line

   The subject line should be simple and reflect the content of your email.

2. Use an appropriate salutation

   Start your email with a “Dear” or “Hello”, these are appropriate in formal situations.
   “Hey” or no salutation at all is only ok when emailing friends.

3. Address the recipient appropriately (both title and name)

   Double-check the spelling of your lecturer or tutor’s name and their title.
   Use 'Professor' or 'Prof.' only for academics with the title 'Professor'.
   Try to avoid gendered addresses like ‘Mr.’ or ‘Mrs.’
   Some lecturers and tutors might allow you to address them by their first name, but it is better to wait until they have showed you it is ok to do so. In some cases, you can address your tutor or lecturer by their first name if they have routinely used their first name to sign off on emails sent to students.

4. Introduce yourself

   Tell us who you are, especially if this is the first email you are writing to them.
   We sometimes have to deal with dozens of emails and students per day.

5. Keep the body short and straight to the point

   Try to use one paragraph for each idea you want to address.

6. End with a clear closing

   It is good practice to sign off at the end of an email with a set phrase such as ‘Kind regards’, ‘Best wishes’, or ‘Thanks’, followed by your name.

   ---

Checklist

1. Send emails from your FU Berlin email address.
   If you use a personal email address, it may be filtered as spam.

2. Try to figure out the problem by yourself first.
   Check the information that is already available on the websites before emailing. If you cannot find a suitable answer, then email.

3. Proofread before sending.
   Always read through your email before you click the ‘Send' button.
   Have you included an appropriate salutation, title and sign off?
   Is your spelling and grammar correct?
   Grammarly is a useful (and free) tool for identifying mistakes.

Source: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/academic-skills/resources/learning-online/email-etiquette#Five%20top%20tips