Whether you’re writing to your professors, your boss, advisors, or anyone else in the professional world, being able to write a good email is a great skill to have. Here are some tips that have helped me improve my email writing skills. (Note: this list was inspired by the list from Grammarly, which I highly recommend checking out!)
- Use the correct greeting.
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Depending on who you’re writing to, you’ll want to address them correctly. When in doubt, “Dear so-and-so” is always a safe option. Make sure to also use “Professor,” “Doctor,” etc., to correctly use the recipient’s title.
- Keep it short and sweet.
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Your email should be clear and concise. It’s important to state who you are (if the recipient hasn’t met you before), what your reason for emailing is, and what you are requesting from the recipient (a meeting, a letter of recommendation, etc.). A closing line is usually good to include too–something like “Thank you for your time” is always a good option.
- Spell check.
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Spelling and grammar mistakes are easy to make and difficult to catch! I recommend having a friend read over your email before you send it, as an extra precaution.
- Use a closing.
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I’m personally a fan of “Best,” but you could use any closing signature you prefer. Make sure to sign your emails, too! Your first and last name is usually the best way to sign the email unless the recipient knows you as something different.
I hope these tips were helpful and prepared you well for your next professional email. Happy writing!