Which would be an inappropriate way to begin an email to a faculty or staff member?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When considering how to begin an email to a faculty or staff member, the tone should be respectful and professional, using appropriate titles and salutations.
Option 1: 'Hey Susan,' This is informal and colloquial, which is generally not appropriate for professional emails to faculty or staff unless you have an established casual rapport. It can come across as disrespectful or overly casual in academic or formal settings.
Option 2: 'Dear Ms. Gupta,' This uses a formal salutation with a proper title, making it appropriate for addressing a faculty member who has a known gendered title. It demonstrates respect and professionalism.
Option 3: 'Good afternoon Dr. Chin,' This greeting includes a formal time-appropriate salutation and the correct professional title, which is suitable for addressing a faculty member in a formal context.
Option 4: 'Dear Prof. Sullivan,' This option also employs a respectful and appropriate title, using 'Prof.' as a recognized academic title, which is standard in formal emails to faculty.
In summary, the least appropriate choice is the informal 'Hey Susan,' due to its casual tone, while the remaining options align with professional email conventions and honorifics commonly used in academic settings.

Fall 2025 RU-FYT Week 2 Quiz

Which would be an inappropriate way to begin an email to a faculty or staff member?

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