Thursday, June 25, 2020

Email and salutations

I sent an email to a student today without a salutation, and it bothers me when I do that. When students were closer to me in age, I used first names: "Dear Sandra" or "Dear Chris". But then they'd write me informally – "Hey Andrew" or just "Hey." So I got more formal: "Dear Ms. Schmitt" or "Dear Mr. Müller." But then a former student transitioned, and I decided to drop gender markers and write "Dear Sandra Schmitt" or "Dear Chris Müller". The message today was "here is your essay with my comments", and I wish I had said "Dear" and addressed the student by her name, but it's too late now. (Andrew Shields, #111words, 25 June)

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