If the professor has a doctorate, you may refer to them as “Dr. Smith” or whatever their last name is. If they do not have a doctorate, simply saying “Hello professor” is fine. Avoid using first names or other names until you’ve been told by the professor that it’s OK to use those names. If you’re addressing multiple professors in an email, mention all of their names at the start of the email unless there are more than 3 people.
Instead of saying, “hi professor, can i plz be in ur research lab for bio?” say something like, “Hi professor, I am wondering if there is any room in your Biology 101 lab?” Once you have established a relationship with a professor, there might be room for branching out in this area, but always start with formal language.
Getting straight to your message after saying “Hello professor” is a good option. Try and save the casual chit-chat for in-person conversations where a more informal demeanor may be appropriate.
Reading your message out loud may help you pinpoint any errors you have made if this is an area you struggle with. Feel free to get a friend to proofread your message as a second pair of eyes is often really useful for finding errors.
Many professors prefer their students call them by their first name or some other name but unless this has been established prior, avoid this. If the professor has a doctorate degree, it’s also acceptable to call them “doctor” followed by their last name. [5] X Research source
An example of a good introduction may be: “Hello professor Smith, my name is Joe and I’m hoping to talk to you about your biology class. " Doing this can mean that when you need your professor’s help or assistance on something down the line, you have a prior relationship established.
Alternatively, signing up for a time with them via email or some other method is a good idea. [7] X Research source
These times provide great opportunities to get to know your professor on a slightly more personal level. Take the opportunity to let them know what interests you about their class, what possible research you have in mind for the future, or even a little bit about their past and their interests.
