Skip to main content
Southeast Missouri State University
Audience  Search  Menu 

You are here:

  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. How To Email Your Professor

How To Email Your Professor

Continue to main content
  • Take It From Us,
  • Southeast Services
Published: July 23, 2024

Share Options

  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Linkedin

There may come a time where you find yourself with a question that can only be answered by emailing your professor. We’ve got a few tips on how to craft the perfect email!

Research Ahead of Time 

Before you send that question to your professor, ask yourself a few things.

  1. Have you already checked the syllabus for this information?
  2. Have you checked Canvas?
  3. Did you double check your inbox to make sure the question hasn’t already been answered?
If you can confidently say "yes" to all three of these questions, you should move forward with emailing your professor.

The Name Game

If you’ve been to class enough, you’ll probably know the appropriate title for your professor. There are occasions when you’ll need to double check, and that’s what the internet is for! All faculty will be listed on the University's website. Once you find them, their credentials will be listed, and you can figure out how to address your email.

Set the Tone

How formal or informal should you be with your email? You don’t want to sound too stuffy, but you also don’t want to come off as disrespectful. Look back on emails your professor has sent you and match their level of formality. If your professor sends very informal emails without formatting, go a step above and make sure to format your email properly with a greeting and a sign-off. When in doubt, beginning your email with “Hello Professor [Name]” and ending with “Thank you, [Your Name]” are safe bets.

Be Specific

Your professor is probably getting a lot of emails right now. Even if the professor knows who you are, they may not remember the exact class and section you’re in. Putting your class name and section in the opening sentence makes it a lot easier for the professor to understand your question and give you the most relevant answer.

Do a Final Read Through

You’ve finally finished the email! But before you hit send, make sure to read over what you wrote aloud. Reading the email aloud can help you find mistakes or awkward wording. Double-check your spelling and make sure you’ve used the right forms of words like “your” and “you’re.”

Remember, Your Professor is a Person

You’re sending an email to another person, not a grammar robot. As long as your email is respectful, conveys the proper information, and has decent formatting, you’ll be fine. It’s easy to get worked up over writing an email, but at the end of the day, your professor will likely spend a few seconds reading over the email before replying.

Explore Categories

  • Why Southeast?
  • Becoming a Redhawk
  • Southeast Services
  • Conquering College
  • Your Best Years
  • Take It From Us
  • Online

Site Menu

Southeast Missouri State University

Secondary

  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
  • Give

Site

  • Academics
    • Program Finder
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • Online
    • Early College Programs
    • Study Abroad
    • Research
    • Honors Program
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Admission Requirements
    • How to Apply
    • Paying for College
    • Visiting SEMO
    • Admission Events
    • Meet the Team
  • Life at SEMO
    • Living on Campus
    • Dining
    • Student Life
    • Events
    • Traditions
    • Cape Girardeau
  • Student Support
    • Academic Support
    • Career Support
    • Health & Wellness
    • Financial Services
    • Dean of Students
    • Military & Veteran Services

Secondary

  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
  • Give

Quick Links

  • About
  • News
  • Blog
  • SEMO Online
  • Economic & Workforce Development
  • Colleges & Departments
  • Offices & Services
  • People Directory
  • Athletics
  • University Foundation
  • En Español
  • Institutional Data

Audience Links

Southeast Missouri State University

Resources for you.

  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Accepted Students
  • Counselors
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Donors
  • Community Partners

Info For:

  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Accepted Students
  • Counselors
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Donors
  • Community Partners

Current Students Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Canvas
  • mySEMO
  • Email
  • SupportNET
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory
  • People Search
  • University Closings

Academics

  • Program Finder
  • Academic Calendar
  • Academic Advising
  • Academics
  • Course Catalog
  • Register for Classes
  • Registrar
  • Help Desk
  • Kent Library

Paying for College

  • Pay My Bill
  • Financial Services
  • Student Employment
  • Financial Calendar

Student Life

  • Apply for Housing
  • Residence Hall Association
  • Student Transportation
  • Dining
  • Dean of Students

Career Services

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Handshake Jobs
  • Resources
  • Events

Parents & Families Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Family/Parents
  • Family Weekend
  • About Southeast
  • Campus Map
  • Academic Calendar
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory

Your Student

  • Admissions
  • New Student Programs
  • Opening Week
  • Financial Services
  • Residence Life
  • Academic Support
  • Health and Wellness
  • Dean of Students
  • Department of Public Safety

Accepted Students Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Admissions
  • Camp Redhawk
  • Engage in 8
  • First Step
  • First Year Experience
  • New Student Programs
  • Textbook Rental
  • University Calendar

Academic Advising

  • Academic Calendar
  • Program Finder
  • Schedule an Appointment

Career Services

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Handshake Jobs

Paying for College

  • Financial Aid
  • Scholarships
  • Payments

Student Life

  • Apply for Housing
  • Residence Life
  • Dining
  • Student Orgnizations

Counselors Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Office of Admissions
  • Find My Admissions Counselor
  • Counselor Resources
  • Early College Programs

Applying to SEMO

  • Admissions Requirements
  • How to Apply
  • Deadlines
  • Test Optional

Financial Aid

  • FAFSA
  • SEMO Scholarships
  • Cost and Affordability

Launching Careers

  • Academics
  • Outcomes
  • Career Services

Alumni Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Alumni Association
  • Update Your Information
  • Share Your Story
  • Employment
  • Office Directory
  • Southeast News
  • People Directory

Get Connected

  • Alumni Events
  • Campus Events
  • Show SEMO Spirit

Give Back

  • Giving to SEMO
  • Get Involved
  • Annual Fund

Faculty & Staff Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Profile Spotlight Form
  • Offices and Services
  • People Directory
  • People Search
  • mySEMO
  • Email
  • Academic Calendar
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • SupportNET
  • Kent Library
  • Human Resources
  • Training and Development
  • University Closings
  • SE Alerts
  • Web Change Request
  • Southeast News

Faculty Resources

  • Faculty Senate
  • Canvas
  • Center for Teaching and Learning

Staff Resources

  • Professional Staff Council
  • CTS Staff Council

Facilities

  • Work Order/Order Supplies Request
  • Central Receiving

Donors Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Giving to SEMO
  • University Foundation
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory

Making an Impact

  • Student Stories
  • Ways to Give
  • Student Emergency Fund
  • Get Involved

Connecting with SEMO

  • Alumni Association
  • Alumni Events
  • Academics
  • Redhawk Athletics

Community Partners Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Economic and Workforce Development
  • Skill Development
  • Factbook
  • About Southeast
  • Career Services
  • University Foundation
  • University Communications
  • People Directory
  • People Search

Workforce Development

  • Small Business and Technology Development Center
  • SEMO Online
  • Regional Professional Development Center
  • Alumni Association

Community Service

  • Southeast Serves
  • Office of Campus Life
  • Office of Greek Life
  • Redhawk Athletics

Media Inquiries

  • Southeast News
  • Redhawk Sports Information
One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 651-2000
Contact Us

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Campuses

  • Cape Girardeau
  • River Campus
  • Kennett
  • Sikeston

Campus Links

  • News
  • Athletics
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Accreditations
  • Show Me Center

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Footer

  • Employment
  • Accessibility
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosures
  • Sunshine Law

© 2025 SEMO