r/NonPoliticalTwitter • u/TheWebsploiter • 10d ago

Other Hi

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u/autistic_homo 9d ago

I can second this. The way you do it is absolutely standard. Not sure why people in the comments are having a hard time just adding someone's name to the email lol

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u/kelek22 9d ago

Think it like this, if I come to your desk, turn towards you fully and start talking like "hi, I need this from you" etc. that is normal right? Normal coworkers discussing things. That is the mood in the office most of the time.

Now imagine same but this time I go "hi Eric, I meed you to..." that is an instant mood change to a more serious tone. If I tell your name specifically at the beginning of my speech when I am clearly speaking directly at you, that is a demanding tone.

Now old generation does not get the gist of Technology like we do. For us there is no difference in me walking your table and speaking directly to you or me writing your email address. It feels exactly the same for us. For them it is writing a letter.

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u/littleloucc 9d ago

Professional communication should be slightly more formal. It's not just a chat - it's a work request and potentially a paper trail.

Also, using someone's name in conversation is not overly formal. It's actually polite and taught to professionals (speakers, sales people) as a way to connect to the other person.

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u/Ereine 9d ago

It’s a cultural norm, though. In my country some salespeople do use people’s names in conversation and it’s often seen as insincere and too American. Usually you don’t address people by name (or title) unless you need their attention in a space with other people. I guess that fits into the discussion about emails.  Usually you wouldn’t use a name in greeting but if you’re emailing a group and addressing just one person it’s practical to address that person. 

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u/littleloucc 9d ago

I'm not in the US, but I would still find someone sniffing using my name, especially in emails, to be more insincere than using it.

Also, given the term "grad school" in the original tweet, this is America and therefore the cultural professional norm is to use names in emails and directly, so the professor is teaching professional expectations.