Sincerely? Regards? Warmly? For many students, signing an email is harder than writing the actual email, leaving them hovering over the send button for minutes at a time. Unlike learning how to write essays or give presentations in class, students are left to their own devices when it comes to emailing teachers. 

Junior Jaden Avila said, “Sometimes I’m not sure of what to write in an email to a teacher because no one really taught me what to write,” noting that as a result of a lack of education, he sometimes hesitates on how to end his emails. 

“I feel that [an email crash course] would have definitely helped me be able to write emails properly when reaching out to teachers,” he said.  

When asked about his experience, junior Aki Benjamin said,  “I don’t find formality norms with teachers hard to navigate because in middle school, we had to learn proper email etiquette and that really helped me.” 

Assistant Principal of STEM Abid Choudhury said that he thinks an “email etiquette course” is a “great idea.” He said, “School is a learning process, and learning proper email etiquette is something that should be learned and expected.”

Additionally, teachers may require students to use emails to get in contact with them. Mr. Choudhury said, “I currently use only email so all my communication is in the same place.” 

Despite this, some teachers provide alternatives to email by using apps similar to text messages like Remind. Physics teacher Micheal Quach said, “I use Remind because it is efficient and does not flood my already crowded inbox. It also is a platform that feels more comfortable to students because of the low level of formality.” 

Sophomore Sarah Han said, “I feel more comfortable on Remind, and I don’t even sign messages on it because it feels like texting.” 

Senior Emma Kremer said, “I do find it difficult to find the right tone because it is easy to come off as rude or not use the right vocabulary when emailing someone especially since you can’t use stickers or emojis which is what I use when texting.” 

So what is the best way to sign an email? According to Social Studies teacher Joseph Seidel, both keeping it simple and signing off creatively are appreciated. “I expect students to sign their emails with their names, but I also enjoy seeing titles that celebrate the many roles students hold, which contribute to the rich culture of THHS,” he said.

English and ISS teacher, Katherine Gelbman, who reviews email etiquette with her students, similarly said, “I think that students should have their full name listed and the band that they have the teacher’s class.”

Students that spoke to The Classic tended to fall into two categories, those who sign off using a short phrase such as “Thanks” or “Regards” and those who sign off more formally, including their name and list of titles.

Junior Taha Alam said that she keeps the ending “short and concise” by ending with “Sincerely,” followed by her name. Sometimes also adding “Thank you for reading this. I am looking forward to hearing from you” followed by “Sincerely,” and her name.  

Other students may end with longer messages that highlight their titles. Aki said, “I end with ‘Ephebically yours, Aki Benjamin ‘Master of Junioric Wisdom’ Junior, Class of 2027 Club Liaison (Because someone has to direct the drama offstage too).’”