<p>As a student, I’ve used “hey” if I’m just asking a quick question or something. I don’t really see the difference between “hey” and “hi,” and “Dear” definitely feels too formal for a casual email. I mean, if I was to stop by office hours, I’d probably walk in and say “hey Professor, ___.” I doubt any student intends disrespect unless the email is clearly rude or riddled with errors; it’s kind of annoying to have to overthink the exact wording in order to avoid coming across with the wrong tone, and “Hey” seems pretty neutral. </p>
<p>This happens sometimes too:</p>
<p>Me: (spends 20 minutes composing and carefully editing an email to professor to sound very professional and courteous, opening with “Dear,” ending with “Sincerely,” and a few "Hope you are well"s and "Looking forward to class tomorrow"s)
Professor: “ok sounds good”</p>
<p>I saw a couple of boys at different times try that with a HS teacher who was an old-school no-nonsense type. She ended up giving them an icy low-volume roasting so intense they still have nightmares about it nearly 2 decades after graduation. </p>
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<p>Hey is not only slightly more informal, but also can be considered to have a rude presumptuous demanding tone to it. </p>
<p>Saying hi to someone isn’t likely to cause offense, especially with one’s professional superiors or elders unless they’re extremely casual to begin with. Saying hey almost certainly will from what I’ve observed. </p>
<p>“I am thoroughly confused. If “Hi” is OK, I have a tough time understanding why “Hey” isn’t.”</p>
<p>I am not a native English speaker, but there seems to be at least another person (I am sure there are more) on the internet who sees a difference.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hey</p>
<p>Hey is a word that is rather informal but increasingly being used by young generation these days to greet buddies and even strangers. There are many who find the use of this word offensive and rather cold. They say that to say Hey is to treat a person as if you do not care much about him. Hey is a term that is casual and laid back.</p>
<p>Hi</p>
<p>Hi is a word used to greet people of all ages. It is considered more formal than Hey though somewhat less formal than Hello. This is the reason why it has become acceptable among people of all classes. It is also a term that is respectable and does not offend people of old ages.</p>
<p>Hey vs Hi</p>
<p>Hi and Hey are both words used to greet others but whereas Hi is formal and commands respect, the same cannot be said about Hey. Some people feel that it is rather informal and cold. Some even go to the extent of saying that Hey is offensive and more suitable to catch the attention of a person as in ‘Hey you’ when a policeman shouts when he sees a man running away after committing a crime. If seen in this light, hey becomes aggressive and admonitory, but for those who make use of Hey while chatting on the internet, it is a word that seems cool and matches their style.</p>
<p>In short, a rude demanding tone someone perceiving themselves to be in a superior social position feels entitled to exert towards someone they feel is in a socially inferior position. </p>
<p>I may be slightly more comfortable with “Hey, Professor so-and-so” than with just “Hey, [message].”</p>
<p>
[quote]
As a student, I’ve used “hey” if I’m just asking a quick question or something. I don’t really see the difference between “hey” and “hi,” and “Dear” definitely feels too formal for a casual email. I mean, if I was to stop by office hours, I’d probably walk in and say “hey Professor, ___.” I doubt any student intends disrespect unless the email is clearly rude or riddled with errors; it’s kind of annoying to have to overthink the exact wording in order to avoid coming across with the wrong tone, and “Hey” seems pretty neutral.</p>
<p>Some students were never taught better. If you are not comfortable with manner some students address you in emails, teach them better. Your first day of class, when you are giving ground rules for course, suggest to students how you prefer to be addressed in emails. Maybe insert a little something about it too in your course syllabus.</p>
<p>From my perspective, as an older (but not so totally old) faculty member, “Hi” is fine, because I equate it to “Hello.” “Hey” strikes me as a demand for attention, and I don’t really like it, although I get some emails that start out that way. My opinion could be regional or generation-based. I recognize that there is such a thing as a casual/gentle “Hey,” but that’s not my first reaction. The Dr./Prof. thing is definitely university-dependent. I am actually made uncomfortable when my students (rarely) address me as “Mrs. Mech,” because it seems to me as though they are still thinking of high school. I try to glide over it, however. </p>
<p>I’m still in high school, but I’ve written emails to professors at colleges I’ve been interested in and have usually begun the emails with either “Hi, Professor _<strong><em>!” or just plain “Hi!” I’m by nature a very informal person and whenever I’ve tried something like “Dear _</em></strong>” or “To whom it may concern” it’s just made me feel stiff and uncomfortable.
Is this that much of a breach of protocol? I’m beginning to feel nervous. (The tone of the email in general is ALWAYS respectful and polite, not overly colloquial or familiar at all.) Then again, one of those emails was to the professor who interviewed me at my first choice college and he ended up recommending me to the scholarship board, so it can’t have been too horrifying a breach… :)</p>
<p>In writing emails to Professors or potential employers, it’s usually better to err on the side of more formality at first and then go informal if the Professor/interviewer/supervisor gives the ok rather than assume it from the get-go. </p>
<p>While it’s great no harm came of it in your case, you never know if you end up corresponding with someone who’s oldschool…especially of a stuffy sort. Just something to consider for future reference. </p>