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- Aug 8, 2005
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This came up during my correspondence with some experts in the academic stratosphere. Just suggestions and redundant to some but it does no harm to reiterate.
If you find yourself contacting academics you will have, as a general rule, more success in receiving replies if you follow the academic rules.
1. Always use the persons proper name, not a familiar first name, and use their titles and credentials correctly. As example, Dr. John Fitch, MS, or Fred Sorch, Professor of ____
2. Use accurate English, or the language of your choice, with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
3. Keep your inquiry short and concise. This is extremely important. Many of the experts receive hundreds of inquiries every day. If they don't understand what you are asking in the first or second sentence..... you know the drill.
4. Sign your letter properly and respectfully. Beneath your signature you can list the languages you speak and your own academic credentials if you have them.
The bottom line: Don't pester the experts. They have their own workload and assisting laypersons is a gratis gesture. Blasting them with poorly written drivel just wrecks the chances for the rest of us. IE, don't be like me so much of the time on AB.
To give an example. A friend of mine of many years is a professor at a local university. One day while working with him at his ranch I mentioned I had sent him two letters replying to his inquiry. He didn't recall receiving either one. My screw up. I addressed the letters as I knew him, "Dear Doug,' He never got past that to see they were from me. DELETED.
Academics can be extremely stuffy. Just accept that. They busted their butts to get where they are. Go with the flow and extend due respect.
If you find yourself contacting academics you will have, as a general rule, more success in receiving replies if you follow the academic rules.
1. Always use the persons proper name, not a familiar first name, and use their titles and credentials correctly. As example, Dr. John Fitch, MS, or Fred Sorch, Professor of ____
2. Use accurate English, or the language of your choice, with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
3. Keep your inquiry short and concise. This is extremely important. Many of the experts receive hundreds of inquiries every day. If they don't understand what you are asking in the first or second sentence..... you know the drill.
4. Sign your letter properly and respectfully. Beneath your signature you can list the languages you speak and your own academic credentials if you have them.
The bottom line: Don't pester the experts. They have their own workload and assisting laypersons is a gratis gesture. Blasting them with poorly written drivel just wrecks the chances for the rest of us. IE, don't be like me so much of the time on AB.
To give an example. A friend of mine of many years is a professor at a local university. One day while working with him at his ranch I mentioned I had sent him two letters replying to his inquiry. He didn't recall receiving either one. My screw up. I addressed the letters as I knew him, "Dear Doug,' He never got past that to see they were from me. DELETED.
Academics can be extremely stuffy. Just accept that. They busted their butts to get where they are. Go with the flow and extend due respect.
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I said pre Islam because Indonesia is an Islamic nation now (majority at least).