Should I address my professors by first name in emails if my peers are doing so already? I'm starting a grad school and I'm used to start my emails to all my professors with &quot;Dear Professor Smith&quot;, even though they respond with their first name at the end of their emails (&quot;Best, John&quot;).
I noticed that the guys I'm starting the studies with are using &quot;Hi John&quot; in their emails. I don't think they know professors better than I do.
I don't want to be too familiar, but neither be the only who keeps this distance. Should I switch to &quot;Hi John&quot;?
In the US-influenced culture of international Academica, closing an email with the first name can most of the time be interpreted as implicit invitation to interact, at least in further email communication, on a first-name basis.
So yes, most likely you can address your professors by first name in emails. Not because your peers are doing so, but because your professors are inviting you to. For other communication, I would just ask: &quot;Is it OK if I call you Jane, or do you prefer Dr. Doe&quot;?