Email salutation for a Lecturer (MA, not PhD)

[utsusemi]

What the title says. I have an etiquette question! I went to a small undergrad where even the 1st-year language classes were taught by visiting or t-t profs. Now I'm headed for a big state flagship where language classes are helmed by "Lecturers," a new paradigm for me.

I need to contact the lecturer of a class I'm hoping to take, and I'd better make a good first impression since I am asking for a favor! (permission to either join without taking the placement exam, or take it at a different time.) But I'm embarrassingly stuck on the salutation. Is "Dear Professor Lastname" appropriate even though this instructor is not a "Professor" by job title? Since he doesn't know me from Eve (and his name indicates he may be a native speaker of the language in question, which is culturally a bit more formal/respectful to teachers than US English) I'd prefer to err on the side of more formality...

[newms]

What the title says. I have an etiquette question! I went to a small undergrad where even the 1st-year language classes were taught by visiting or t-t profs. Now I'm headed for a big state flagship where language classes are helmed by "Lecturers," a new paradigm for me.

I need to contact the lecturer of a class I'm hoping to take, and I'd better make a good first impression since I am asking for a favor! (permission to either join without taking the placement exam, or take it at a different time.) But I'm embarrassingly stuck on the salutation. Is "Dear Professor Lastname" appropriate even though this instructor is not a "Professor" by job title? Since he doesn't know me from Eve (and his name indicates he may be a native speaker of the language in question, which is culturally a bit more formal/respectful to teachers than US English) I'd prefer to err on the side of more formality...

If the person is a professor/assistant professor then saying Dear Prof. Lastname is perfectly acceptable and that's what I use. If they're not a professor, then "Dr." is good and perfectly ok (assuming they have a PhD). Never use Mr or Ms when they have a Phd or are a professor - they don't like that

[utsusemi]

If the person is a professor/assistant professor then saying Dear Prof. Lastname is perfectly acceptable and that's what I use. If they're not a professor, then "Dr." is good and perfectly ok (assuming they have a PhD). Never use Mr or Ms when they have a Phd or are a professor - they don't like that

They have an MA (I believe) and aren't a professor/assistant professor, but a Lecturer according to their dept website (I think that ranks below an asst. professor, but it might just be sideways-from?). "Mr." still seems too informal/business-y, though I'm willing to be corrected.

[schoolpsych_hopeful]

They have an MA (I believe) and aren't a professor/assistant professor, but a Lecturer according to their dept website (I think that ranks below an asst. professor, but it might just be sideways-from?). "Mr." still seems too informal/business-y, though I'm willing to be corrected.

I think you'll be safe with Professor LastName. Regardless of their job title, they are still professor of the class you're trying to get into.

[newms]

They have an MA (I believe) and aren't a professor/assistant professor, but a Lecturer according to their dept website (I think that ranks below an asst. professor, but it might just be sideways-from?). "Mr." still seems too informal/business-y, though I'm willing to be corrected.

Mr or Ms may be the most appropriate if they are not a professor nor hold a Phd, but I would use 'Prof.' - since it is better to err on the side of being too gracious and you could always just use 'Prof' as an informal title.

[repatriate]

In general, at the large state university I went to, we called all non-TA instructors (whose actual titles were varied) "Professor" just out of politeness and only PhD-holding instructors "Dr."

[rising_star]

As a non-PhD holder that teaches, I go by my first name in the classroom. For email, students address me either by my first name or as Mr./Ms. LastName...

[abacus123]

I TA a class taught by a senior lecturer who has a master's but no PhD. When addressing him, I always use "Professor Lastname" in formal settings. My adviser in my undergrad was actually a senior lecturer as well, and everyone always called him professor. I prefer to use the term professor for anyone in a non-TA instructional role at a tertiary academic institution. Otherwise, I refer to them as Dr. if they have a PhD but don't teach, or Mr./Ms./Mrs. if they don't have a PhD and don't teach.

I guess I consider being a professor a higher title than being a doctor.

[katerific]

In general, I'd stick with "professor." Recently a friend of mine got really annoyed at one of her students because he emailed her as "Mr. so-and-so" (she was annoyed that he assumed that his TA in a science class was a guy, haha). I think it's better to look goofy and/or flatter than risk offending them, especially if you don't know the gender for sure (and it's hard to tell with a few names; in this case you know, but it's good to consider for future reference).