Our names are such a primary characteristic of our identity that if anyone misspells or mispronounces them, we immediately try to correct them. Once corrected, we expect them to properly pronounce or spell the name and if they fail to do so, it comes across as disrespectful.
Hence, a student named Saeed decided to confront his professor and ask why he constantly misspells his name every time on email when the correct spelling of his name is right there above the subject line on the screen.
According to the email he sent, the professor apparently misspells his name in three different ways – Saed, Seead and Saad.
“Hello Professor. In regards to the paper, I will do that. However, I just wanted to ask why you misspell my name with every email when it is on the screen? I just find it unpleasant how you get the spelling of ‘Aktiengesellschaft’ correctly in the same email where you misspell my name that is clearly written on the screen. Kindest regards. Saeed (not Saed, Seead, or Saad),” his email read.
Have a look at Saeed’s tweet here:
this email I sent to my professor that kept misspelling my name was my girlboss moment pic.twitter.com/lckub3vMjY
— Hurt CoPain (@SaeedDiCaprio) January 1, 2023
What was disappointing to know was that the professor in question didn’t even acknowledge his email, let alone apologise and rectify his mistake.
also there was no response he never even acknowledged it 💀
— Hurt CoPain (@SaeedDiCaprio) January 1, 2023
Several people online shared similar experiences of calling out people who misspelt their name in the past constantly. There were also fellow teachers who claimed that they instantly apologize after they misspell a student’s name and make sure they don’t make the same mistake again. It’s basic decency. Have a look:
I have three email addresses, every single one includes my surname spelled in full, and yet somehow I still get a misspelling in the body of the email. Like – you got it right the first time!!!
— Joshua (@jekrox) January 1, 2023
Wow okay trying this again and I will say my autocorrect is against me. We can spell charcuterie with no issue but suddenly Saeed is too difficult? Come on folks (and iPhone corrections), do better!
— Cecile Tellier Author (@CeecTellier) January 2, 2023
I’m a professor. YES PLEASE DO THIS.
Another student mentioned during office hours that I kept putting another student’s apostrophe in the wrong place in her name, but she was too afraid to say anything.
I WANT TO GET YOUR NAME RIGHT. Please tell us!
— Dawn Fallik (@dfallik) January 1, 2023
I had a client misspell my name every single time he emailed me even though my email signature was in every message. Finally, I misspelled his name in an email to him just ONCE…he had the nerve to write back and say “Oh I see what you did there. I misspelled your name so…
— Buberella 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@buberella) January 1, 2023
As a teacher/professor of 20+ years, I fucking cackled at how awesome this email is – YES – if your name is consistently not spelled correctly, something needs to be said. Yes, our jobs are thankless 95% of the time – but a microaggression still sucks, and we don’t get a pass
— Sarah Hinzman (@DrHinzman) January 1, 2023
I am always horrified when I misspell a student’s name (usually due to autocorrect) and will immediately reach out and apologize. For him to not even acknowledge your email about it is pretty gross.
— natalie (@maybe_natalie) January 1, 2023
I had someone in my organisation continuously misspell my name in emails despite it being in the address, and one day I deliberately misspelled hers to see what would happen. She suddenly magically spelled mine right in the reply email.
— Kimby (@Kimmylea4) January 1, 2023
This is wild cas as a tattoo artist who doesn’t get paid to answer emails I TRIPLE CHECK the spelling of my clients name and if I still accidentally make a mistake or if autocorrect gets to it I WILL SEND A FOLLOW UP EMAIL CORRECTING IT. ITS BASIC RESPECT YALL
— sos (@TheRealSosBeb) January 1, 2023
And for those saying it’s not a big deal, it is. It’s offensive and makes it look like you don’t care. I did roll call the first day of class and asked all my students how to say their names so I wouldn’t mess them up
— NC Caps Fan (@eshh85) January 1, 2023
Have you ever had such an experience?