[General] Omitting "I" when starting email?

[limatan]

Hi all,

Due to the strict sentence order in English one often comes into the situation of having to write something like

Dear Martin,
I am wondering whether next Monday ...

.

Am curious whether it is possible to simple omit the "I" at the beginning of a not super formal email and just to start with

Dear Martin,
Am wondering whether next Monday ...

instead.

What are your thoughts about this construction?

Tom

 

[Tdol]

It would be OK in an informal email- people do that sort of thing to save typing. You could also start with Wondering.... ​

 

[limatan]

Thanks a lot for your help Tdol! In fact German people (like me) get told in school that one should never start a letter with I as it sounds very egocentric. I know that at least Americans don't have such a problem with that ... but I still have So its great to know now I can avoid it (at least in informal emails)

 

[Raymott]

Well, you can do it when writing to Tdol. I'd find it very irritating if someone kept sending me emails like that.
I'd also find it very irritating if you made a habit of writing "Am curious..." in your posts.
Beginning a letter with 'I' carries no stigma in English.

 

[Tdol]

In fact German people (like me) get told in school that one should never start a letter with I as it sounds very egocentric.

I am writing to is a common opening to letters in English, so there's nothing wrong with using I.

 

[probus]

Well, you can do it when writing to Tdol. I'd find it very irritating if someone kept sending me emails like that.
I'd also find it very irritating if you made a habit of writing "Am curious..." in your posts.
Beginning a letter with 'I' carries no stigma in English.

I agree it carries no stigma. But I often prefer to omit the "I" in casual conversations with close friends. No good reason, just a question of style, or more correctly, fashion.