Regarding Re: ; what is the correct usage in an email subject line?


I want to know what is the recommended way to use Re: in the subject line of an email.


I use Re: in the subject line as a shortform of 'in regards to'.


Whenever I have used Re:, people have told me that Re: is only to be used when replying to an incoming email and shouldn't be used when starting a new email thread.


I remember being taught that Re is an preposition, which means “in the matter of, with reference to.”


I have also observed that I get immediate responses if I use Re: in the subject line.


So, should I continue to use Re: in the subject line or is that incorrect usage?



Answer



Etymology Online indicates that this has been is use as "with reference to" since 1707:



"with reference to," 1707, from L. in re "in the matter of," ablative case of res "matter, thing."



Fowler does object to it, as the Etymology Online page indicates. He also indicates that it's a popularized technicality from Law, where it is used from the Latin to mean "in the matter of" or "in regard to".


So in general the usage for which you are using it is correct from a grammatical standpoint.


That said, common usage is that when "RE:" is the beginning of an email subject line it specifically relates to a reply, and using it otherwise will probably be confusing to email users, many of whom may not be familiar with the term's history or denotation.


It would likely be less confusing if you were to use it in a subject line of an email, but not at the beginning:



"My comments re: suitability of unicorns in marketing materials"



instead of



"RE: unicorns in marketing"



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