How do I respond to an email that I have delayed answering?

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I'm undertaking an engineering project, and coincidentally met an expert in the field at a school talk. After talking briefly, he took down my email and offered to help with a section on analysis.

He then sent me an email a couple of days later asking what he could do to help.

Now I really regret this, but I have now left replying to this email for over 5 weeks, and am unsure whether this is a completely lost cause.

There is no reason for me leaving it, other than initial laziness, then the inability to think how to reply after the first week or so; it is now just out of hand.

Needless to day I've learned my lesson, but what would be the best way to let him know I'd like his involvement, without coming across as rude, or implying that his help is only now needed?

email

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edited Nov 30 '15 at 21:16

mcknz

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asked Nov 30 '15 at 17:44

John Doe

461

suggest improvements | 

up vote
9
down vote

favorite

I'm undertaking an engineering project, and coincidentally met an expert in the field at a school talk. After talking briefly, he took down my email and offered to help with a section on analysis.

He then sent me an email a couple of days later asking what he could do to help.

Now I really regret this, but I have now left replying to this email for over 5 weeks, and am unsure whether this is a completely lost cause.

There is no reason for me leaving it, other than initial laziness, then the inability to think how to reply after the first week or so; it is now just out of hand.

Needless to day I've learned my lesson, but what would be the best way to let him know I'd like his involvement, without coming across as rude, or implying that his help is only now needed?

email

share|improve this question

edited Nov 30 '15 at 21:16

mcknz

15.6k55468

asked Nov 30 '15 at 17:44

John Doe

461

suggest improvements | 

up vote
9
down vote

favorite

up vote
9
down vote

favorite

I'm undertaking an engineering project, and coincidentally met an expert in the field at a school talk. After talking briefly, he took down my email and offered to help with a section on analysis.

He then sent me an email a couple of days later asking what he could do to help.

Now I really regret this, but I have now left replying to this email for over 5 weeks, and am unsure whether this is a completely lost cause.

There is no reason for me leaving it, other than initial laziness, then the inability to think how to reply after the first week or so; it is now just out of hand.

Needless to day I've learned my lesson, but what would be the best way to let him know I'd like his involvement, without coming across as rude, or implying that his help is only now needed?

email

share|improve this question

edited Nov 30 '15 at 21:16

mcknz

15.6k55468

asked Nov 30 '15 at 17:44

John Doe

461

I'm undertaking an engineering project, and coincidentally met an expert in the field at a school talk. After talking briefly, he took down my email and offered to help with a section on analysis.

He then sent me an email a couple of days later asking what he could do to help.

Now I really regret this, but I have now left replying to this email for over 5 weeks, and am unsure whether this is a completely lost cause.

There is no reason for me leaving it, other than initial laziness, then the inability to think how to reply after the first week or so; it is now just out of hand.

Needless to day I've learned my lesson, but what would be the best way to let him know I'd like his involvement, without coming across as rude, or implying that his help is only now needed?

email

share|improve this question

edited Nov 30 '15 at 21:16

mcknz

15.6k55468

asked Nov 30 '15 at 17:44

John Doe

461

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited Nov 30 '15 at 21:16

mcknz

15.6k55468

edited Nov 30 '15 at 21:16

mcknz

15.6k55468

edited Nov 30 '15 at 21:16

mcknz

15.6k55468

15.6k55468

asked Nov 30 '15 at 17:44

John Doe

461

asked Nov 30 '15 at 17:44

John Doe

461

asked Nov 30 '15 at 17:44

John Doe

461

461

suggest improvements | 

suggest improvements | 

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

up vote
13
down vote

Hi [name],

I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. If you're still
interested I could still use help with . If you'd like to discuss
my number is ....

If they're still interested they'll let you know.

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 30 '15 at 17:51

NotMe

20.9k55695

• 
  
  
  

  
  6
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Basically this but: 1) after 5 weeks OP is going to need to describe the moment they met and his project, especially given the context of the meeting, 2) I'd make the language less direct and replace help with feedback or so, 3) many engineers will prefer communicating over Skype over something like this so OP may want to give those details as well.
  – Lilienthal♦
  Nov 30 '15 at 18:00
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, in the future, you can send a short email saying that you'll have more time to collaborate at a certain date.
  – sevensevens
  Nov 30 '15 at 21:28
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1

active

oldest

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active

oldest

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active

oldest

votes

up vote
13
down vote

Hi [name],

I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. If you're still
interested I could still use help with . If you'd like to discuss
my number is ....

If they're still interested they'll let you know.

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 30 '15 at 17:51

NotMe

20.9k55695

• 
  
  
  

  
  6
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Basically this but: 1) after 5 weeks OP is going to need to describe the moment they met and his project, especially given the context of the meeting, 2) I'd make the language less direct and replace help with feedback or so, 3) many engineers will prefer communicating over Skype over something like this so OP may want to give those details as well.
  – Lilienthal♦
  Nov 30 '15 at 18:00
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, in the future, you can send a short email saying that you'll have more time to collaborate at a certain date.
  – sevensevens
  Nov 30 '15 at 21:28
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

up vote
13
down vote

Hi [name],

I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. If you're still
interested I could still use help with . If you'd like to discuss
my number is ....

If they're still interested they'll let you know.

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 30 '15 at 17:51

NotMe

20.9k55695

• 
  
  
  

  
  6
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Basically this but: 1) after 5 weeks OP is going to need to describe the moment they met and his project, especially given the context of the meeting, 2) I'd make the language less direct and replace help with feedback or so, 3) many engineers will prefer communicating over Skype over something like this so OP may want to give those details as well.
  – Lilienthal♦
  Nov 30 '15 at 18:00
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, in the future, you can send a short email saying that you'll have more time to collaborate at a certain date.
  – sevensevens
  Nov 30 '15 at 21:28
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

up vote
13
down vote

up vote
13
down vote

Hi [name],

I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. If you're still
interested I could still use help with . If you'd like to discuss
my number is ....

If they're still interested they'll let you know.

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 30 '15 at 17:51

NotMe

20.9k55695

Hi [name],

I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. If you're still
interested I could still use help with . If you'd like to discuss
my number is ....

If they're still interested they'll let you know.

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 30 '15 at 17:51

NotMe

20.9k55695

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 30 '15 at 17:51

NotMe

20.9k55695

answered Nov 30 '15 at 17:51

NotMe

20.9k55695

answered Nov 30 '15 at 17:51

NotMe

20.9k55695

20.9k55695

• 
  
  
  

  
  6
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Basically this but: 1) after 5 weeks OP is going to need to describe the moment they met and his project, especially given the context of the meeting, 2) I'd make the language less direct and replace help with feedback or so, 3) many engineers will prefer communicating over Skype over something like this so OP may want to give those details as well.
  – Lilienthal♦
  Nov 30 '15 at 18:00
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, in the future, you can send a short email saying that you'll have more time to collaborate at a certain date.
  – sevensevens
  Nov 30 '15 at 21:28
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  6
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Basically this but: 1) after 5 weeks OP is going to need to describe the moment they met and his project, especially given the context of the meeting, 2) I'd make the language less direct and replace help with feedback or so, 3) many engineers will prefer communicating over Skype over something like this so OP may want to give those details as well.
  – Lilienthal♦
  Nov 30 '15 at 18:00
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, in the future, you can send a short email saying that you'll have more time to collaborate at a certain date.
  – sevensevens
  Nov 30 '15 at 21:28
  

  
  
  
  

6

6

Basically this but: 1) after 5 weeks OP is going to need to describe the moment they met and his project, especially given the context of the meeting, 2) I'd make the language less direct and replace help with feedback or so, 3) many engineers will prefer communicating over Skype over something like this so OP may want to give those details as well.
– Lilienthal♦
Nov 30 '15 at 18:00

Basically this but: 1) after 5 weeks OP is going to need to describe the moment they met and his project, especially given the context of the meeting, 2) I'd make the language less direct and replace help with feedback or so, 3) many engineers will prefer communicating over Skype over something like this so OP may want to give those details as well.
– Lilienthal♦
Nov 30 '15 at 18:00

Also, in the future, you can send a short email saying that you'll have more time to collaborate at a certain date.
– sevensevens
Nov 30 '15 at 21:28

Also, in the future, you can send a short email saying that you'll have more time to collaborate at a certain date.
– sevensevens
Nov 30 '15 at 21:28

suggest improvements | 

 

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