Late assignment email: how to ask for an extension (with examples)

Every other college assignment is late or never submitted. Students tend to complete presentations on time, while projects and written assignments are often late or never finished. So, you’re not alone in your tardiness and shouldn’t feel too bad about a late assignment, especially if it’s your first one. Still, you can’t just expect professors to accept your late submissions. Instead, you need to communicate with instructors, and a late assignment email is a good choice.

In this post, we’ll explain how to email a professor about a late assignment, provide a sample, and hint at how to avoid such troubles in the future. For instance, using a “write my paper for me” service, like SpeedyPaper, guarantees your homework will be done on time. 

When and how to communicate late submissions

The best time to notify a professor about a late assignment is a day or two before you’re late. Any instructor will appreciate it if you give them an advance heads-up when you fall ill or have to skip classes because of family emergencies. Besides, it gives you a better chance of getting an extension since the professor recognizes your efforts and foresight and is more likely to be lenient.

Unfortunately, predicting a late assignment isn’t always possible. In that case, send a late assignment email as soon as possible after the deadline elapses. For instance, no one expects you to think about your homework and grades in the middle of a wake. If you’re fighting a high fever, it’s also unadvisable to write emails since you’re more likely to miss important details, mix up professors’ names, and make other mistakes that will cause you more trouble. Instead, wait until you’ve recovered enough to properly draft and proofread a message, and send it then. 

Note that your first extension request will be more successful than all the consequent ones. If you’re a serial procrastinator and can’t meet a deadline to save your life, no number of apologetic emails will sway your instructors. Sooner or later, you’ll have to learn time management or drop out.

Components of an effective late assignment email

Like an essay, a late assignment email benefits from following the basic outline, which makes it predictable but readable and relevant. When you draft a late submission email to a professor, remember to include these essentials:

• Subject line. It can either focus on the apology or the extension. Good examples are “Request for an extension for Art 101-04” or “Apologies for late submission”.
• Greeting. A simple “Dear Professor [Last Name]” or “Dear Dr. [Last Name]” will do.
• Introduction. Although your email and sign-off will include your name, it doesn’t hurt to reintroduce yourself at the beginning of the email. You should also include the class name and section. It will help the professor find relevant information about your past performance without going through hundreds of entries.
• Apology and explanation. Say you’re sorry about the late assignment and lay out the reasons behind it. Valid reasoning includes medical issues and family emergencies. Most professors won’t consider the task being too hard or a blackout a good excuse as they typically give enough time for you to complete the assignments.
• Proposed solution. Since your late assignment affects the final class grade, you’ll still need to finish it. Suggest the deadline you are sure to meet and ask for the professor’s approval. If it’s not your first strike, consider alternative solutions, like assignments for extra points.
• Sign-off. Use standard phrases like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” before adding your full name.

As you can see, there’s nothing special about a late assignment email. It’s a brief message, no more than a couple of paragraphs long. But it’s the effort that counts. Most professors will appreciate your desire to reach out and establish direct communication, so they are more likely to be lenient than if you surprise them with the late submission without warning. Also, be sure to check our guide on starting an email.

Tips for polite and professional tone

There are conflicting recommendations on how to email a professor about a late assignment. Most guides recommend using a formal tone, but it’s not like you’re writing a business letter. You don’t have to look up a thesaurus for SAT vocabulary. Instead, use your voice, but avoid being too casual. Here are a few tips to find the right balance:

• Put yourself in your professor’s shoes. Imagine you have to grade hundreds of assignments, half of which are late. How would that make you feel? Remember this feeling when writing your late assignment email.
• Be honest and detailed, but only if you’re comfortable. You don’t have to list all your flu symptoms, including how high your fever was, to convince the professor you were sick. Nor do you have to attach your medical charts. In most cases, citing a bug going around campus would be enough.
• Keep your letter short and on point. You’re not trying to hit the word count requirement for an essay here, so keep the fillers out. Instead, include pertinent details, like your class and section, specific assignment and deadline, and your proposed new deadline.
• Show you’re sincerely sorry and ready to work. Repeating how sorry you are ten times won’t help if your every assignment to date was late. Instead, proactively offer alternative solutions that would make up for missed deadlines and let you score the necessary points to pass the class.
• Remember, an email is not a Snapchat message. Format and treat it as such, including a greeting and a sign-off. Skip the jargon and casual address without sounding too stilted.

Most importantly, reread and double-check your email before sending it. You won't have a chance to edit it after sending it, so make sure you include all pertinent information while being polite and respectful. By the way, typos and poor grammar annoy professors to no end, so don't skip proofreading if you want to get an extension.

Example of a late assignment email

Here’s a sample email to a professor about a late assignment that uses the tips we’ve discussed:

Dear Professor X! 

I hope you're doing well. My name is John Doe, and I am taking your English 101-03. I am extremely sorry for not submitting my essay on time. I caught a cold and had to spend a week on bed rest, and I couldn't deal with any homework assignments, including the essay for your class. 

I wonder if you could give me an extension. I can finish the paper and submit it for grading by October 30. I promise to do my best and not let you down again. Please let me know if you would accept my late submission. 

I will happily attend your office hours and accept tasks for extra points if you think that would be more appropriate.

Sincerely, 

John Doe

Following up after sending the email

Professors are busy people. So, if you do not hear back from them within a couple of days, you'll need to follow up on your late assignment email. It doesn't have to be a copy of your previous message but rather a polite reminder of your situation and repeated inquiry about the possibility of an extension. 

In your follow-up email, remind the professor of who you are and which class and section you are in, and cite your previous message, including the date and subject line. Restate your new deadline and welcome professors' feedback.

What to do if your late submission is denied

There’s no guarantee professors will accept your late assignment, especially if you’re a repeat offender. If a professor denies you an extension, look at your class syllabus to evaluate your chances of passing. You may need higher grades to compensate for your late assignment, but it’s still doable, especially if you get college paper help.

If your calculations show that you won’t be able to pass the class, ask the professor for tasks for extra points. Most will allow students to make up for missed classes and late submissions, especially if you have valid reasons.

In the worst-case scenario, your professor can deny you any chance of catching up, and you’ll fail the class. You’ll have to retake it next term or year to get the credits.

Conclusion

A late assignment is not the end of the world. It won’t win your brownie points, but a properly apologetic email can salvage the situation in most cases. We’ve shared our insights on how to email a teacher about late work, provided an example you can use, and walked you through the follow-up process.

But if you find yourself writing one extension request after another, it might be time to look for a more permanent solution. SpeedyPaper is here to help you meet every deadline, even if you’re constantly mixing up dates and putting off work. Contact our team; we’ll match you with the best writer for any class or topic.