: Email to request copy of paper I want to email the author to get the complete paper. He's published a version with proof sketches, but I need the whole proofs. My draft: Subject : Paper Request

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Lauren Ipsum gives a good answer. I'll guess at the purpose of your query and suggest a message along these lines:

Dear Dr. X,

I recently read your paper, Y, and I was very interested in the proofs
you sketched. My research is in a related area: (here you describe
your research).

Would it be possible for you to send me the complete proofs of the
theorems? I would use these proofs to... (here you describe what you'd
do).

That is, Dr. X might be planning to do exactly what you'd like to do, so it would be useful to let him or her know what that is. You might suggest that the two of you could collaborate, but that depends to some extent on your current track record (i.e., it would be more attractive for Dr. X if your past work indicates that it would be a fruitful collaboration).

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I don't think this is sufficient. It's polite, but why would this person share anything with you just because you asked?

I think you need to explain who you are, how you found his work, and what you want to do with his work if he's willing to share it with you. Also, if you end up doing something which earns you money from your work which built on his work, are you willing to share that money with him? Perpetually?

I just feel like you're asking a lot and not giving him any reason to say yes.

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