Editing an LOR

[liverotcod]

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Even though I signed the waiver, one of my LOR writers sent me a copy of his LOR for my review. It's a fabulous letter that's got me smiling all over. He asked that I check his spelling, grammer &c.

So I put on my English major hat and copy edited the letter - there are indeed some typos and sticky syntax. I'm really torn as to whether to send him the comments (with my thanks, of course). What do you guys think?

 

[Thundrstorm]

Why don't you send hima copy with your corrections asking if he approves, along with a thank you letter?

 

[terpgirl]

I was in a very similar situation when I applied foir an undergrad scholarship. This letter needed more help than even I wanted to give it, but it was structured pretty well and VERY complimentary. This guy was a former teacher and friend I kept in touch with.

I sat down, scanned it into my computer (I got a hardcopy), and got pink highlighter and circle happy. Sent it back to him, with an apology for being such an anal person (I blamed it on being a yearbook editor and my advisor!) and left it at that. He sent me back a letter 2 weeks later fixed. He never lead on that he was offended

I wouldn't hesitate to have him fix the gramatical/spelling errors--just DON'T mess with the "meat" of it!! You don't want to have him feel like his letter wasn't good enough about you--you chose him for good reason to write a good letter, and he did well minus those small little errors.

I'd definately give the man his props and a MILLION thanks... if you don't feel comfy saying you found errors, say you gave it to an pbjective third party (wife, parents, English major sister, whomever) to read, and this is what they said.

I wouldn't be offended whatsoever, just happy that someone could find these errors--not sending in a clean letter would not only make me feel bad for not catching it but also sending in unclean material can reflect kind of poorly on the recomenders part (words of an English teacher of mine, not my own words).

-Liz

 

[jlee9531]

well its not like you are adding anything extra...you are just editting for spelling and grammar...

so i dont think you should worry too much about it. but a thank you letter is in order.

 

[MD Rapper]

To be honest I don't think any of this really matters. What is more important, is the following, in order:

1) The content of the letter
2) How well the recommender knows you
3) Who the recommender is (big shot or not)
4) How it is written

Adcoms probably do not care about a recommenders syntax. They probably glance over the letters fast just to get a feeling of what the recommender is saying.

 

[docmemi]

yea. just be conservative about it. i think its more who he is and what he has to say then little details. they read this things fast and if i was on the adcom thats what ide look for. i would just correct serious things.

 

[liverotcod]

Thanks for the advice. What I decided was to make the revisions, highlight them in Word, and then send it back. I said "I put my English major hat on and made some inconsequential edits to the letter," as well as thanked him for what was really an awesome letter.

I realize that probably no one will care about small errors, but I think they diminish the impact of the letter - a reader could potentially be distracted by them and miss the bigger message. Besides, he did *ask* me to 🙂

Thanks again.