Letter of Rec has bad grammar and sentence structure... what do I do?

[fun8stuff]

Hi,

The honors coordinator at my school wrote me a letter of recommendation. Today she sent me it to read over and I was pleased to see that it was a very good LOR that says a lot of good things about me. However, it looks like it was done in 5 mins... it is full of comma splices, run on sentences, etc.

What should I do?

I was thinking about making a few minor corrections- fixing the comma errors, and then sending it back.... but, this seems a bit harsh.

Dan

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[VPDcurt]

If you are certain that he/she has made significant errors, I would say something about it. I wouldn't send back an edited version just yet. I would let her/him know about what you think and then take it from there. It could come across as obnoxious if you wrote back and said, "thanks, and here are some of the corrections I made." Just see where it goes after letting them know that you found some errors. Be very polite.

 

[wxl31]

I was in your situation in that my letter had some awkward phrasing and redundancy...I gave it back to her with corrections. I didn't correct everything. Just picked the three most glaring errors like typos. My letter writer thanked me b/c she said she would have been embarrassed if she submitted it with typos.

 

[fun8stuff]

If you are certain that he/she has made significant errors, I would say something about it. I wouldn't send back an edited version just yet. I would let her/him know about what you think and then take it from there. It could come across as obnoxious if you wrote back and said, "thanks, and here are some of the corrections I made." Just see where it goes after letting them know that you found some errors. Be very polite.

There are some significant errors, but man... i don't know if i will be able to have enough guts to say anything.

Check this out:

"Fun8stuff is an outstanding citizen and an outstanding student and definitely a doctor in the making. He has all of the tools needed for a successful medical school experience?the intellect, the empathy, the dedication, the analytic skills and the drive.

I have been impressed with Fun8stuff since the first time I met him. He is regarding as one of the most successful students in our program of 486.
...
...
...
Fun8stuff is known in the residence hall as a person that you can go to if you need help with any academic problems. He is renown for his patience and his ability to explain difficult and obscure concepts and coupled with that is his compassionate heart which people have benefited from.
...
...
...
I really cannot imagine Fun8stuff in any other career and I can only think that his patients will benefit enormously because when they come in contact with him, his beside manner alone will draw them to him, but coupled with that is his extreme intellect and his synthetic mind."


I am very happy about the things she wrote and I do not want to seem like I am not at all thankful for them- I am. I am very happy with the content.

Are these significant enough? or am I just being anal-retentive?

 

[VPDcurt]

I'd say they are significant enough. It almost sounds as if english isn't her first language. Anyway, I think you really need to say something to her. I think you need to get the guts to say something to her as soon as you can. You are going to be faced with so many situations like this (in life) that you might as well learn how to deal with them now. I used to be uncomfortable confronting people about things like this but now it almost comes naturally. You will feel nervous initially, but then you'll feel great knowing that you did something you needed to do. Good luck.

 

[runner1979]

The writer wanted you to look over it for a reason--point out the mistakes and re-word a phrase if you care to.

English was a second language for one of my reccomenders. I made sure to make grammatical and spelling corrections--and I even suggested making certain statements clearer. But, I was mindful not to make any suggestions that would change the intended meaning of a paragraph or statement.

 

[VPDcurt]

The writer wanted you to look over it for a reason--point out the mistakes and re-word a phrase if you care to.

English was a second language for one of my reccomenders. I made sure to make grammatical and spelling corrections--and I even suggested making certain statements clearer. But, I was mindful not to make any suggestions that would change the intended meaning of a paragraph or statement.

Good point.

 

[fun8stuff]

Thanks guys... I will try and work up the courage... English is not her second language! If my memory serves me right, English was her major in college!

 

[DianaLynne]

So did you folks do the open letter thing, where you get a copy as well? My letters are closed (or whatever that terminology is) so I haven't seen them. I wish I could have but I heard that it is preferred that the applicant has not read the letter. Or is that just crazy-talk?

Diana

 

[liverotcod]

So did you folks do the open letter thing, where you get a copy as well? My letters are closed (or whatever that terminology is) so I haven't seen them. I wish I could have but I heard that it is preferred that the applicant has not read the letter. Or is that just crazy-talk?

Diana

In some cases, letter writers share their letters with applicants even though they have "waived their right" to see the letters. Previously, this has been a subject of considerable debate.

fun8stuff - if you were asked to look it over, it's entirely appropriate to gently suggest some changes. But, really, the problems aren't significant to the meaning of the letter. Your letter-writer isn't being graded on grammar and writing skills. The letter shows the writer really knows you and is very complimentary, a few little grammatical errors just give it character.

 

[fun8stuff]

In some cases, letter writers share their letters with applicants even though they have "waived their right" to see the letters. Previously, this has been a subject of considerable debate.

fun8stuff - if you were asked to look it over, it's entirely appropriate to gently suggest some changes. But, really, the problems aren't significant to the meaning of the letter. Your letter-writer isn't being graded on grammar and writing skills. The letter shows the writer really knows you and is very complimentary, a few little grammatical errors just give it character.

Yeah, this is initially what I was thinking and I think I should go with this thought. However, then i thought: do these errors discredit her judgement at all? Does it show that she didn't take the time to write a meaningful letter, error free? Or perhaps, she did take the time to write it and this is the best she could grammatically do. I just don't want people to assume that she doesn't know me very well, and didn't really care to write one, so she just "threw" something together.

Since earlier today I talked to a friend who had the same person write her a letter a year ago, and she told me that her letter was the same way. She didn't suggest corrections or anything because the LOR was not for something as important as medical school! So, I do not think that she didn't want to take the time to write me one error free, but I just don't want others to assume this by reading it.

I think I will only mention a couple words that are misspelled to her- such as "regarding" should be "regarded", and "beside manner" should be "bedside manner" I don't think I will mention the other things out of respect. Besides, as doctorevil said, it gives the letter character.

Thanks for your comments! 🙂

 

[aparecida]

Wow, I wish I got to see my LORs. heh.

 

[constructor]

isn't it illegal to see your letter and then waive the rights on the applications?

 

[fun8stuff]

What you are referring to is that some schools require you to waive your right to see your LORs, but it doesn't mean that is illegal for the original writer to let you see them. Yes, you no longer have the right to see them, but you still can with the permission from the writer.

 

[liverotcod]

isn't it illegal to see your letter and then waive the rights on the applications?

Yeah, there was a big flame thread about this a few months ago. Maybe more than one, I haven't searched. fun8stuff's response was the consensus, with a vocal minority opinion that it was unethical to look at them even if freely offered.

 

[DeepCowboy]

isn't it illegal to see your letter and then waive the rights on the applications?

Yikes, the AMCAS elfs will put me in med school detention!!