What makes a strong letter of recommendation?

Asked by: Vincenzo Fritsch DDS  |  Last update: March 7, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (23 votes)

A strong letter of recommendation is enthusiastic, specific, and uses vivid anecdotes to show, not just tell, a candidate's skills, character, and potential, providing context on the relationship and tailoring examples to the opportunity for maximum impact. It comes from someone who knows the applicant well, avoids generic praise, and clearly supports the candidate's fit for the specific role or program.

What to include in a strong letter of recommendation?

A successful letter should:

  • Provide a contextual and concrete comparison of the student's performance. ...
  • Highlight personalized examples of the student's work, such as a standout final paper, semester-long research project, etc.

What makes a recommendation letter good?

Letters should be honest— and honest criticism, if generously presented, can enhance the force of a letter—but committees take critical comments very seriously. It is best to be cautious when making critical remarks and to avoid any sense of indirection.

What are the 5 parts of a recommendation letter?

A good letter of recommendation for college includes the following key elements:

  • Personal connection.
  • Specific examples.
  • Academic and personal balance.
  • Tailored to the college or major.
  • Positive, yet honest.
  • Professional tone and format.

What are common lor mistakes to avoid?

Common LOR mistakes to avoid include choosing the wrong recommender, being too generic or vague (not using specific examples), repeating your resume/SOP, having formatting/grammar errors, writing a letter that's too short or too long, and asking too late, which results in a rushed, unconvincing letter lacking crucial details about your unique skills and achievements. 

Elements of a strong recommendation letter

37 related questions found

What are 11 impactful words to use in a letter of recommendation?

For impactful recommendation words, focus on describing character (Integrity, Resilience, Diligence), skills (Innovative, Resourceful, Articulate), and potential (Exceptional, Insightful, Proactive), with strong action verbs like achieved, led, or transformed to highlight specific accomplishments, creating a powerful endorsement of their capabilities and future success. 

What are the 7 C's of academic writing?

The 7 C's in writing are a set of principles that help writers communicate with accuracy, clarity, and purpose. These principles strengthen the message by making it easier for the reader to understand and act on. The 7 C's are Clarity, Conciseness, Correctness, Completeness, Courtesy, Concreteness, and Consideration.

What is a good opening sentence for a letter?

A line as plain as “How have you been lately?” or “I thought of you today and wanted to write.” can carry more tenderness than any crafted metaphor. Because sincerity — not style — is what makes a letter truly memorable.

What are good qualities for a recommendation letter?

Traits that should be considered for discussion in a letter include past job/task performances, experience and expertise, intellectual ability, and personal attributes as they pertain to leadership quality, teambuilding, perseverance, and communication skills.

What are three examples of strong references?

Three excellent examples of good references are a past supervisor, a professor/mentor, and a client/vendor, as they offer professional insight into your skills, work ethic, and character from different perspectives, while avoiding personal ties like family or friends. 

What are three important things to mention in a letter of recommendation?

An overview of the applicant's strengths as you've experienced them and as they relate to the recipient. A personal story that elaborates on one to two traits the applicant possesses. A closing statement that summarizes why the individual you're recommending would be a good fit for the opportunity.

What is a strong letter of recommendation reddit?

A strong letter of recommendation is based on whether or not you're certain your recommenders are going to give you a highly positive letter and the breadth they are able to do that. The longer you've worked with someone and the more things they've worked with you on, the more they can attest to your skills .

What makes a great LOR?

A good academic LOR should show, not just tell. It should not just talk of your qualities and achievements, but also provide examples where you have actually shown those qualities. Hence, a strong LOR doesn't just say, “She is a bright student” or “He has good leadership skills”.

What is the best closing of a recommendation letter?

The closing of the letter should briefly summarize previous points and clearly state that you recommend the candidate for the position, graduate program or opportunity they are seeking.

What are some good things to say about someone as a reference?

To give a good reference, be honest and enthusiastic, focusing on specific examples of the person's achievements, relevant skills (hard and soft), and positive work habits that align with the new job, using quantifiable results where possible (e.g., "increased sales by 10%"). Start by stating your relationship and credentials, then provide concrete instances of them exceeding expectations or demonstrating key strengths, always keeping the information factual and tailored to the role they're applying for.
 

How to include strengths and weaknesses in a recommendation letter?

Discuss the student's strengths and weaknesses. Be sure to give concrete examples to back up more general statements. Specificity is very important in a letter of recommendation. Make detailed reference to specific projects or activities in which the student participated, or specific work that was produced.

What are 5 positive character qualities?

List of Positive Qualities & Characteristics

  • Warm.
  • Friendly.
  • Clean.
  • Honest.
  • Loyal.
  • Trustworthy.
  • Dependable.
  • Open.

What do employers look for in a letter of recommendation?

The letter of recommendation should give a picture of the candidate's personal characteristics, performance and experience, strengths, capabilities and professional promise from someone who has worked closely with the candidate. The selection committee relies on these letters to assist in making a final decision.

What are good strengths to put on a reference?

Here are some top workplace strengths, with short explanations and sample answers you can adapt to convey your own experience:

  • Problem-Solving. ...
  • Adaptability. ...
  • Communication. ...
  • Teamwork. ...
  • Leadership. ...
  • Strong Work Ethic. ...
  • Creativity. ...
  • Emotional Intelligence.

How to write a catchy opening sentence?

Start with the chase. A good hook might also be a question or a claim—anything that will elicit an emotional response from a reader. Think about it this way: a good opening sentence is the thing you don't think you can say, but you still want to say. Like, “This book will change your life.”

What are common mistakes in formal letters?

Six Mistakes You Might Be Making in Formal Letters

  • Unclear Pronoun Reference. This one is the most frustrating for the reader. ...
  • You. The colloquial pronoun 'you' is so comfortably entrenched in our daily vocabulary that it is often impossible to avoid it a formal letter. ...
  • So. ...
  • Exclamation Points. ...
  • Numbers. ...
  • Contractions.

What is a strong sentence starter?

Below is a list of possible sentence starters, transitional and other words that may be useful. This essay discusses … … is explored … … is defined … The definition of … will be given … is briefly outlined … … is explored … The issue focused on …. … is demonstrated ... … is included …

What are the four golden rules of academic writing?

The 4 C's of academic writing are clear, concise, complete, and correct. These four qualities make research papers easier to understand, more professional to read, and more convincing for academic audiences.

What are the 7 elements of effective writing?

Each pro tip falls under one of the Seven Cs of an effective work of writing: Creative, Concise, Credible, Consumer-Centered, Current, Collaborative, and Competent.

What are the 5 characteristics of academic writing?

The typical characteristics of academic writing include formal tone, research and evidence, presentation of a claim, conformity to academic conventions, clear organization, and logical connections.