What is the difference between a letter of reference and a letter of recommendation?

The terms letter of reference and letter of recommendation are often used interchangeably.

In the U.S., however, a “letter of recommendation” typically refers to a letter written for a specific application (e.g., to college or graduate school) that is tailored to the opportunity in question. A “letter of reference,” on the other hand, usually refers to a general endorsement (e.g., written by a person’s employer when they leave a job) that can be used for multiple future applications.

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Who can write a letter of recommendation?

Who can write a letter of recommendation depends on the application type.

To be able to write a strong letter, the recommender needs to know the applicant well so they can speak from firsthand experience.

College applicants, for instance, typically ask one or two of the following trusted figures to write a letter of recommendation for them:

  • A high school teacher
  • A high school counselor
  • An employer
  • A leader of an extracurricular activity

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you draft a polished, effective email to ask someone to write a letter of recommendation for you.

Continue reading: Who can write a letter of recommendation?