Writing a Reference Letter

• Specify your relationship with the person you are writing the reference for.
• Mention the approximate time duration you have known the person.
• Depending on whether it is a job or education related letter, picture the person in the scenario. Highlight specific personality traits, skills, ethics and personal strengths that make the person perfect for the post. Reference letters are a formal affair and must be written in clear business English.
• Cite specific positive examples, highlighting an incident of teamwork, moral strength or excellent work ethics.
• Use strong adjectives to describe what you are saying instead of using general terms.
• Don’t get carried away with very long and unnecessary sentences or flowery language. The language used should be concise and to the point.
• Conclude the letter by giving a strong recommendation to hire.
• Always offer to give more information as and when required because most employers might want to reach you in person.
• State where you can be reached along with contact details and the best time to be contacted.
• All the information that you provide in a reference letter should be truthful.
• Avoid making any reference to the individual’s race, sex, marital status or any disability they may have. Don’t forget that proofreading your writing is important. You can use an English grammar checker or English editing software for this purpose.