Poorly written letter of recommendation help!

[blah_blah_blah]

Hey guys!

I have an interview this week and I asked my current boss to write me a letter of recommendation.

My boss wrote a lot of nice things and it's a great letter. However, there are some grammar and formatting errors.

For example, the letter is just one big paragraph with no indentations. There are also some words that are capitalized that shouldn't be and some instances where there are no articles/adjectives used when there should be.

The letter is not written on official letterhead and it is not signed. Would it be a terrible idea to re type it and fix the errors? I would not change the content of the letter in any way. I'm thinking I shouldn't do it but I would like some outside opinions. I don't want to ask him to redo it and hurt his feelings

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

DO NOT do that. Just take it to him and ask for a signature. Let it go- they won't judge you on it, they'll judge him.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

I wouldn't touch it. How did you see it anyway? Normally letters of req are sealed in an envelope. If it's as bad as you say, have someone else right you a letter but do not change it.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

That should have said so not retype it. Sorry about that.

[blah_blah_blah]

Thanks for the input! I kind of knew I should have just left it but I definitely will now. I don't work at a hospital currently and it was given to me at work. I'll ask him to sign it tomorrow!

It's not so bad to the point where I would think it's unusable. I Am just a stickler when it comes to grammar. I guess it's the content that really counts and he wrote some really nice things about me.

Thanks again everyone!

[TriciaJ, RN]

Can you tell your boss it needs to be on letterhead; offer to retype it for him and then have him sign it?

[blah_blah_blah]

Can you tell your boss it needs to be on letterhead; offer to retype it for him and then have him sign it?

I could probably do that but I don't even think my employer has official letterhead

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with the posters above. Just wanted to add that I can sympathize with your problem. I once saw the letters in my personal file while in graduate school. One of my letters of recommendations in there was dreadful and embarrassing! I cringe when I think of it. But fortunately for me, the school accepted me anyway. Now, when I am on the receiving end of such letters, I consciously try to not let it make me assume negative things about the applicant.

The people reviewing your application will probably be similarly understanding. But you might want to counter-act any negativity by being sure that your other letters are top-notch -- and maybe include an extra letter of reference to help compensate.

[blah_blah_blah]

I agree with the posters above. Just wanted to add that I can sympathize with your problem. I once saw the letters in my personal file while in graduate school. One of my letters of recommendations in there was dreadful and embarrassing! I cringe when I think of it. But fortunately for me, the school accepted me anyway. Now, when I am on the receiving end of such letters, I consciously try to not let it make me assume negative things about the applicant.

The people reviewing your application will probably be similarly understanding. But you might want to counter-act any negativity by being sure that your other letters are top-notch -- and maybe include an extra letter of reference to help compensate.

Thanks for your words of encouragement! I actually have twice as many letters of recommendation than I actually need (I need 3 and I have 6.. I made another thread about that here in AN also) so maybe the extras are a good thing. I asked more people than I needed to write letters for me in case some fell through but they all agreed to write a letter as well as some volunteers along the way so hopefully that will make up for the great content wise albeit poorly written letter from my manager!