LOR typo

[diaphanous25]

I was wondering one of my letters of recommendation had a typo in it. Does this make the letter look sloppy and ill prepared or do most letters have similar problems? Also some of the information was confused, the person mentioned my GRE scores as subpar when my GPA is subpar. Are these type of mistakes to be expected?

[rising_star]

Why are you reading the letters? I assume that, if you're asking this here, you probably didn't have permission to read them and thus can't ask the writer to fix the mistake, right? There's nothing you can do. The letter's sloppiness reflects on its writer, not you, though some may wonder whether that sloppiness is accidental or not.

[Jae B.]

I was wondering one of my letters of recommendation had a typo in it. Does this make the letter look sloppy and ill prepared or do most letters have similar problems? Also some of the information was confused, the person mentioned my GRE scores as subpar when my GPA is subpar. Are these type of mistakes to be expected?

One of my LORs (that I was allowed to read) had a small typo in it. I only worried about it for a second -- it was so minuscule I had to think about whether it was a typo or not for that sec! So if there's a major chance readers won't even notice, I wouldn't make an issue of an otherwise great letter. I'm sure the letter only had a positive reflection on me.

I think the GRE vs. GPA mistake is more serious, however, if it could potentially give your readers a negative impression of both your GPA and GRE scores, accurate or not. You might try to seek a correction for that error. I know it can be hard to ask for fixes to LORs -- it can be hard to ask for them in the first place -- because of the time investment you're asking someone to make for you, but think of the investments you've made in this particular relationship, and also remember that the quality of the letter reflects on your writer as well as you. I wouldn't want one of my writers to look absentminded to their graduate-level peers because of me, so I'd try to clarify my information.

That said, many people don't look at their LORs. I have no idea what one of mine said! If those LORs have mistakes in them, none of us would be the wiser.

[diaphanous25]

Why are you reading the letters? I assume that, if you're asking this here, you probably didn't have permission to read them and thus can't ask the writer to fix the mistake, right? There's nothing you can do. The letter's sloppiness reflects on its writer, not you, though some may wonder whether that sloppiness is accidental or not.

I had permission because the person did not sign the back of the envelope as dictated by the instructions implying he condoned my reading it. I would have brought this to their attention, but did not want to seem as though I were giving him writing tips, not to mention the letter was due like the week before.

[Jae B.]

I had permission because the person did not sign the back of the envelope as dictated by the instructions implying he condoned my reading it.

Are you referring to "signing across the seal"? That's what I've seen instructions say before, I think as a security measure to verify that the "letter writer" actually wrote the letter. An open envelope would be an implication it was okay to read a letter, but I don't think a missing signature necessarily implies that. If I saw a missing signature, I'd ask them to sign it.

[rising_star]

I had permission because the person did not sign the back of the envelope as dictated by the instructions implying he condoned my reading it. I would have brought this to their attention, but did not want to seem as though I were giving him writing tips, not to mention the letter was due like the week before.

There is absolutely no way in which that implies consent to read the letter. What you did was a breach. Given that, there's nothing you can or should say to the person that wrote the letter. Let it go.

[diaphanous25]

There is absolutely no way in which that implies consent to read the letter. What you did was a breach. Given that, there's nothing you can or should say to the person that wrote the letter. Let it go.

You have no idea what you're talking about. The envelope wasn't sealed and this person never signs the envelope for anyone.

[diaphanous25]

Are you referring to "signing across the seal"? That's what I've seen instructions say before, I think as a security measure to verify that the "letter writer" actually wrote the letter. An open envelope would be an implication it was okay to read a letter, but I don't think a missing signature necessarily implies that. If I saw a missing signature, I'd ask them to sign it.

A signature on the letter indicates authorship.Obviously signing across the seal is done so the envelope cannot be opened and the letter cannot be examined or tampered with by anyone.