Guide
When Recommendation Letters Are Weak Evidence
Why letters need specific, independent, corroborated facts rather than broad praise.
Extraordinary
Evidence guide
The practical mistake
Recommendation letters can sound persuasive while adding little evidence. AAO-style reasoning discounts broad praise when it is not specific, independent, and corroborated by objective records.
What stronger evidence tries to show
A useful letter explains what the person did, how the writer knows, why the work mattered, and what independent facts support the claim. The letter should point to evidence, not replace it.
Evidence checklist
Prefer letters from independent experts or users who can identify concrete impact and corroborate it with public or documentary proof.