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How do I correct a recommendation letter that credits me with founding a programme I only helped run?

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"She founded and led the Saturday reading programme," my teacher's draft says. I helped run three sessions and arranged shifts for two other volunteers. The librarian started the programme the previous summer.

The teacher asked me to check the draft before it goes with my further-study application. I had described my role in a quick conversation, and I think she understood "I organised the Saturdays" as meaning I created the whole programme.

A friend says the letter is the teacher's responsibility and I shouldn't weaken it. But I have been asked to check it, and the librarian would know the sentence is wrong.

How can I ask for the correction without sounding ungrateful for the recommendation? I want the actual work recognised. I don't want a generous misunderstanding to become the achievement the rest of my application has to support.

Discussion

1 community replies

The correction can be appreciative and exact: 'Thank you for describing the organising work. I helped run three sessions and arranged volunteer shifts, but the librarian founded the programme before I joined.' That gives the teacher a usable replacement, rather than just saying the praise is too much.

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