推荐信开头

　　不同身份和学术背景的推荐人，推荐信所用的称谓也不一样。比如我们一般称呼自己的导师为“李老师，张老师”。而我们称呼自己的同学就可以直呼其名。甚至有时候我们会给我们非常要好的朋友一个特殊的称谓或者叫外号，这样显得亲切一些。推荐信的道理类似于此。下面分析几种推荐信常用的称谓以及与之较为符合的推荐人身份。

　　Dear colleagues：

　　这是一种很不“谦虚”的称谓方式。如果你的推荐人是一名在国内和国外都很知名，享有很高声誉的教授，那我们可以用这种称谓方式。使用这种称谓方式的推荐人首先一定是教授。因为只有教授与教授之间一般才用“同事”相称。其次，用这种方式的推荐人最好是国内外知名教授。从某种意义上说，这种称谓会把推荐人放在一个很高的位置上，即不失谦虚的'风度，又能体现出其身份。

　　Dear Sir or Madam：

　　这是一种比较偏重于社会性的公文称谓。sir和madam一出，其商业气息就已经很明显了。这种称谓方式一般用于公司的领导或者其他社会性质很深的人做推荐的时候经常使用。

　　Dear Professor，To Whom It May Concern (通用表达方式)：

　　这两种称谓使用起来非常得心应手，而且应用的推荐人人群比较广泛。一般来说，无论教授的背景如何，亦或是公司领导及其他社会人士，基本都可以用这种称谓。其中，Dear Professor这种用法是将对方学校录取办的所有老师统一成为教授。(现实中一般也都是教授)所以这种方法比较通用。To whom it may concern这种用法是作为公函的一种相对官方格式。如果我们用Microsoft Word做推荐信的话，我们会发现基本在开头打出“To Whom”这两个单词的时候，后面的 “it may concern”会随之而出。这进一步说明这种方式国外人的信件中也是比较常用的。

　　Dear Admission Committee, Dear Admission Office, Dear Committee /Officer：

　　一般情况下，对留学申请和对方大学的招生录取机构的构成比较了解的教授作为推荐人的时候，采用较多的是这种方式。比如，你的推荐人本身就是国外大学毕业的，或者说和国外的某些大学经常会有一些学术交流活动的话，是可以考虑用以上三中称谓之一的。反之，如果你的推荐人是你公司的boss，没怎么出过国，从国内大学毕业出来后直接下海经商的那种，在其推荐信开头很官方的写出“尊敬的录取委员会”，是不是感觉有点不靠谱呢?

　　Dear Professor:

　　This letter of recommendation is for Caleb, a young man I have had the pleasure of knowing for the last 20 months. As a professor emeritus, I have come in contact with thousands of college and graduate students. However, Mr. Caleb stands out as a very extraordinary one with his research and teaching capability, personality and what is more, his "academic spirit".

　　During his graduate study, he worked as my research assistant first, then as a teaching assistant of our department. Usually it is hard for someone to be good at even either one. However, as his adviser, I was pleased to find thatboth works he did was far exceeding what is called good. For example, unlike most other graduate students who are eager to publish essays and thus fear to take pains to make exhaustive investigation for their research, Mr. Caleb made extensive survey for his in the project sponsored by Science and Tech Commission of "Chicago" municipal government.He searched every possible source of information within his reach and affords for related materials. As far as I know, he has been to Beijing to the National Library of China, Science and Tech Information Center, Tsinghua University s Library and most public libraries of "Chicago". He searched both in library and on web, which is a totally new approach to us. Neither was Mr. Caleb satisfied with second-hand information only. During the process, he also interviewed with supervisors of some scientific institutes of "Chicago" to obtain first-hand information.

　　His teaching is equally praiseworthy. I often heard his students said that Mr.Caleb s lectures were interesting and enlightening and they loved to listen to his lectures. In fact, he has his own teaching style.To my knowledge,it is quite western. In other words, he pays more attention to arouse the desire of seeking knowledge among his students instead of maintaining a quiet and rigid lecture atmosphere as most other teachers do.Thus you can imagine his lectures are full of discussions, laughter and eager eyes of learning.

　　His personality also impressed me so much. I would like to take only one case among numerous ones as example.This summer, I happened to have some thesessent to a professor who lived in another university for his review.It was so urgent that I could not wait even one more moment. Then I got Mr. Caleb to do it. He nodded without even hesitation. It sounds like not a big deal. However, it was scorching outside at noon then and it took him almost 1 hour s bike ride back and forth!

　　Besides his research, teaching capability and personality,I think I should bring up the overwhelmingly strong point of Mr. Caleb--his academic spirit. Although I know that it is hard to define what is called "academic spirit", Mr. Caleb does prove it through his independence on his research, innovative perspective and commitment to academic activity. Frankly, I think it is the "academic spirit"that distinguishes him from thousands of college and graduate students I have ever known. With the "academic spirit", Mr. Caleb is marching steadily towards his career goal--an ideal scholar with time goes by.

　　One more point. Mr. Caleb s English is excellent compared to most college or graduate students I have ever known.For example, "Chicago" municipal govern-ment held "International Friendship Month" and invited many foreigners (including guests from Clevend, U.S.A.) last summer. Mr. Caleb was chosen as one of 6 volunteer interpreters out of nearly 300 college and graduate studentswho applied the positions. Therefore I am sure that he will adapt to the rigors of graduate school life in U.S. without any great difficulty.

　　Your kind consideration will be greatly appreciated.I would like to providemore information upon your request. You can reach me either by the home phone and mailing address or via Internet,my email address is: xxxx@btamail.net.cn

　　Thank you.

　　Truly,

　　XXX