How to Write a Character Letter?

Character letters have become an integral part of job applications, educational programs or legal hearings lately. This document highlights a person’s key traits and their interpersonal skills. However, in the professional setup, character letters can’t be crafted just like that.

Writing one requires careful word selection of words to assure the reader about the person's character. This guide will elaborate on how to write a character letter. Make sure to follow each guideline carefully to prepare a professional yet persuasive narrative.

What Is a Character Letter?

A character letter or character reference letter is a document that provides insights about a person's personality. It may discuss an individual's work ethics, teamwork abilities, integrity, and overall character.

This letter is often required to support various applications and must be written by an authoritative personality. Unlike a resume or referral letter, it’s a personal document and contains an individual's contribution to their community.

How to Write a Character Reference Letter: Step-by-Step Guide

Follow the steps below to learn how to write a character letter for someone you may know:

Step 1: Understand the Purpose

First and foremost, learn about why the letter is going to be crafted. Is it for a job application? For a court hearing? Or getting admission in an academic institution. This acknowledgement will help you to understand whom you will be referring to.

For instance, if you need to know how to write a character letter for court, you may address it directly to a judge. If it’s for a school, you might address it to a dean.

Step 2: Use a Professional Format

Even if the tone of a character letter is more personalized, it must still follow a professional format. It must have the writer's name and address at the top, followed by date and then the recipient’s name and address.

To make the letter's purpose clear, a subject line can also be included after personal information, but that's optional.

Step 3: Begin With a Respectful Salutation

Begin the letter with a polite salutation, along with the last name of the entity you're writing the letter to. For this, ensure you know the full name of the person you're going to refer to. You can consider options such as:

Dear Judge (Last Name),
Respected Dean (Last Name),

In case you don't have any idea to whom the letter may be directed, you can also use “To Whom It May Concern.”

Step 4: Introduce Yourself

Provide information on who you are and how you're related to the person. It can include details about how long you have been in touch with this individual and what your position is in their life. Try to be honest to safeguard the integrity of your own self as well as the person you're writing for.

Here's an example to make things even clearer:

"My name is Alexa, and I have been Parker Siri's Principal for over ten years."

Step 5: Discuss the Person’s Character

Start by discussing the specific traits of a person's character that distinguish them from others. It can include how a person is honest, reliable, kind and punctual.

To have them leave a long-lasting impression on the reader, consider using real examples with each trait. Again, remember to be truthful, as exaggeration can hurt the credibility of both parties.

Here's a good example of discussing a person's character:

“Parker consistently treats both teachers and classmates with kindness. His dedication to his studies and his involvement in community service projects have always impressed me.”

Additionally, when considering how to write a character letter to a judge, use truthful instances as they carry more weight.

Step 6: Explain Why You're Writing This Letter

In this step, the writer needs to focus on why he or she is supporting this person. It must not be longer than a paragraph and must contain clear words so the reader understands it right away.

Moreover, if the letter is directed to a court, it should discuss how the person is making efforts to bring about a change.

Example:

“I am aware that Parker is currently facing a challenging situation, and I wanted to express my belief in his good character.”

Step 7: End With a Strong Closing Statement

Close the letter with a statement that includes your support for the person. Additionally, include your willingness to answer follow-up questions anytime soon and thank the reader for their time.

Avoid ending the letter abruptly, as it will make the document appear less professional. Moreover, when you're done with the writing part, check this letter through an AI Proofreader to eliminate any errors.

Step 8: Sign Off Politely

Lastly, sign off with appropriate words such as:

Best regards
Sincerely
Respectfully

And include your name after the closing salutation. Finally, for added credibility, don't forget to check your letter for accidental plagiarism using a plagiarism checker.

Final Words

Hopefully, the clear instructions provided here have equipped you with enough guidance on how to write a character letter. Ensure to adhere to the right format so the letter isn't just describing a person's traits but is actually proving them.

Best of luck!