This topic came up on PHYSHARE list some time back (Nov 1997).
Here is what Herbert H. Gottlieb had to say.
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----You're called for a recommendation of a student or friend who is
extremely lazy.
You don't want to lie, but you also don't want to risk losing even a lazy
friend.
Try this line:
"In my opinion, you will be very fortunate to get this person to work for
you."
This gem of double meaning is the creation of Robert Thornton, a
professor of economics at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Thornton
was frustrated about an occupational hazard for teachers, having to
write letters of recommendation for people with dubious qualifications,
so he put together an arsenal of statements that can be read two
ways. He calls his collection the Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous
Recommendations, or LIAR, for short.
LIAR may be used to offer a negative opinion of the personal qualities,
work habits or motivation of the candidate while allowing the candidate
to believe that it is high praise, Thornton explained last week. Some
examples from LIAR:
* To describe a person who is totally inept:
"I most enthusiastically recommend this candidate with no qualifications
whatsoever."
* To describe an ex-employee who had problems getting along with fellow
workers:
"I am pleased to say that this candidate is a former colleague of mine."
* To describe a candidate who is so unproductive that the job would be
better left unfilled:
"I can assure you that no person would be better for the job."
* To describe a job applicant who is not worth further consideration:
"I would urge you to waste no time in making this candidate an offer of
employment. "
* To describe a person with lackluster credentials:
"All in all, I cannot say enough good things about this candidate or
recommend him too highly."
Thornton pointed out that LIAR is not only useful in preserving
friendships, but it also can help avoid serious legal trouble in a time
when laws have eroded the confidentiality of letters of recommendation.
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This was what Marty Weiss had to say
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Herb,
These were funny and apropos, because this is the time of year when we
must write recommendations for colleges. I say "must" because as the
last science teacher they have in high school I was once told by
administration I "MUST write a recommendation" for everyone who asks,
even the student who is failing physics! I have also developed a list
of neutral statements for such students.
In the course of the many years I have taught seniors I estimate that
I have written hundreds of recommendations. So what I have done is to
create "best of" files in the computer in several categories- 1) those
students without whom the class would have been very dull: they ask
questions, contribute great answers, are insightful in questioning, and
are quick learners, lead the group in lab exercises, in short make the
class a better place to be.
2) the average, normal, bright kids- are successful in problem
solving, cooperative and helpful in labs, work well in groups, are
quick to ask questions and will contribute to the flow of the class.
3) kids who might be bright but for some reason choose not to be (and
often act out some frustration with life): was a successful member of
the physics class, turned in the work when and as assigned, was a
member of cooperative lab groups (note- this doensn't say he/she
contributed much), solved the problems with a study group, has the
potential to succeed when challenged (note the use of potential:
always a neutral yet "positive" term).
In each file I have about 20 or so letters which I can modify to fit
almost every situation. This has proved so successful that several
colleagues have asked to use the format for their own recomendations.
Just today, a math teacher used a group 2 format for a former student of
algebra who got a B there last year, and I wrote one from the same
category for this student (in physics) who seems to have forgotten all
the algebra, but is plodding along so far. (He tries very hard with
some success.)
Good luck with writing recommendations- In this day of political
correctness it can be a tough job not to leave yourself open for
criticism if you say the wrong thing!