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Write an honest character reference for a friend

A friend needs a character reference and you don't want to exaggerate. Get a warm, honest reference from examples you give.

Updated 17 Oct 2026

The prompt · ChatGPT

Write a character reference for a friend.

Purpose: [court / housing / job / other — high level]
How long I've known them: [time]
Relationship: [details]
Specific examples: [list]
Limits of what I can say: [optional]

Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. A sendable reference.
2. Overclaims removed.
3. A shorter version if there's a word limit.
4. Reminder I must be willing to be contacted and truthful.

Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts, quotes or what the other person thinks. UK English.

Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.

A short example

Fill the blanks, then paste. court / housing / job / other — high level: a short note you already have. time: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.

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