The Use of Metadiscursive Markers in Letters of Recommendation: An Investigation of Gender Variations

This study aimed to investigate gender variations in letters of recommendation. It used the metadiscourse theory with respect following resources: hedges, boosters, attitude markers, engagement and self-mentions. The findings showed that hedges devices were least frequent both groups, but at same time more by males compared female recommenders. Boosters, on other hand, highly corpora and, like employed frequently male group. Interestingly, while groups shared using specific hedging boosting tokens, each group appeared favor certain devices. markers most two samples Similarly, seemed use markers. revealed highest divergence between as they letters. Finally, self-mentions equally, plural forms. closes some pedagogical implications highlighting how can be importance for academics.