A recommendation is a suggestion that someone or something is good, trustworthy, or worth choosing. When your teacher writes you a recommendation for an advanced class, she's telling the program director that you'd be an excellent student. When a friend recommends a book to you, they're saying “I loved this and think you will too.”

Recommendations carry weight because they come from people who have experience or knowledge. A restaurant recommendation from someone who's eaten there matters more than a random guess. A recommendation letter for college from a coach who's worked with you for years can show what you're really like as a person and teammate through detailed examples and observations.

The word can also mean the advice itself. A doctor's recommendation might be to get more sleep. A librarian's recommendation might lead you to discover your new favorite author.

Giving recommendations means putting your own reputation on the line. When you recommend something, you're saying “Trust me on this.” People are often careful about their recommendations because they want the person following their advice to have a good experience.