Professor wants to include a specific (maybe unnecessary) issue and focus less on other necessary ones in LoR. Please share your perspective I am applying to a PhD program in humanities/social sciences. I asked a professor  I know (we are outside the US) to write a strong letter of recommendation for me and he said he would be glad. However, the possible content of the letter (we have only talked about it together) gave rise to two questions for me:
Firstly, he wants to include a line to the effect that he plans to work with me in different ways in future research. At first glance, it feels like a very positive note but I am not sure if the admissions committee may see something implied here that may become problematic (e.g., the student may be too distracted or he may be too busy to focus on his PhD). What do you think?
Secondly, when I asked for some other issues he seemed a bit reluctant. For example, I asked him to write more than one page if possible but he insists on one page being enough. Or, when I asked him to illustrate his praise with specific examples so as to make it credible, he agreed but kept saying that no more than two or three examples are needed and a minimal approach will be more successful. Again, this could be true but I just don't want to rely on my own judgement in this regard. So, I appreciate your take on this issue.
I think you should defer to the advisor on both counts. I don't see any negative implication in the first point. It is actually pretty high praise.
And on the second, I'll have to guess that his judgment is based on more experience than you have.
Moreover, if he doesn't feel constrained by your &quot;instructions&quot;, then he will probably write in a more natural way and that, alone, could make a difference when the letter is read.
I think that trying to micromanage this would hurt, not help.