<p>My teacher wrote on his recommendation letter that I am hard nosed. Does that have a positive or negative connotation? It sounds negative to me, but according to the dictionary, it means “unsentimentally practical”, “down to earth” and “realistic”. That describes me perfectly, but another source says “stubborn” and “inflexible”.</p>
<p>All those definitions can be correct. Whether “hard nosed” is positive or negative depends on the context in which it is used. What was the rest of the sentence from your teacher?</p>
<p>Hard-nosed… in what context?</p>
<p>I do not know the context; he just told me that he put I was hard nosed.</p>
<p>I agree it’s all about the context–if, for example, she was describing your work on the school newspaper, I would say this is definitely positive.</p>
<p>In a recommendation, probably not so positive, just slightly to the negative side of neutral. Teacher could have said “determined”, “focused”, “unwavering in principles.”
But better than “stubborn”, “rigid”, “closed-minded”, “opinionated”!</p>
<p>He will probably tell you verbally although I wouldn’t press him on it. I’m not sure the teacher should have even said what he said. I think you will get the answer you are looking for, depending on his reaction. I agree with performersmom, even a word like “tenacious” would have been a better choice and it leans to being slightly negative.</p>
<p>Without knowing the specific context in which it was said, my association with “hard nosed” is someone who is stubborn, thick headed, and inflexible. Someone who believes that his way of thinking is the only right way of thinking.</p>
<p>Yes, when I hear the word hard-nosed I think of someone who believes their thinking or their way is correct and will not deviate. The definition in Websters is “being tough, stubborn, or uncompromising” which can be positive or negative depending on the situation. I’ve not seen the definition the OP posted. If you aren’t in the habit of arguing or pressing your teacher to the point of the teacher’s exhaustion perhaps it was meant in a positive vein.</p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better, the Collins Thesaurus of the English language lists “badass” as one of the synonyms for hard-nosed.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Well, he was not an English teacher; he is an engineer. Well, I have traits of all the definitions. I am very one sided and will not waver in a debate. I am very rooted in logic and hold my own in debates. That might have been what he meant. But I am also a realist (some might call me cynic) and very practical. Who knows what he meant by that. I’ll ask tomorrow.</p>
<p>There’s also the possibility that he was “messing” with you. IF he was, it worked…</p>
<p>“bad ass”
ROTFL</p>
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<p>Sounds like that might fit more the “stubborn” definition.</p>
<p>I think from an engineer the context is likely to be positive.</p>
<p>david - As others have said, it really depends on the context. “Kicking a** and taking names” is a laudable trait in some situations, less so in others. What it means in an academic sense is really hard to say without knowing the context in which the term was used. I’d like to think it means a student who is totally focussed on the subject at hand and will not be dissuaded from his pursuit of excellence in the matter.</p>
<p>In any case, what’s done is done re: that recommendation. It’s poor practice to worry about things you can’t change. (FWIW my HS teachers were completely wrong about me as a student, and as a person.)</p>
<p>Sounds like this is becoming a teachable moment for you to figure out what he meant. If you insist you must ask him tomorrow, and I’m not sure you should… my advice is: whatever he says, don’t argue with him! If you ask, it’d be respectful to say you’re trying to figure things out so want some honest feedback. You don’t ask him in order to debate with him that it’s not a true or fair characterization. </p>
<p>Context makes all the difference, I agree. When I think of a “hard-nosed newspaper reporter” I think with admiration of Woodward and Bernstein. They didn’t quit or waver until the job was done to the level of inner curiosity they had cultivated. Their perseverence made history! They were hard-nosed in their work but their self-assigned task required that quality to take it to the highest level of truth. BUT… it doesn’t mean they were hard-nosed with their friends and families after-hours.</p>
<p>If you don’t see someone else’s point-of-view in discussions about which movie to see among friends, being “hard-nosed” in that context is an unpleasant personality trait.</p>
<p>How you behave in classrooms is probably in-between the history-making news reporter’s day and the everyday of choosing a movie. If you are “hard-nosed” as a student of Literature, History, Social Science, Government…then you are missing a lot of other points-of-view and discrediting them before you consider them. If it’s an engineering class, aren’t there times when a new point-of-view has merit worth considering before you argue yourself into the dirt over what you already believed?</p>
<p>…analyzed that one to death!</p>
<p>My teacher essentially said that he meant both. He said that he laid down the facts. No fluff, just the cold hard truth. He said how it can be an asset and how it can negatively impact me. I think that is just perfect. I am able to effectively defend my PhD dissertation when that rolls around in 8 years. I am also prone to speaking out when I disagree and see an improvement to be made. It will also be hard to persuade me to do something other than what I have in mind. Well, I had him for 3 years and he knows a lot of the “bad” side of me. He knows that I will often neglect the emotions of others and deliver the hard cold analysis. Eh, he already submitted it weeks ago. No need to worry about it now. He said that it was good for me to be very bold and not be modest during my interview.</p>
<p>david,
so, I guess he was pretty “hard-nosed” about you, then…</p>
<p>david, Thanks for the update from your “bad-ass” teacher and best of luck to you!</p>