INVESTIGATIVE

REPORT
WRITING

By: Victor L. Dionela, RCRIM, MSCJ

- is a description of facts
surrounding a crime. It is used to
report who, what, when, where,
why and/or how a crime took
place, although some of those
facts may not be known at the
time it is written.
- The term "police report" can be
used to describe a report filed by a
victim or witness of a crime or the
preliminary report filed by an
officer investigating a crime.
• These reports are often passed on to
other policemen or crime scene
specialists, who use them as a factual
basis for investigating the crime. Unlike
other prose-based essays, the main
focus of preliminary reports is to report
the facts, rather than argue a thesis.
- It is any written matter prepared by
the police involving their interaction
with the community.

- It is an exact narration of facts

discovered during the course of
investigation which serves as a
permanent written record for future
reference.
PURPOSES OF REPORT
WRITING
• To account upward and outward for their
activities and to justify their programs
• To report upward and outward
information concerning progress, future
needs and plans, and decision being
made. ..\..\Public\Documents\Drive D\ming\LDCU\YEAR END 2010 ITP-PGS.doc -mercy.doc
• To report upward for purposes of
administrative control.
• To inform downward (in the
organization) concerning policies,
programs, resources, procedures, and
all other matters concerning work in
the police organization
IMPORTANT USES OF REPORT
WRITING
• Serves as records for police administrators in
planning, directing, and organizing the unit’s duties
• used as legal documents in the prosecutions of
criminals
• Used by other agencies
• Useful to local media which need access to public
documents
• Written report is reflective of the author’s
personality
• Can be a basis for research
VALUES AND USES OF POLICE
REPORT
• It serves as the raw materials from which
record systems are made;

• It is written to serve as part of the

component of the record system, the direct
relationship between the efficiency of the
department and the quality of its reports and
reporting procedures;
VALUES AND USES OF POLICE
REPORT
• It is written to guide police administrator for
policy-formulation and decision-making;

• It is written to serve as a gauge for efficiency

evaluation of police officers; and

• It is written to guide prosecutors and courts

in the trial of criminal cases investigated by
the police.
 REWARDS OF REPORT
WRITING
Reports are the best gauge of the pride you take in your
work, the interests you manifest, the abilities you
possess, and the knowledge you have accumulated.

When you write outstanding police reports, you open

the door other opportunities (promotion, assignment,
talent search, etc.)
 REWARDS OF REPORT
WRITING

The ability to write police reports will not only satisfy

the needs of the police organization, law enforcement
agencies, and individuals, but will also enable you to
prove that you know something and can express it.
1. Informal Reports – is a letter of memorandum or
any one of many prescribed or used methods of
communications, in a day-by-day police operations. It
carries three items besides the text proper, the data
submitted, subject, and person or persons to whom
submitted, and it contain many items of administrative
importance along with the subject matter of the text.
Most police reports are placed in this category.

2. Formal Reports – suggest a full-dress treatment,

including cover, title page, letter of transmittal,
summary sheet, text, appendixes, and sometimes index
and bibliography.

Types/Classifications
• General Orders – used to publish matters relating to
the modification of the skeleton of the organization,
shifting of functions from one command to another,
changes of territorial jurisdiction of police precincts,
and those that requires execution of policies of the
administration.
• Special Orders – used to announce appointments of
personnel, whether original or promotional,
reinstatements, rank promotions, salary increases,
transfers, designations, administrative fines and
punishments, resignations, retirements and
dismissals.

Other Types of Informal Reports

• Numbered Memoranda – it contains directives
of general concern to, and for compliance by, all
units and offices on specific subjects concerning
various phases of external and internal police
administration.
• Circulars – utilized in the publication of law,
ordinances, executive orders, republic acts,
administrative orders, opinions and other
valuable information which serve as convenient
guides and references for members in the
performance of their official duties.

Other Types of Informal Reports

• Memoranda – used for the dissemination of
specific orders for implementation/compliance by
certain units or individual members, usually of
temporary nature or lasting for a certain period
only. This is also utilized for the publications of
letters or appreciation and other communications
from various government and/or private offices
and individuals.

Other Types of Informal Reports

• Initial Report – is an advance information on a
new or fresh case assigned to an investigator. It is
written and submitted immediately after having
conducted the initial investigation of the case.

Classification of Investigative
Reports (report on the findings of the investigator)
• Progress Reports – are the result of the follow-
up investigations of the fresh or new case. It is
written and submitted every time or whenever
any development or progress is accomplished in
the follow-up investigation.

Classification of Investigative
Reports (report on the findings of the investigator)
• Final Report - is written and submitted
whenever the case is solved and classified as
closed. It is categorized as solved and closed
when the offender is finally arrested, the
evidence gathered to warrant prosecution and
witnesses were located to testify for trial.

Classification of Investigative
Reports
• Operational Reports - A category of police
report relating to police incidents, investigations,
arrests, identification of persons and
miscellaneous reports.
• Internal Report - a police report relating to the
management of the police organizations.
• Spot Report - a report that is done after an
important incident takes place in a certain area at
a given time.
• Special Reports - these report are done from a
lower police office to a higher police office.

Other Types of Reports

• Situation Report - a report similar to the patrol
submitted every eight hours while patrol is done
in regular basis.
• Beat Inspection or After-Patrol Reports - This
report is one of the most common forms of
written communications submitted daily by the
duty beat supervisor.
• Routing Slip - is primarily aimed at transmitting
papers from office to office within the police unit
or station.

Other Types of Reports

• Arrest report - a report made out in full on each
person arrested and should be prepared at the
time a prisoner is booked.

• Police blotter – daily written record of events in

a police station.

Other Types of Reports

 more than correct writing
 correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar
 must be interesting
 creative aspect of writing
 use/choice of words and organization of
ideas to capture the attention of the reader
sample police reports.docx
1. Writing better sentences – interesting
writing; to catch and hold the reader’s
attention – create effective and
readable sentences
2. Choosing your words – specific words;
descripting instead of vague or
general ones (ex. place, men, etc.)
3. Sentence patterns – simple,
compound, complex
- declarative, question, exclamation, command
sample sentences.docx
4. Constructing better paragraphs – sentence are
arranged to form a paragraph

a. Unity – sentences –one topic; topic sentence states in general

terms the main point in the paragraph (beginning or end of the paragraph)

b. Adequate development
- reasons
- examples
- similarities and differences
- statistics and facts
- incidents
 c. Coherence
- details in paragraph are arranged in
chronological order
- sentences are well linked so that the
reader is able to follow your thoughts
* chronological order
* space order – nearest to most distant
* other methods – importance, interest,
or difficulty
- use “next, meanwhile, for example, in
addition, however” – helps to show relationship (ask examples)
 Linking words – words that bridge the idea of a
previous paragraph to another. (e.g. hence,
finally, otherwise, furthermore, so, yet, etc.)

d. Sentences should be
* correct- in grammar, structure,
completeness, etc.
* clear
* concise (states necessary details
without wasting words)
(brief - omitting details)
 CRITERIA FOR GOOD
POLICE REPORTS
1. Clarity – a writer should consider: the reader has no time to waste; no
time to refer to the dictionary

2. Accuracy – rule-governed; of syntax (word order), format, grammar, diction

3. Brevity – or conciseness means saying much in a fewer words
(use simple sentence, short, common words); wordy and
lengthy sentences tend to make the idea vague.

4. Specificity – in writing concrete examples, use specific words that

bring the reader close to firsthand experience

5. Completeness – essential elements must be complete: 5Ws and

1H. Omission of data may leave the reader asking more
questions which must be avoided.
 CRITERIA FOR GOOD
POLICE REPORTS
6. Timeliness – a report rendered after a considerable lapse of time is
useless and defeats the purpose of submitting an
incident report.
- belated accounts become histories for future use and
not for immediate use.
7. Security – all significant incident reports are considered classified,
hence these should be limited to police personnel,
contents are prohibited to be divulged/revealed to anybody
unless a regulation permits it.
8. Impartiality – important data in a report must not be added or
omitted to conceal responsibilities, impute liabilities, or
favor parties.
- embellishments, by inducing incredible information to
make the report impressive, must be avoided
 Qualities of Good Report
Writing
(content)

• Factual – because the report’s content are all based on facts,

taken form one or any or all of the investigator’s five senses, that
of sight, smell ,taste, touch and hearing, thus it can be proven.

• Complete – means reporting all the facts which were discovered

in the course of investigation. Hence, any relevant and pertinent
information must be reflected in the report.

• Objective – means presenting all facts with appropriate words,

free from the writer’s opinions, propaganda or emotional
bearings.
 Qualities of Good Report
Writing
(content)

• Clear – means that the report should be as simple and direct as

possible. The subject or objective, or purpose of the report should
be clearly stated.

• Relevant – in the sense that the report should relate exclusively

to the stated objective of the report. However, if another topic or
matter is to be introduced in the same report, as a result of the
follow-up investigation of the original case, the presentation or
inclusion of the newly discovered facts should be closely related
and the relationship should be made clear.
 Qualities of Good Report
Writing
(content)

• Brief – this can be attained by avoiding sensationalizing the

facts, which is the inclusion of unnecessary details not
related to the case under investigation. A report can be brief
if the facts are unified and coherent.

• Accurate – means the contents of the report must be based

on facts, which are known through the use of any or all of
the five senses; sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
 Qualities of Good Report
Writing
(content)

• Up-to-date – meaning reports should be submitted on time and

possibly according to schedule. Hence, it should be current as of
the time it is needed.

• Fair – which can only be done through the avoidance of

formulated preconceived theories that could possibly lead to
twisting of the real facts that could affect the report. And this can
only be done by keeping an open mind.
TONE OF POLICE REPORTS
Police reports are most effective when they have an
objective tone.

The use of “I or WE, ME OR MY”, makes writing

subjective and opinionated.

Administrative decisions cannot effectively be

based on subjective opinions.
 5WS AND 1 H
The police officer need not be a literary
genius to write a good police report. If
he knows his 5Ws and 1 H, his report
will be complete. DV.pdf

Generally, the who, when, and where

will appear at the beginning of the
report.
 5WS AND 1 H
The reader needs to know the persons
involved, the date and time the incident
happened, and the location in which it
took place.
What happened is usually unfolded
throughout the report. The how is
closely related to the what. The why
belongs before or after the what,
depending on the situations.
 5WS AND 1 H
The six questions cover the essentials
of many typical police reports.
A police report is written because a crime is
committed, and an investigation of it is made.
If the writer has failed to ask important
questions during the investigation, then
he is likely to submit an incomplete
report, which understandably becomes
unreliable.
Five Basic Steps in Writing
Reports
1. G – Gather the facts.
2. R – Record the facts.
3. O – Organize the facts.
4. W – Write the report.
5. E – Evaluate the report by
(a)Editing
(b)Proofreading
Five Basic Steps in Writing
Reports
• Gather the facts – by conducting thorough
investigation by means of interviewing the
witnesses and interrogating the suspect.
• Record the facts – immediately and accurately
in a notebook and not in memorary.
• Organize the facts – by arranging the
sequence of facts and events in an outline
form.
Five Basic Steps in Writing
Reports
• Write the report
• Evaluate the report – by editing wherein the
answer to the five W’s and 1 H are factly
answered, and by proofreading through assertion
of the correctness of grammar, spelling,
appropriate applications of punctuations,
capitalization, sentence structure and paragraph
construction.
 SEATWORK
O Prepare reports using “next,
meanwhile, for example, in
addition, however”
O EX. Initial report, Informal
report, Internal report,
Special report, Spot report.
BASIC
COMMUNICATION
STYLE
• Four Types of Communication Style
PASSIVE COMMUNICATION
is a style in which individuals have
developed a pattern of avoiding
expressing their opinions or
feelings, protecting their rights,
and identifying and meeting their
needs.
(As a result, passive individuals do not respond overtly to hurtful or anger-inducing situations. Instead, they allow grievances and annoyances to mount, usually unaware of the
buildup. But once they have reached their high tolerance threshold for unacceptable behavior, they are prone to explosive outbursts, which are usually out of proportion to the
triggering incident. After the outburst, however, they may feel shame, guilt, and confusion, so they return to being passive.)
AGGRESSIVE COMMUNICATION
is a style in which individuals
express their feelings and opinions
and advocate for their needs in a
way that violates the rights of
others. Thus, aggressive
communicators are verbally and/or
physically abusive.
PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE COMMUNICATION

is a style in which individuals

appear passive on the surface but
are really acting out anger in a
subtle, indirect, or behind-the-
scenes way.
(People who develop a pattern of passive-aggressive communication usually feel powerless, stuck, and resentful – in other words,
they feel incapable of dealing directly with the object of their resentments. Instead, they express their anger by subtly undermining the
object (real or imagined) of their resentments. )
ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION

is a style in which individuals

clearly state their opinions and
feelings, and firmly advocate for
their rights and needs without
violating the rights of others.

(These individuals value themselves, their time, and their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs and are
strong advocates for themselves while being very respectful of the rights of others.)
In the English language, words can
be considered as the smallest
elements that have distinctive
meanings. Based on their use and
functions, words are categorized
into several types or parts of speech.
NOUN
This part of a speech refers to words that are used
to name persons, things, animals, places, ideas, or
events. Nouns are the simplest among the 8 parts
of speech, which is why they are the first ones
taught to students in primary school

1. Tom Hanks is very versatile.

2. Dogs can be extremely cute.
3. It is my birthday.
Types of Noun
• Proper– proper nouns always start with a capital letter
and refers to specific names of persons, places, or things.
• Examples: Volkswagen Beetle, Shakey’s Pizza, Game of
Thrones
• Common– common nouns are the opposite of proper
nouns. These are just generic names of persons, things,
or places.
• Examples: car, pizza parlor, TV series
• Concrete– this kind refers to nouns which you can
perceive through your five senses.
• Examples: folder, sand, board
• Abstract- unlike concrete nouns, abstract nouns are those
which you can’t perceive through your five senses.
• Examples: happiness, grudge, bravery
Types of Noun
• Count– it refers to anything that is countable, and
has a singular and plural form.
• Examples: kitten, video, ball, equipment, furniture
• Mass– this is the opposite of count nouns. Mass
nouns are also called non-countable nouns, and they
need to have “counters” to quantify them.
• Examples of Counters: kilo, cup, meter
• Examples of Mass Nouns: rice, flour, garter
• Collective– refers to a group of persons, animals, or
things.
• Example: faculty (group of teachers), class (group of
students), pride (group of lions)
PRONOUN
A pronoun is a part of a speech which
functions as a replacement for a noun. Some
examples of pronouns are: I, it, he, she, mine,
his, hers, we, they, theirs, and ours.

• Janice is a very stubborn child. She just

stared at me and when I told her to stop.
• The largest slice is mine.
• We are number one.
PRONOUN
The nouns for which pronouns stand are
called antecedents.

• Janice is a very stubborn child. She just

stared at me and when I told her to stop.
• Mr. Cruz bought an airline ticket. He is
going to Gingoog City.
• The suspects hid the cadaver but it was
recovered by the investigators.
KINDS OF PRONOUN
1. Personal pronouns – may refer to person
speaking; the person being spoken to; or the
person, place, or thing spoken about.
 PERSON AND NUMBERS (Pronoun)

SINGULAR PLURAL
1st Person I/my/mine We/us/ours
2nd Person You/yours You/yours
3rd Person He/She/It They/theirs
him/his/hers/her/its
KINDS OF PRONOUN
2. Demonstrative pronouns – point out
specific persons, places, or things.
SINGULAR PLURAL
This, That These, Those
3. Indefinite pronouns – point out specific
persons, places, or things.
SINGULAR PLURAL S/P
Another, anyone both, few all, any, more
Everyone, nobody many most, none
Somebody several, others
KINDS OF PRONOUN
4. Relative pronouns – connect group of
words to another idea in the same sentence.
(that, which, who whom, and whose)
Ex. The actor whom we admire gave us his
autograph.
5. Reflexive pronouns – refer back to the
subject.
Ex. The children dressed themselves.
I, myself, took care of the problem.
KINDS OF PRONOUN
6. Interrogative pronouns – introduce
questions. (what, which, who, whom, and
whose)
Ex. Which part of the house is greatly
damaged?
7. Reciprocal pronouns – indicate some
mutual relationship between two or more
persons or things.
Ex. The spouses give each other a hard time.
All the students see one another in the reunion.
ADJECTIVE
This part of a speech is used to describe a
noun or a pronoun. Adjectives can specify
the quality, the size, and the number of
nouns or pronouns.
• The carvings are intricate.
The italicized word describes the appearance of the noun “carvings.”
• I have two hamsters.
The italicized word “two,” is an adjective which describes the number of
the noun “hamsters.”
• Wow! That doughnut is huge!
The italicized word is an adjective which describes the size of the noun
“doughnut.”
VERB
This is a word that shows an action
(physical or mental), process, or state of
being of the subject in a sentence.
State of Being Verbs: am, is, was, are, and were
• Sample Sentences:
1. As usual, the Stormtroopers missed their
shot.
The italicized word expresses the action of the subject “Stormtroopers.”

2. They are always prepared in emergencies.

The verb “are” refers to the state of being of the pronoun “they,” which is the subject
in the sentence.
VERB
KINDS OF VERBS:
1. Action verbs – tell what kind of action a
person or thing is making. (dance, speak, write)

2. Transitive verbs – require an object to

complete its meaning. (took the book)

3. Intransitive verb- is complete by itself and

does not require an object to complete its
meaning. (Justine laughed.)
VERB
KINDS OF VERBS:
4. Linking verb – connects a subject and its
complement.(The glass is empty.)

5. Helping verb/auxiliary verbs- are added

before another verb in order to make a verb
phrase. (Gerard is sleeping.)

6. Phrasal verb- consists of a verb and another

word or phrase, usually a preposition. (Father
found out that the water tank was empty.)
 VERB TENSES – is a form of verb that shows a

V time of action or state of being.

E BASIC FORMS:
1. Present Tense (S-noun:P-verb)

R 2. Past Tense (Regular/Irregular)

3. Future Tense

B 4. Present perfect tense

5. Past perfect tense
6. Future perfect tense
 VERB TENSES – is a form of verb that shows a

V time of action or state of being.

E PROGESSIVE FORMS:
1. Present progressive tense

R 2. Past progressive tense

3. Future progressive tense

B 4. Present perfect progressive

5. Past progressive
6. Future perfect progressive
 VERB TENSES – is a form of verb that shows a

V time of action or state of being.

E PROGESSIVE FORMS:
1. Present progressive tense

R 2. Past progressive tense

3. Future progressive tense

B 4. Present perfect progressive

5. Past progressive
6. Future perfect progressive
ADVERB
Just like adjectives,
adverbs are also
used to describe
words, but the
difference is that
adverbs describe
adjectives, verbs,
or another adverb.
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DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADVERBS

• Adverb of Manner– this refers to how

something happens or how an action is
done.
Example: Annie danced gracefully.
The word “gracefully” tells how Annie danced.
• Adverb of Time- this states “when”
something happens or “when” it is done.
Example: She came yesterday.
The italicized word tells when she “came.”
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADVERBS

• Adverb of Place– this tells something about

“where” something happens or ”where”
something is done.
Example: Of course, I looked everywhere!
The adverb “everywhere” tells where I “looked.”
• Adverb of Degree– this states the intensity or
the degree to which a specific thing happens or
is done.
Example: The child is very talented.
The italicized adverb answers the question, “To what degree is the child
talented?”
PREPOSITION
This part of a speech basically refers to
words that specify location or a location in
time.
•Examples of Prepositions: above, below, throughout,
outside, before, near, and since
• Sample Sentences:
1. Micah is hiding under the bed.
• The italicized preposition introduces the prepositional phrase “under the bed,” and
tells where Micah is hiding.

2. During the game, the audience never stopped

cheering for their team.
• The italicized preposition introduces the prepositional phrase “during the game,” and
tells when the audience cheered.
CONJUNCTION
The conjunction is a part of a speech which
joins words, phrases, or clauses together.
• Examples of Conjunctions: and, yet, but, for, nor,
or, and so
• Sample Sentences:
1. This cup of tea is delicious and very soothing.
2. Kiyoko has to start all over again because she
didn’t follow the professor’s instructions.
3. Homer always wanted to join the play, but he
didn’t have the guts to audition.
The italicized words in the sentences above are some examples of conjunctions.
INTERJECTION
This part of a speech refers to words which express
emotions. Since interjections are commonly used to
convey strong emotions, they are usually followed by an
exclamation point.

• Examples of
interjection
INTERJECTION
Sample Sentences:

• Ouch! That must have hurt.

• Hurray, we won!
• Hey! I said enough!
• The bold words attached to the
main sentences above are some
examples of interjections.
S
E  is a group of words that are put together
to mean something. A sentence is the
N basic unit of language which expresses
a complete thought. It does this by
T following the grammatical rules of

E
syntax (sentence structure).

N  A complete sentence has at least a

C
subject and a main verb to state
(declare) a complete thought.
E
S
E Ex. You sit. A subject is the noun that is
doing the main verb. The main verb is
N the verb that the subject is doing.

T  InEnglish and many other languages,

E the first word of a written sentence has
a capital letter. At the end of the
N sentence there is a full stop or full point

C
(period).

E
 KINDS OF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO PURPOSE
 DECLARATIVE
1. Ms. Capillaris Arendain stubbed Mr. Pedro Luniza to
death this morning at Cybermall Arcade, Cagayan de Oro
City because of not paying the debt.
 INTERROGATIVE
1. What happened this morning at Cybermall Arcade?
 EXCLAMATION
1. What a dreadful death of Mr. Luniza!
 COMMAND
1. Mr. Ornometoy, cover the incident happened at
Cybermall Arcade for special report in radio.
 KINDS OF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE
 SIMPLE SENTENCE –emphasizes a point
A simple sentence, also called an
independent clause, contains a subject and a
verb, and it expresses a complete thought.

Ex. The sixteen-year-old boy was abducted by

three men in black at around 11:00 in the
evening of June 30, 2013.
 KINDS OF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE
 COMPOUND SENTENCE – expresses related
ideas of equal importance
A compound sentence contains two
independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The
coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or,
yet, so.

Ex. The investigator looked at the side of

kidnapping and the witnesses trusted the police
personnel during the investigation.
 KINDS OF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE
 COMPLEX SENTENCE – helps relate two ideas that
are equal of importance
A complex sentence has an independent clause
joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex
sentence always has a subordinator such as because,
since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun
such as that, who, or which.

Ex. The victims were begging when the suspects shot

them dead.
S
E
 Follows the subject-verb agreement
Subject and Verb must agree with one another in

N number-singular and plural

T 1. S-V/S-AV

E
She steals./She is stealing.
1. S-V-DO/S-TV-DO

N She steals money./She is stealing money.

1. S-V-IO-DO

C She steals her money.

E
PUNCTUATIONS
 Punctuation– is the customary little marks
that determine whether a sentence is clear
or has a doubtful meaning.

. ? ! , ; :

““ ’ () -
• Antonyms – are words with opposite
meanings. e.g. leave – stay, long – short,
etc.

• Homonyms – words with similar sounds

but with different meaning and spelling.
e.g. buy – by, borne – born, still – steel,
dear – deer, dye – die, dyeing – dying

• Synonyms – words with similar meanings

but of different sounds and spelling.
e.g. home – abode, similar – the same,
faster – quickly, brutal – cruel, etc.
 • A - AN - THE
• definite - indefinite articles
• A - AN :

A and an are indefinite articles used to refer to a

singular countable noun.
An indefinite article means that we do not know
which one, or it is not important to know it.

A is used before :

• a consonant (b, c, d, f, g, etc.) a car/a hotel

• a vowel that is pronounced like yu"
a European/a university
• the vowel 'o' when it has a "w" sound
a one-way street
 • A - AN - THE
• definite - indefinite articles

• The is also used to refer to:

▪ Rivers, seas, oceans :

▪ the Mississippi river, the Mediterranean

sea, the Atlantic ocean

▪ Nationalities :
▪ the British, the Americans, the Japanese, the

Chinese, etc.
 • A - AN - THE
• definite - indefinite articles

• NO ARTICLE :

No article is used in generalisations:

▪ I like music.
▪ Caviar is expensive.

Exceptions :
▪ I watch television but I listen to the radio and I
go to the cinema.

▪ I don't play tennis but I play the piano,

the guitar, etc.
 • A - AN - THE
• definite - indefinite articles

• NO ARTICLE :

No article is used for place names

(towns, countries, mountains) :
• London, Spain, Mount Everest

• Except if plural :
• The Greek islands, The United
States, The Alps, The Himalayas
10 COMMON ERRORS
• 1. Not ending sentences with a period.
Here’s a quick lesson: Extra ideas end with commas.
Sentences end with periods.

• When McKay asked for a backup, EXTRA IDEA

McKay asked for a backup. SENTENCE
While I was driving to the scene, EXTRA IDEA
I was driving to the scene. SENTENCE

• Here’s how to put extra ideas and sentences together:

• When McKay asked for a backup, Jackson responded.
While I was driving to the scene, I had a flat tire.
10 COMMON ERRORS
• 2. Not knowing what a sentence is.
Remember: A sentence begins with a person, place,
or thing.
• He ran out the door. SENTENCE
After he ran out the door, EXTRA IDEA

• It’s a sentence even if it’s short or unclear.

• I understand. SENTENCE
He did. SENTENCE
It is here. SENTENCE
10 COMMON ERRORS
• 3. Using a comma to start a new sentence with it.
Nope! Use a period.
• The rope broke, it wasn’t strong
enough. INCORRECT
The rope broke. It wasn’t strong enough. CORRECT

I rejected her explanation, it didn’t make

sense. INCORRECT
I rejected her explanation. It didn’t make
sense. CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
• 4. Getting pronouns mixed up
(I, me, he, him, she, her, we, us, they, them).

• Jim and me searched the

neighborhood. INCORRECT.
(Think: I searched the neighborhood.)
Jim and I searched the neighborhood. CORRECT

• The captain gave Cynthia and I a special

assignment. INCORRECT
(Think: The captain gave me a special assignment.)
The captain gave Cynthia and me a special
assignment. CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
• 5. Using unnecessary apostrophes with the letter “s.”
Lesson: Use apostrophes only in contractions (don’t,
can’t) and “of” ideas (Mary’s car, Tom’s schedule).
Apostrophes aren’t decorations, and they don’t mean
more than one!

• The cars will be replaced in two years. (no “of” ideas,

and no apostrophes) CORRECT
John’s laptop isn’t working properly. (laptop of
John) CORRECT
The Browns are taking a vacation next month. (no “of”
ideas, and no apostrophes)
My uniform doesn’t need to be dry cleaned until next
week. (doesn’t is a contraction) CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
6. Putting a comma after a subordinate or coordinate
conjunction. Those conjunctions are words you use
every day: and, but, if, when, because, although, and
so on. Don’t put commas after them. Ever. (If you need
a comma, put it in front.)

• I walked around the whole perimeter of the store but,

I didn’t see or hear anything. INCORRECT
• I walked around the whole perimeter of the store, but
I didn’t see or hear anything. CORRECT
• I walked around the whole perimeter of the store but
didn’t see or hear anything. CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
6. Putting a comma after a subordinate or coordinate
conjunction. Those conjunctions are words you use
every day: and, but, if, when, because, although, and
so on. Don’t put commas after them. Ever. (If you need
a comma, put it in front.)

• Be especially careful with although. Anything that

starts with although is an extra idea that has to be
attached to a real sentence (and of course you’ll never
put a comma after although)

• He insisted on driving his car home. Although, his

friends tried to stop him. INCORRECT
• He insisted on driving his car home although his
friends tried to stop him. CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
7. Misspelling all right and a lot.
• All right and a lot are always two words. Always. No
exceptions. You can check the dictionary to verify this:
It will tell you that the common one-word spellings are
“substandard,” meaning that professionals (like you!)
never use them.

• Leon told me he was all right and didn’t need medical

attention. CORRECT
• Denise said she’d heard a lot of yelling coming from
the Wrights’ apartment. CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
8. Misusing quotation marks.
•Use quotation marks only for a person’s exact words.
If you change the words, omit the quotation marks.
•When you use quotation marks, put commas and
periods inside. Always. No exceptions.

•Casey said, “I was afraid to spend the night with him

in that condition, so I called my sister.”CORRECT

•Casey said she was afraid to spend the night with him
in that condition, so she called her sister.CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
9. Using texting style.
• Because texting is so popular, many people have
become careless about abbreviations and capital
letters. Beware! If you text often, ask a friend or family
member to check formal writing tasks to make sure
you made the switch to formal writing.

• I will call u when i no the location for our september

meeting. INCORRECT
• I will call you when I know the location for our
September meeting. CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
10. Misusing “helping verbs”
like is, are, was, were, has, have, and had.
• Writing the way you speak can cause huge
problems! Be especially careful with commonly
misused verbs like seen, went, did, and done.

• My partner and I seen her get into her

car. INCORRECT
• My partner and I saw her get into her car. CORRECT
• Captain Bolen has seen many changes in law
enforcement over the years. CORRECT
10 COMMON ERRORS
10. Misusing “helping verbs” like is, are, was, were, has, have,
and had.
•Writing the way you speak can cause huge problems! Be especially
careful with commonly misused verbs like seen, went, did, and done.

•After I had went to the parking garage, Thompson

changed his story. INCORRECT
•After I had gone to the parking garage,
Thompson changed his story. CORRECT

•Wilkes said he done everything by four

o’clock. INCORRECT
•Wilkes said he did everything by four
o’clock. CORRECT
•Wilkes said he had done everything by four
o’clock. CORRECT
 Complete each of the sentences below with a verb from the
box.
start ⁄ take ⁄ eat ⁄ think ⁄ sleep ⁄ go ⁄ like ⁄ drink ⁄ write ⁄ lives
 The film ________________ every day at 8 p.m.
 Many children _________________ milk with their meals.
 Cats generally _______________ a lot.
 Julie _______________ a letter to her mother once a week.
 Tom and Julie _______________ in a big city in the centre of the
country.
 Tourists _______________ to Egypt to see the pyramids.
 Jimmy always _______________ the bus to go to school.
 We all know that children _______________ sweets.
 Anne _______________ it's a good idea to do English exercises.
 If you want to be healthy, you must _______________ good food.
Answers :

1 - starts 6 - go
2- drink 7 - takes
3 - sleep 8 - like
4 - writes 9 - thinks
5 - live 10 - eat
 Complete the following sentences with A, AN or THE:
1. Danny wanted _____ new bicycle for Christmas.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

2. Jennifer tasted _____ birthday cake her mother had

made.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

3. The children have _____ new teacher called Mr.

Green.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE
 4. All pupils must obey _____ rules.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

5. Dad turned on _____ radio to listen to _____ news.

a) A/A
b) A/THE
c) THE/THE

6. Alex is in Boston studying for _____ MBA.

a) A
b) AN
c) THE
 7. The teacher read _____ interesting article from the
newspaper.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

8. There was _____ huge crowd of people outside the

church.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

9. Julie talked for _____ hour about her school project.

a) A
b) AN
c) THE
 10. _____ European expert was invited to speak to the
committee.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

11. The Mississippi river is in _____ United States of

America.
a) No article
b) AN
c) THE

12. It would help us if you gave _____ honest opinion.

a) A
b) AN
c) THE
You have to read the following sentences
and underline the word or words that
belong to the part of speech specified in
the bracket.

An example is given below.

Question: She must have reached home. (verb)

Answer: She must have reached home.

You have to read the following sentences
and underline the word or words that
belong to the part of speech specified in
the bracket.

An example is given below.

Question: She must have reached home. (verb)

Answer: She must have reached home.

1. She went to the market and bought some
eggs. (verb)
2. I want to go now. (adverb)
3. What are you doing there? (adverb)
4. There is a mouse underneath the piano.
(preposition)
5. Masons build houses. (noun)
6. John is my best friend. (proper noun)
7. She looked up but didn’t see anything.
(adverb)
8. My family live in different parts of India.
(collective noun)
9. That was a difficult question. (adjective)
10. She was very impressed with her results.
(adverb)
11. Although she is poor, she is happy.
(conjunction)
12. Have we bought enough chairs? (adjective)
13. The policeman didn’t run fast enough to catch
the thief. (adverb)
1. It is a name word that can only be used as a subject of a
sentence.
a. pronoun b. noun c. verb d. common noun

2. What is missing in the sentence? “The investigator is

_____.”
a. noun b. verb c. adverb d. adjective

3. They are necessary in the sentence, since they show

whether the sentence is clear or has a doubtful meaning.
a. subject b. punctuations c. verbs d. paragraphs

4. All are categorized as police reports EXCEPT one,

a. Initial b. Secondary c. Progress d. Follow-up
5. This statement is INCORRECT, except, the rest are
all correct.
a. A police report that carries lies or half truth
statements, is still a police report.
b. A police report can be submitted as time allows.
c. Accurateness of a police report can be based partly
on the use of our senses.
d. Adverbs are modifiers.

6. It explains best what a police report is.

a. daily operational occurrences
b. exact narrations of facts
c. police records
d. reaffirming what took place
7. Supply the correct form of verb; “I am not as good
today, as I _____yesterday.”
a. am b. was c. were d. did

8. The identity, particularly and specificity of a noun,

makes it a,
a. sentence b. proper noun c. subject d. Predicate

9. To avoid repetitions of nouns, we use,

a. a verb b. a pronoun c. a common noun d. a proper
noun

10. Per categories of reports, we classify police reports as,

a. routine reports c. on-the-spot reports
b. informal reports d. regular reports
11. SPO1 Solomon Matiyaga was promoted to the next rank by
his Commanding Officer, on the strength of his recommendation.
He gave a blow-out to his friends. Three months passed and he
was still receiving the same salary. What form of communication is
missing?
a. memorandum c. special order
b. approval by his CO d. written confirmation

12. A final police report can only be submitted, and the case
considered closed and solved when suspect was arrested and
charged, witnesses are willing to testify in court, and,
a. police investigator was summoned to appear in court.
b. statements taken were corroborated by witnesses
c. evidence were gathered and preserved for the prosecution
of the case.
d. Judge to handle the case was already appointed
13. All statements are incorrect, EXCEPT,
a. the relevance of the police report depends on how it
relays the exclusive objective
b. verbs are modifiers
c. keeping an open mind in reporting, makes the report fair
d. sometimes report writers should result to one’s opinion.

14. A general order carries all these directives EXCEPT,

a. rank promotion c. skeletal modification of the organization
b. retirement benefits d. compliance to directives

15. These words are _____ e.g.; brake – break, bail – bale,
buy – by, die – dye, and dear- deer. They are similar in sound
but different in meaning and spelling.
a. vocabularies b. antonyms c. homonyms d. phrases
16. They bridge ideas from previous paragraph to another.
a. conjunctions b. articles c. linking words d. paragraphs

17. Nouns can only be modified by;

a. adverb b. verb c. adjective d. a modifier

18. Doer of action in a sentence.

a. noun b. pronoun c. verb d. adverb

19. They have the same meaning, but of different sound and
spelling.
a. vocabularies b. homonyms c. synonyms d. Words

20. _____ reports are results of follow-up investigation on a

given criminal case.
a. initial b. on-the-spot c. progress d. final
21. The statement is INCORRECT.
a. Pronouns are substitutes for nouns.
b. Adjectives and adverbs can only be used as modifiers.
c. Verbs are action words.
d. Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.

22. Regular verbs form its past tense by simply,

a. changing its form c. adding d or ed to the last
letter
b. adding ing after removing y d. retaining its form

23. Adverbs can only modify, verbs, another adverb and,

_____.
a. noun b. pronoun c. adjective d. predicate
24. Which word has the wrong spelling.
a. accessories b. embezzlement c. malicious d.
affidavit

25. These statements are correct, EXCEPT,

a. Police reports can serve as raw materials from
which record systems can be adopted.
b. Police reports likewise serves as a gauge for good
police performance.
c. Police reports make police investigators efficient in
their jobs.
d. Police reports can be used for future reference.