NCJ Number
141538
Journal
Aslet Journal Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-February 1993) Pages: 26-29
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper suggests six ways to improve the sentences used in incident reports, because good sentences are essential to good reports and some law enforcement personnel do not write good sentences.
Abstract
Report writers should follow the normal subject-verb pattern, although some variety in sentence patterns is desirable. They should not write fragments that omit either a subject or a verb. They should also use the active voice, use the verb form rather than the noun form of a word to make a point, and write short sentences with an average of 12 to 15 words. They should also avoid writing run-on sentences, which are an incorrect combination of two sentences. Examples