how to improve writing skills

How to Improve Your

Writing Skills

Writing police reports

takes time and effort.

You want to please

your supervisor…

…but maybe

your writing

skills aren’t as

sharp as you’d

like them to be.

What are some

things you can do

to become a

better police

writer?

Here are six things

you can start

doing right away.

1. Enlist a friend.

Ask a friend to

look over your

reports before

you submit them.

Pay attention to what others tell you

about your writing. You can learn a

lot that way.

Even the best writers sometimes have

trouble spotting their own mistakes.

Another set of eyes can be a big help.

2. Use resources.

If you’re writing

on a laptop, use

the spellchecker

and grammar

checker.

If you’re writing

by hand, keep a

dictionary

nearby—and use

it!

The Internet has many free resources

for police officers.

3. Proofread.

Don’t be in a

big hurry to

hand in your

report. Read it

over carefully

at least twice.

4. Keep a notebook.

Jot down reminders about words that

cause problems for you.

5. Read.

Nothing

(nothing!)

sharpens your

brainpower like

reading.

You’ll pick up all kinds of information

about language without even realizing

you’re doing it.

Set aside some time

for reading every

day.

(It doesn’t have to

be serious or

heavy!)

6. Keep it simple.

You don’t need a lot of grammar

terminology to be a good writer.

Good writing isn’t complicated!

• Start every sentence with a person,

place, or thing.

• End every sentence with a period.

• Keep your sentences short.

Let’s review.

Here are six

things you can do

TODAY to start

becoming a

better writer.

What’s stopping

YOU?