Writing and Grammar Skills Flashcards

Which sentence is written most clearly and correctly for a police report?

Answer: The suspect quickly fled the scene on foot.

'The suspect quickly fled the scene on foot' is clear, grammatically correct, and uses active voice appropriate for police reports.

Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The officer had to ______ the scene before conducting a search.'

Answer: secure

'Secure' is the correct base verb form to follow 'had to' as part of the infinitive.

Identify the grammatical error in the following sentence: 'Neither the officer nor the witnesses was able to identify the vehicle.'

Answer: 'was' should be 'were'

When using 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 'Witnesses' is plural, so the verb should be 'were.'

Which of the following report statements is the most specific and objective?

Answer: The suspect avoided eye contact and repeatedly shifted weight from foot to foot.

Describing observable behaviors (avoiding eye contact, shifting weight) is objective and specific, unlike subjective interpretations like 'nervous' or 'hiding something.'

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

Answer: The suspect, a 35-year-old male, was arrested at the scene.

'The suspect, a 35-year-old male, was arrested at the scene' correctly uses commas to set off an appositive phrase.

An officer writes: 'Me and my partner responded to the scene.' How should this sentence be corrected?

Answer: 'Me and my partner' should be 'My partner and I'

When a pronoun is used as the subject of a sentence, 'I' (not 'me') is correct. The correct form is 'My partner and I.'