Writing and Grammar Skills Flashcards

Which sentence is written in active voice as preferred for police reports?

Answer: The officer observed the suspect enter the building.

'The officer observed the suspect enter the building' uses active voice with the officer as the subject performing the action.

Which of the following correctly uses 'their,' 'there,' or 'they're'?

Answer: The witnesses said they're willing to testify.

'They're' is a contraction of 'they are.' 'The witnesses said they are willing to testify' is grammatically correct.

An officer wants to describe the sequence of events in a report. Which transition word best indicates that one event happened immediately after another?

Answer: Subsequently

'Subsequently' means 'coming after in time or order,' making it the appropriate transition to indicate one event followed another.

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

Answer: After interviewing the witness, the report was completed.

'After interviewing the witness, the report was completed' is a dangling modifier because the report cannot interview a witness — the officer did.

Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?

Answer: The investigation revealed new evidence; the case was reopened.

A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses. 'The investigation revealed new evidence' and 'the case was reopened' are both complete sentences.

Which word choice is most appropriate in a formal police report?

Answer: The responding officer instructed the individual to halt.

Police reports require formal, professional language. 'The responding officer instructed the individual to halt' uses appropriate formal terminology.