Written Communication and Grammar Flashcards

Which sentence uses the passive voice correctly in a police report?

Answer: The suspect was arrested by the officer.

The passive voice places the subject receiving the action first, which is acceptable in reports when the object of the action is the focus.

In formal police reports, which pronoun usage is most appropriate?

Answer: The reporting officer observed the vehicle moving erratically.

Many police jurisdictions require third-person references to avoid ambiguity and maintain objectivity in formal reports.

Which of the following is an example of a dangling modifier?

Answer: Running to the scene, backup was radioed for.

A dangling modifier occurs when the modifying phrase does not clearly refer to the correct subject in the sentence.

Which punctuation correctly sets off a non-essential clause?

Answer: The suspect, who was wearing a red jacket, was apprehended.

Non-essential (non-restrictive) clauses are set off by commas on both sides.

Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?

Answer: Each of the witnesses were interviewed.

'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun and requires a singular verb ('was'), not the plural 'were'.

What does 'conciseness' mean in the context of police report writing?

Answer: Expressing information clearly using as few words as necessary.

Conciseness means conveying complete information without unnecessary words or repetition.

Which correctly uses a semicolon?

Answer: The scene was secured; the detective began her investigation.

A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.