Writing Ability Flashcards
7 cards from real POST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Writing Ability flashcards as text
Which sentence correctly uses 'affect' vs. 'effect'?
Answer: The weather affected the visibility at the scene.
'Affect' is typically a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is typically a noun meaning result.
A sergeant reviewing a report finds: 'Me and my partner responded to the call.' What is the error?
Answer: Wrong pronoun case — should be 'My partner and I'
When the pronoun is the subject of the sentence, 'I' must be used, not 'me.'
Which sentence correctly uses the apostrophe?
Answer: The officers' reports were filed on time.
For plural possessives, the apostrophe follows the 's': officers' (belonging to multiple officers).
Which transition word best introduces a contrasting idea in a report narrative?
Answer: However
'However' signals contrast or contradiction between ideas, making the narrative logical to readers.
An officer writes: 'The victim had cuts on their arm that was bleeding.' What should be corrected?
Answer: 'was' should be 'were' to agree with 'cuts'
'Cuts' is plural, so the verb must be 'were,' not 'was,' to maintain subject-verb agreement.
Which sentence uses correct paragraph structure for a report narrative?
Answer: On 08/15/2026 at 0300 hrs I responded to 123 Main St for a burglary. At the scene I contacted the owner, Jane Smith, who stated she heard glass breaking. I observed a broken rear window and footprints leading to the alley.
Effective report paragraphs include the time, location, actions taken, and observations in complete sentences.
Which of the following is the best revision of: 'Due to the fact that the road was wet, the vehicle lost control'?
Answer: Because the road was wet, the vehicle lost control.
'Because' is a concise and direct replacement for the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that.'