How to write a report:
Reports are the most impersonal kind of writing and it is usually best to avoid expressing personal opinions or feelings, except, perhaps, in the conclusion. Instead of I think that … or I found that… for example, you can use the impersonal “It” construction and a passive, eg It seems that… It was found that …
It is also advisable to avoid making very definite statements unless you’re absolutely sure they’re true. Instead of saying It is for example, you can use a modal verb eg It could/may/might be or a more tentative expression such as It seems to be or It tends to be.
Introduction
State the aim of your report.
Make sure you mention where you got the information from.
Main body
– Remember, headings and using listing/ numbering points make it much easier to read.
When you write make sure that you use a wide variety of phrases and write in an impersonal way. For example. “All those who responded believe that this would be….”
Make sure that all of your ideas are factual. This is not a story or a letter so using extreme adjectives is not required here.
Conclusion and recommendation
Only give the recommendations at the end.
Make a generalized point of view, not a detailed argument in this section.
Formal language only!
Useful language
Introduction: The aim of this report is to.. It is based on…
This report is intended to.. It draws on
This report looks at / describes.. It uses..
Reporting an
observation: It seems/appears that.. It was found that..
The majority / minority of … It was felt that ..
Quoting: According to … As X said… In the words of …
Speculating: It may / could / might (well) be that ..
Generalizing: In general On the whole In the main
Commenting: Interestingly Curiously Oddly Strangely
Surprisingly Predictably
As might be (have been) expected It is interesting that
Making a recommendation: It is recommended that ..
(Perhaps) it would be advisable for X to (do)
(Perhaps) X might /should consider
Summing up: To sum up / To summarise On balance In short
We have no hesitation in recommending….
