Writing Clarity and Grammar Flashcards

Which sentence is written in active voice?

Answer: Officer Kim completed the report.

In active voice, the subject performs the action; 'Officer Kim completed the report' clearly states who did what.

An officer writes: 'The department issues it's new uniforms each year.' What is wrong?

Answer: 'It's' should be 'its' — the possessive form

'Its' (no apostrophe) is the possessive pronoun; 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is,' which does not fit here.

In a report, an officer describes the chain of events using: 'First … Then … Finally …' What writing technique is this?

Answer: Transitional sequencing

Transitional sequencing uses words like first, then, and finally to guide the reader through events in chronological order.

Which of these sentences contains a comma splice?

Answer: The light was red the driver ran it.

A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with only a comma and no coordinating conjunction; the second option has no connector at all, making it a run-on.

What is the clearest way to rewrite: 'Due to the fact that the suspect fled, a pursuit was initiated by officers.'

Answer: Because the suspect fled, officers initiated a pursuit.

Replacing 'due to the fact that' with 'because' and switching to active voice makes the sentence direct and concise.

An officer's report reads: 'The witness' account contradicted the defendant's statement.' Is the apostrophe in 'witness'' correct?

Answer: Yes, for a singular noun ending in 's,' adding only an apostrophe is acceptable style

For singular nouns ending in 's,' both 'witness'' and 'witness's' are accepted; LAPD style typically accepts 'witness'' as the possessive.

Which transition word best shows contrast between two observations in a report?

Answer: However

'However' signals a contrast or contradiction between the preceding and following statements.