Writing Reports

 Writing Reports

Reports are widely used in industry and commerce to circulate information. In any large

organisation, those in charge have to base their decisions on the most up-to-date and

accurate information that is available. This usually comes to them as a report produced

to a clearly defined standard company format.

Reports are designed so that they do not necessarily have to be read in full. The title

page, terms of reference, abstract and contents page should show to the reader

whether the report is of interest, whether it should be read in full, or whether its main

recommendations should be noted and the main body of the text skimmed over.

As in technical writing, the language used should be clear, precise and objective. The

general layout of the report should help the reader to take in the information quickly and

easily.

Bearing in mind that there is scope for variation, and that this depends on the

judgement of the writer, the following guidance notes may be used as a model for the

layout of a typical business report. In some cases it is necessary to follow a specified

layout (eg for an undergraduate or postgraduate project follow the guidelines given to

you, for a company report follow that company’s own guidelines).