What is a report?

A report is a written document that presents the results of an investigation, project or initiative. It can
also be an in-depth analysis of a particular issue or data set. The purpose of a report is to inform,
educate and present options and recommendations for future action. Reports are an integral element of
dozens of industries, including science, tech, health care, criminal justice, business and academia.
Reports typically consist of several key elements, including:

Detailed summaries of events or activities

Analysis of the impact of the event

Evaluations of the facts and data

Predictions for what may happen as a result of an event

Recommendation for next course of action

Conclusion

Jobs that use written reports

Many occupations involve writing reports as a primary responsibility. For example, doctors must write
medical reports that present their analyses of certain patients and/or cases. Police officers write reports
that outline the details of interrogations and confrontations. Project managers, meanwhile, write regular
reports to keep their supervisors updated on how a particular project is developing. All these reports
must be well-written, accurate and efficient.

How to write a report

Knowing how to write a successful report can make you a valuable asset in your current workplace or an
appealing candidate for new employers. Here are some steps to follow when writing a report:

1. Decide on terms of reference

Many formal reports include a section that details the document’s “terms of reference” (or ToR). These
terms include:

What the report is about

Why it’s necessary

When it was written

What its purpose is

2. Conduct your research

Most reports will require you to collect a store of data that directly relates to your topic. You may already
have access to this information if, e.g., a doctor who has copies of a patient’s medical charts. However, if
you’re tasked with analyzing an issue and/or investigating an event, you’ll likely need to spend some time
requesting, finding and organizing data.

Interpreting data and formatting it in a way your readers will understand and follow is an important part
of writing a report. For your report, you may need to create charts, graphs or timelines that make your
raw information easier to comprehend. You’ll also need to carefully cite your sources and keep track of
where and how you found your report’s data to present it professionally.

3. Create a report outline

The next step in writing a report is to construct your report’s outline. This typically looks like a bulleted
or numbered list of all the different sections in the document. Your report’s outline might look similar to
this:

Title page

Table of contents

Introduction

Terms of reference

Summary of procedure

Findings

Analysis

Conclusion

References or bibliography

The order of these sections—and whether you decide to include them all—depends on the specific type
of report, how long it is and how formal it needs to be. The most important thing to do when writing
your outline is to include all the necessary sections and eliminate anything that does not directly
contribute to the report’s purpose.
 4. Write the first draft

Writing the first draft of your report is one of the most important stages of constructing a successful one.
The purpose of the first draft is not to write a perfect document, but rather to get all the main points of
your information out of your head and onto the page. You’ll have time to add to and edit this first
attempt, so your primary goal is just to organize your data and analysis into a rough draft that will
eventually become a final product.

While writing your report’s first draft, you’ll likely find gaps in your data or holes in your analysis. Make
note of these issues, but don’t try addressing them as you write. Instead, finish the draft and save
problem-solving for when you begin the editing process.

5. Analyze data and record findings

The focus of every report is the “findings” section, i.e., the part where you present your interpretation of
the data. For an accountant, for example, the findings could involve an explanation as to why a
company’s stock dropped the previous quarter. For an environmental scientist, the report’s findings
could include a summary of an experiment on biodegradable plastics and how the results could affect
waste management methods.

The findings section should always provide valuable information related to the topic or issue you’re
addressing, even if the results are less than ideal. If you conclude that the data was insufficient or the
research method was flawed, you’ll need to explain this professionally and accurately.

6. Recommend a course of action

The final section of your report’s body is your recommendation(s). After examining the data and
analyzing any outcomes, you’re qualified to present an idea as to what actions should be taken in
response to your findings. For example, after reviewing the number of overtime hours their team’s been
working, a project manager may recommend adding another member.

7. Edit and distribute the report

The final stage of writing a report is editing it thoroughly and distributing it to your audience. You’ll need
to edit for grammar mistakes, spelling errors and typing mistakes.

You’ll also need to double-check your data, make sure your citations are correct and read over the entire
document to ensure it presents a cohesive narrative. If the report is going to be read by a wide®
audience, you might decide to ask someone else to proofread it or give you their opinion on the
readability of the content.

Distributing the report can take different forms depending on your particular occupation. You might
email it to your supervisor, present it verbally during a staff meeting or publish it in a journal. Regardless
of how or where it’s read, your goal is always to create a concise, informative and effective document
that will contribute to increased productivity in your workplace.