Here are some words I very rarely use in police reports, if ever, along with the words I use instead.
Subsequently - Later
Departed - Left
Observed - Saw
Speculated - Thought / Believed
Contacted - Met / Spoke with
Consulted - Met / Spoke with
Ascertained - Found out / Determined
Proceeded - Went
Related - Said
Stated - Said
Articulated - Said
Provided - Gave
Supplied - Gave
Procured - Got
Obtained - Got
Received - Got
Proceeded on foot - Walked
Inspected - Looked at
Examined - Looked at
The subject - His or her name
As a result of - Because
Inquired - Asked
I am of the belief that a police report should be written for a third grader to read. It drives me absolutely batshit crazy to read a report written by a trainee straight out of the academy and see this:
I arrived at the scene and contacted the reporting party, Smith, who related the following statement...
Smith subsequently proceeded on foot to the scene and ascertained the status of the victim...
or
Smith speculated the subject had been the victim of a gunshot wound...
Isn't it just easier to say
Upon my arrival I spoke with John Smith who told me...
Smith walked to the scene to determine the victim's condition...
or
Smith believed Jones had been shot...
As usual, just my opinion.
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6 comments:
I'm with you. I don't know about the "written for a third grader" thing, but if I would laugh at someone who spoke that way then I wouldn't want to write that way.
I love using "subsequently" because it's intentionally vague as to when it actually happened. I just tells the reader that some certain event happened at a later time.
If I have the actual time that some certain event/thing happened, I'll use it, but if not, "subsequent" is a FANTASTIC word to use!
That should say "It just tells the reader that some certain event happened at a later time."
Sorry
My favorite is "I exited my vehicle..."
WTF? Who talks like that? Why don't you just say "I got out of my car" like 98% of the English-speaking public would?
Plain and simple....works every time! :)
"Exited the vehicle" as opposed to "Got out of the car"...
Although, truthfully, whether you simplify the language or not, so long as people can read and understand your report, it's all good.
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