Who vs. Whom
“Whom” is fancy and “who” is regular — right? While a lot of people think that’s the case, there’s actually a grammar rule behind when to use “who” vs. “whom.” There’s nuance to this issue, but “who” and “whom” are both pronouns. “Who” is used to refer to the subject of a sentence, and “whom” […]
It’s vs. Its
Overview Let’s discuss the difference between it’s vs. its. This is a common error in reports, and it is usually not picked up by spell check. Lesson It’s is the shortened form of the words: It Is. The golden rule to remember is that it’s always, always means “It IS.” Anytime you use “It’s” in […]
Sentence Weight
I recently read a great article about the weight certain words and their placement have in a sentence. I am a proponent of starting most sentences with a person, place, or thing. When you start a sentence this way, you tend to avoid common errors like misplaced modifiers, sentence fragments (especially this one), and others. […]
Be specific, not vague
Avoid generalities like “suspect was aggressive.” Instead, break it down: What did the suspect say or do? “The suspect raised his voice, took a step toward me, and shouted, ‘You can’t do that!’” Why it matters: Specific language paints a clearer picture for supervisors, prosecutors, and juries. It removes guesswork and builds trust in the report’s […]
