Police Officer Selection Test (POST) Written Communication and Grammar Syllabus

What is a dangling modifier?

A modifying phrase that has no clear word to modify in the sentence (e.g., 'Walking to the car, the radio went off' — who was walking?).

What is the spelling rule commonly stated as 'i before e'?

'I before E, except after C, or when sounded as A as in neighbor and weigh' (believe, receive, freight). Common exceptions include weird, seize, and either.

When adding a suffix beginning with a vowel to a word ending in silent 'e,' what is the general rule?

Drop the silent 'e' (make → making, hope → hoping). Keep the 'e' before a consonant suffix (hope → hopeful) and before suffixes when needed to keep a soft c/g (notice → noticeable).

What is the rule for forming the plural of a noun ending in 'y'?

If a consonant comes before the 'y,' change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es' (city → cities); if a vowel comes before the 'y,' just add 's' (key → keys).

What is the difference in spelling/use between 'their,' 'there,' and 'they're'?

'Their' is possessive (their car); 'there' indicates place or existence (over there; there is); 'they're' is the contraction of 'they are.'

What is the main use of a comma in a series, and what is the Oxford comma?

Commas separate three or more items in a series. The Oxford (serial) comma is the comma placed before the final 'and' (red, white, and blue) to prevent ambiguity.

When should a comma be used with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)?

Place a comma before the coordinating conjunction when it joins two independent clauses (The suspect fled, and the officer pursued).

What is the primary function of a semicolon?

To join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction (The witness left; she did not return), and to separate items in a series that already contain commas.

What is the main use of a colon?

To introduce a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete independent clause (The officer recovered three items: a wallet, a knife, and a phone).

How do you show possession with an apostrophe for singular versus plural nouns?

Singular: add 's (officer's report). Plural ending in s: add only an apostrophe (officers' reports). Plural not ending in s: add 's (children's).

How is a direct quotation punctuated in a report?

Enclose the speaker's exact words in quotation marks, with periods and commas placed inside the closing quotation mark (The suspect said, 'I didn't do it.').

What is the general rule for capitalizing titles that precede a person's name?

Capitalize a title when it directly precedes a name (Sergeant Lopez, Mayor Davis) but lowercase it when it stands alone or follows the name (the sergeant arrived).

Which words are capitalized: directions like 'north' or regions like 'the South'?

Lowercase compass directions (drove north on Main Street); capitalize specific geographic regions treated as place names (the South, the Pacific Northwest).

What is the difference between capitalizing 'Police Department' versus 'police department'?

Capitalize it as part of a specific proper name (the Springfield Police Department); lowercase it when used generally (a local police department).

In a title or heading, which words are typically NOT capitalized?

Short articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions (a, an, the, and, but, of, in) are lowercase unless they are the first or last word.

What does it mean to write concisely, and why does it matter in reports?

Concise writing expresses ideas in as few words as necessary without losing meaning. In reports it reduces ambiguity, saves the reader's time, and prevents wordiness that can obscure facts.

Rewrite the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that' concisely.

'Because' (or 'since').

What is redundancy in writing? Give an example.

Using words that repeat the same meaning unnecessarily, such as 'past history,' 'advance planning,' 'completely destroyed,' or 'each and every.'

What does precise wording mean in report writing?

Choosing exact, specific words rather than vague ones — for example, '$500 in cash' instead of 'some money,' or 'a blue 2018 Honda Civic' instead of 'a car.'

What is the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'?

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence (The weather affected traffic); 'effect' is usually a noun meaning a result (The effect was severe).

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

'Its' is the possessive form (the dog wagged its tail); 'it's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.'

What is the difference between 'principal' and 'principle'?

'Principal' means main/most important or a head person (the principal suspect; school principal); 'principle' is a rule or fundamental truth.

What is the difference between 'lay' and 'lie'?

'Lay' means to place something and takes an object (Lay the weapon down); 'lie' means to recline and takes no object (The suspect lay on the ground).

What is sentence combining, and why is it useful?

Joining short, choppy, related sentences into one smoother sentence using conjunctions, clauses, or phrases. It improves flow and shows the relationships between ideas without losing information.

What is meant by 'logical order' in a police narrative?

Arranging events so the reader can follow them, most commonly chronological order (the sequence in which events actually occurred).

What is parallel structure (parallelism) in sentence construction?

Using the same grammatical form for items in a series or comparison (The officer searched, photographed, and documented the scene — all verbs in the same form).

When translating field notes into a narrative report, what voice and tense are generally preferred and why?

First person, past tense, and active voice — because the officer reports what they personally did and observed, and active voice clearly states who performed each action.

What are the Six Investigative Questions a complete report must answer?

Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How — the '5 W's and H.'

In the Six Investigative Questions, what does 'How' typically address in a report?

The manner or method by which the incident or crime occurred — how the act was carried out, how entry was gained, or how the suspect fled.

What is the difference between a fact and an opinion (conclusion) in a police report?

A fact is something observed or verifiable (The window was broken); an opinion or conclusion is an inference (The suspect was angry). Reports should state facts and clearly identify any conclusions.

What does it mean for a report to be objective?

It presents information impartially and factually, without the writer's personal bias, emotion, or unsupported judgments — recording what was seen and heard rather than what was assumed.

Why is accuracy critical in a police report, and what does it require?

Reports are legal documents used in court and investigations; inaccuracies can undermine a case or credibility. Accuracy requires exact names, dates, times, locations, descriptions, and verified spelling of all details.