How To Write a Report in 7 Steps (Plus Tips)

Updated February 15, 2023

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Writing reports is a typical aspect of various jobs. Knowing how to write an effective report is a helpful skill that can make you a valuable addition to any workplace. If you want to write professional reports, though, you'll need to know what they typically entail and how to get started.

In this article, we discuss how to write a report and how reports are used in the workplace, plus we go over the basic format and elements of a report, as well as tips for writing a successful one.

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

Setting these terms helps both the writer and their readers to understand why the report is important and what it hopes to accomplish. The terms of reference are usually explained in the first paragraph so that the reader can determine their relevance without having to read the entire document.

Note: Setting concrete terms early on will help you create the report's outline and keep your discussions on track throughout the report-writing process.

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(r) 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.

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Tips for writing successful reports

Here are some final suggestions to guide you on how to write a report:

Know your audience. Understand who the report is for, why they need the information and what you want them to do after reading it. Knowing your audience will help you guide the style of your report and ensure you communicate your information efficiently.
Proofread carefully. Nothing ruins a quality report quite like a missed typo. Before you submit or present your report, be sure to proofread it carefully for any errors.
Be open to feedback. Depending on your job title, you may receive criticism or feedback on your report(s). Try to remain receptive and open to critique. If you're willing to take feedback and implement your superiors' suggestions, your writing will likely improve as a result.
Use your time wisely. Writing a quality report can take anywhere from a couple of hours to several weeks. Before you begin, be sure to budget your time and set a regular writing schedule and/or daily tasks to keep your progress on track.