How To Write a Statement (Plus Types and Examples)

At some point in your personal or professional life, you’ll be asked to write a statement. Whether you need to write a personal statement for a potential employer or college application, or a statement for a legal document, knowing how to write an effective and compelling statement is a valuable skill to have. In this article, we discuss the different types of statements you may be asked to provide, how to write a statement and examples to help you create one for yourself.

Related: How To Write a Problem Statement Step By Step (With An Example)

Why it's important to know how to write a statement

It's important to know how to write a statement because you want it to be well-organized and emphasize the relevant points that you need to make. By having a clear understanding of the information you want to convey to the reader, you can construct an effective statement that supports your ultimate purpose.

Types of statements

Some of the main types of statements are:

Personal statements

This is an account of your interests, goals and achievements and is sometimes requested by potential employers and universities. Personal statements for college applications tend to be longer and require more detail. Statements requested by employers are usually short, with just one paragraph.

Read more: How To Write a Personal Statement

Statement of work

A statement of work is a paragraph that defines the scope of work for a project. This statement sets the expectations, price, deliverables and what's acceptable for the project. This kind of statement should also clarify what constitutes success or failure for the project.

Simple statement letter

Also referred to as a letter of transmittal or an information letter, a simple statement letter is often used by companies or managers to communicate information about changes in procedures or policies.

Legal statements

This type of statement is an objective statement of fact designed to stand up in court. There are a variety of different kinds of legal statements, such as a motion to dismiss a case, a character reference or a witness statement. All legal statements are intended to be factual and directly to the point.

How to write a statement

Here are the basic steps you need to take to write a statement:

1. Identify your ultimate objective

First, identify what you want to accomplish with your statement. For example, are you applying for admission to a university or applying for a job, creating a character reference for an employee or writing a statement about how your assets should be distributed in a bankruptcy situation?

Related: How To Write a Statement of Purpose

2. Write an introduction

If you're writing a legal statement, elements such as the date and subject of the statement should appear at the top. You should also identify relevant parties and explain how they're connected to the subject. If you're writing a personal statement, you should explain why you're interested in the job or the degree program and express your enthusiasm. You should have a strong opening sentence that references parts of the program or job and how it aligns with your interests and experience.

3. Write the body

The body of your statement should add greater detail. If you're writing a legal statement, you should explain the details and facts related to your case. You may want to write the facts down in separately numbered paragraphs, with each expressing a single idea.

If you're writing a personal statement for a job or college application, the body of the letter should share details about your experiences, relevant skills, achievements and interests. If you're writing a simple statement to convey information about a workplace policy change, the body should include a statement that directly conveys the information you want the reader to know.

Regardless of the type of statement you're writing, choose your words carefully and consider how the information will be received by the recipient. Your statement should be easy to understand and direct. Even the body of a personal statement for a university should be brief.

4. Create a strong conclusion

If you're creating a personal statement, it's important to add a strong conclusion. To leave the reader with a strong impression of your abilities, you should offer a summary of the main points within the statement, connecting your experiences, skills and achievements to your potential contributions to the university or employer.

5. Proofread your statement

When you're finished writing your statement, you should always proofread carefully. Look for any edits you can make that will eliminate passive voice and improve clarity. You should also look closely for typos, spelling and grammar mistakes.

Related: Statement of Qualifications: Purpose, Templates and Examples

Examples of statements

Here are some examples of statements:

Personal statement

I recently graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in English and am excited for the opportunity to apply my passion for writing to your blogging position.

In addition to my formal education, I write my own travel blog, where I share advice and inspiration for traveling around the state of Missouri. Writing my blog has taught me how to connect with an audience and the importance of SEO keywords. I am a fast learner and I believe my experience and commitment would make me an asset to your company.”

Simple statement letter

Dear Team,

Effective immediately, we are asking that employees park at the north end of the parking lot to leave more space available for our customers.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Sincerely,
Adam Chase

Statement of work

Effective date: This statement of work is effective January 10, 2021.

Introduction: Tampa Bay School District needs a new architecture for its software system. Bay Tech Co. will be responsible for overhauling the system in a three-phase process that includes research and approval of plans, building an entirely new architecture system that meets the needs of the school district and implementing the plan.

Objectives: The objective of this project is to create a more user-friendly system that allows students, parents and teachers to communicate more easily.

Scope of work: Bay Tech Co. will be responsible for researching hardware and software that meet the requirements of the project, for presenting all findings to the board for approval and for building and implementing the new architecture system. They will also troubleshoot to ensure everything is running smoothly for the first month after everything is in place.