When putting together a report, either for school or for work, presentation is half the battle. Sure, your content (duly worked on by a grammar checking software) will make up the meat. But if you don’t lay it out properly, your audience won’t be able to digest it the way you want them to.
Here are several things you should do to ensure you come out positively on that end:
Use plenty of white space. Most reports, with their numbers and technical details, are difficult to read. White space will help your readers work through it easier.
Have clear separation among different parts. Nothing muddles up a report quicker than an uncertain delineation between sections. Make sure the reader can make out different parts quickly, either by creative layouting or through the use of subheadings.
Use bullets, numbers and letters to articulate individual items. This should be self-explanatory to anyone who has worked to write clearly.
Use tables and diagrams. With clear labels and descriptive figures, you can say the same things without fussing about with too much words. Most of the time, this works out considerably better than piling on the text.
Number your pages. Too many people forget this crucial aspect of report presentation. Essays and similar work can get away without page numbers. Reports simply can’t.
Use formal language. Get your comprehensive writing software to help you arrange the final version so that it uses formal language. Refer to similar reports in order to ensure you follow usual standards.
