13 Essential Characteristics or Features of a Good Report

You are getting...
  • Characteristics of a Good Report 
  • Importance Features of a Good Report 
  • Essential Qualities of a Good Report 

The report provides factual information depending on which decisions are made. So everyone should take conscious steps to ensure that a report has all the essential qualities which turn it into a good report. 

 

We know that a report is a written document that shows information in an organized way using a specific format and presentation. The audience and objective are specific for a report. 

 

So, writing a qualitative report may be a hard nut to crack. But not for those who know the essential characteristics of a good report. Because it helps to judge them what the qualities are present in their report.

 

Good Report
A good report contains all the features which it should have. All the qualities or characteristics of a good report should be ideally known by a good reporter so that his/her report becomes a good one.
 
By the way, A good report must have the following qualities:

1. Precision
In a good report, the report writer is very clear about the exact and definite purpose of writing the report. His investigation, analysis, recommendations  and others are directed by this central purpose. 
 
Precision of a report provides the unity to the report and makes it a valuable document for best usage.

2. Accuracy of Facts
Information contained in a report must be based on accurate facts.
 
Since decisions are taken based on report information, any inaccurate information or statistics will lead to a wrong decision. It will hamper to ensure the achievement of the organizational goal.

3. Relevancy 
The facts presented in a report should not be only accurate but also be relevant. Irrelevant facts make a report confusing and likely to be misleading to make a proper decision.

4. Reader-Orientation
While drafting any report, it is necessary to keep in mind about the person who is going to read it. That's why a good report is always reader oriented. 

Reader's knowledge and level of understanding should be considered by the writer of the report. Well, reader-oriented information qualifies a report to be a good one.

 

 5. Simple Language

Simplicity is the best for anything. It is just another essential feature of a good report. A good report is written in simple language avoiding vague and unclear words. 

 

The language of the report should not be influenced by the writer's emotion or goal. The message of a good report should be self-explanatory.


A good reporter should be careful of using simple sentences instead of using a complex sentence in the narration of facts.

 

6. Conciseness
A good report should be concise but it does not mean that a report can never be long. 
 
Rather it means that a good report or a business report is one that transmits maximum information with minimum words. 
 
It avoids unnecessary detail and includes everything which are significant and necessary to present proper information.

7. Grammatical Accuracy
A good report is free from errors. Any faulty construction of a sentence may make its meaning different to the reader's mind. And sometimes it may become confusing or ambiguous.
 
If a report is not accurate grammatically, then it will lost its usefulness to its users. 

So, while writing a report, a reporter should keep in head about the grammatical accuracy of his writing. 
 
8. Unbiased Recommendation
Recommendation on report usually make effect on the reader mind. 
 
So if recommendations are made at the end of a report, they must be impartial and objective. They should come as logical conclusion for investigation and analysis.

A reporter should try to use universal and proven truth in his report rather than using the concept which is not yet established or completed. 

9. Clarity
Clarity depends on proper arrangement of facts. A good report is absolutely clear. 
 
Reporter should make his purpose clear, define his sources, state his findings and finally make necessary recommendation. 
 
To be an effective communication through report, A report must be clear to understand for making communication success.

10. Attractive Presentation
Presentation of a report is also a factor which should be consider for a good report. A good report provides a catchy and smart look and creates attention of the reader. 
 
Structure, content, language, typing and presentation style of a good report should be attractive to make a clear impression in the mind of its reader.
 
11. Complete Information
A good report shown important information. Most of these information are analyzed as the basis of importancy. A good reporter has to show the skill in such cases efficiently. 
 
How is that?
 
A good reporter should shown information as importance and not much so that the report become useless or vague but it should give the read a completeness feeling.  

12. Positivity
A good report should have the positivity. It should narrate the positive statement instead of showing negative one. 

Showing positivity in report helps to observe the issue positively which is covered in a report.
 
13. Summary
A good report should have a summary by which the reader of the report can take a decision at all or stand on a decision what to do next in such condition. 
 
A summary can reflect the whole picture at a glance. So, it has a large impact. 
 
So, writing a summary is an important feature of a good report. A good reporter should not forget this.

good report

The inclusion of above factors, features or characteristics, make a good report to be effective and fruitful. It also helps to achieve the report goal. 
 
A reporter who is making the report, always should be careful about those factors to make his report a good one.