Formats and Heading Levels
Created at:
Author: Ryan Smith
Your coworker is creating the headings for a report. What advice should you give them?
- Parallel construction is not important
- Keep headings short but clear
- Use three to four headings per report page
View Explanation
To create effective headings, follow a few basic guidelines: use appropriate heading levels, strive for parallel construction, use first- and second- level headings for short reports, capitalize and underline carefully, keep headings short and clear, do not use headings as antecedents for pronouns, and include at least one heading per report page when appropriate.
Review the following report excerpt, and complete the sentence.
To: Tracy Smallman
From: Diane Martinez, Rene Guzman
Date: June 8, 2022
Subject: Online Certificate Program Status Report
The following status report provides an update on the progress of the Online Certificate Program. The report includes updates on the project outline, a summary of key findings, and an overall evaluation of the project to date.
Progress UpdatePhase 1 (Development) is well underway, with research phase and discovery phase milestones completed. In the last month, we completed a course pilot and collected user feedback. Key findings have directed the development of new course offerings and guided the initial development of additional content for course modules to be launched next fall.
Functional headings such as “Progress Update” are most useful for .
View Explanation
Functional headings are most useful for routine reports. They are also useful for sensitive or controversial topics.
Which of the following is an advantage to saving and distributing a report as a PDF file?
- Incorporating digital slide shows
- Formatting and graphics are preserved.
- They are created with a template.
- Formatting can easily be changed when needed.
View Explanation
A PDF file condenses documents while preserving the formatting and graphics. A report created with Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint can easily be saved as a PDF file. A PDF report might include links to external websites. Digital slide shows are sent by e-mail, embedded on the Web, or posted on a company intranet. A PDF file is not created using a template.
Which of the following is best used for conveying complex information quickly and clearly?
- Written text
- Infographics
- Templates
- Slide decks
View Explanation
Infographics, short for information graphics, are visual representations of data or information. They can display complex information quickly and clearly, and they may be easier to understand than written text. Templates are used as a guide to format information. Written text can be confusing and less effective than a visual aid. A slide deck is used to deliver report information in a digital slideshow.
Which of the following are components of an effective report heading? Check all that apply.
- It includes at least one heading per report page
- It is short and clear
- It is a stand-alone heading
- It uses only a third-person voice
- It has a clear hierarchy of heading levels
View Explanation
Report headings should be short but clear, use punctuation correctly, and use at least one heading per report page. They are grammatically equal, use capitalization and offer a clear hierarchy of heading levels. They can be written in a first or third-person voice, as long as the voice is used consistently throughout the headings.
Willa is working on a report about college courses and included the heading More Colleges Offer Sustainability Courses. Which type of heading is this?
- Talking
- Functional
