NYPD Police Officer key terms

The ability to read and understand written sentences and paragraphs, including the main idea, supporting details, and the meaning of specific words as used in a passage.

The central point a passage is mostly about. It is broader than any single detail and is often stated in a topic sentence or must be summarized from the whole text.

A specific fact, example, or reason in a passage that explains, proves, or strengthens the main idea. Details answer who, what, when, where, or why questions about the text.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text plus reasonable reasoning, even though the conclusion is not stated directly. Inferences must be supported by what the passage actually says.

Information in the surrounding words or sentences that helps a reader figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Clues can be definitions, examples, contrasts, or the overall sense of the passage.

The order in which events, steps, or ideas occur. Recognizing sequence words such as first, then, before, and finally helps a reader follow how a passage or procedure unfolds.

Arranging information by the time it happened, from earliest to latest or the reverse. Police reports, witness statements, and narratives often depend on this order to make sense.

The ability to communicate clearly in writing using correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word choice so that a reader understands the message the first time.

The set of rules that governs how words are combined into sentences, including agreement, tense, and proper sentence structure. Correct grammar keeps written reports clear and professional.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb, regardless of words between them.

A group of words punctuated as a sentence but missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. Fragments confuse readers and are errors in formal writing such as reports.

Two or more complete thoughts joined without proper punctuation or a connecting word. Run-ons should be fixed with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.

Marks such as periods, commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks that clarify meaning and separate ideas in writing. Correct punctuation prevents misreading of facts and statements.

The ability to commit information such as codes, procedures, descriptions, and details to memory and recall it accurately later without referring to notes.

Bringing stored information back to mind when needed. In police work, accurate recall of names, license plates, descriptions, and procedures is essential and can be tested after a delay.

Carefully noticing details in a scene, person, or document. Good observation supplies the raw information that memory later stores and that reports must accurately record.

The ability to recognize when something is wrong or likely to become a problem, even before it is obvious. It involves noticing risks, inconsistencies, or warning signs in a situation.

Choosing the most appropriate and professional action in a realistic scenario involving people, rules, and competing priorities. It weighs safety, policy, and effectiveness together.

Deciding which tasks or risks deserve attention first based on urgency, danger, and importance. Effective prioritization handles the most serious threat before less critical matters.

The ability to understand and reason about positions, directions, and relationships in space, such as reading a map or following directions through a building or neighborhood.

Knowing and tracking compass directions such as north, south, east, and west, and using them to describe location or movement. It supports giving and following clear directions.

Interpreting symbols, scale, and orientation on a map to locate places and plan routes. It includes understanding that a map's top is usually north and translating that to real ground.

Drawing a certain conclusion from general rules or premises that are accepted as true. If the premises are true and the logic is valid, the conclusion must also be true.

A statement accepted as true that serves as a starting point for reasoning. Conclusions are judged by whether they follow logically from the premises given.

The quality of an argument whose conclusion follows logically from its premises. A valid argument can still have a false conclusion if one of its premises is false.

Forming a general rule or prediction from specific observations or patterns. Inductive conclusions are probable rather than certain and can be weakened by new evidence.

Noticing a repeating rule, trend, or relationship in a series of items, numbers, or events so the next item or underlying rule can be predicted.

Arranging actions, events, or items in a logical order according to a rule such as time, importance, or procedure. It is tested by putting scrambled steps into correct sequence.

A defined series of steps for completing a task correctly and consistently. Following procedures in the right order is central to safe and lawful police work.

A series of linked occurrences in which each one causes or leads to the next. Understanding the chain helps explain how an incident developed and what happened first.

Distinguishing statements that can be verified as true or false from statements that express beliefs, feelings, or judgments. Reports should rely on facts and clearly label opinions.

The attitude a writer conveys through word choice, such as formal, urgent, neutral, or sarcastic. Recognizing tone helps a reader understand intent and meaning beyond literal words.

Fully concentrating on what a speaker says, including tone and implied meaning, and confirming understanding. It supports accurate note-taking and clear written follow-up.

A brief statement of the most important points of a longer text or event, written in the reader's own words and leaving out minor details.

An error in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or weak, such as assuming that because two events happened together one caused the other.

Something taken for granted as true without proof. Identifying hidden assumptions helps a reader judge whether a conclusion in a passage is actually supported.

Describing location from a person's viewpoint, such as left, right, ahead, or behind. It differs from compass direction and depends on which way the person is facing.