As the last step in the three-step writing process, completing reports and proposals involves four tasks: revising, producing, proofreading, and distributing. With careful planning and a bit of luck, you still have enough time in your schedule to address each of these tasks thoroughly. Compared to your research and writing efforts, some of these final activities may seem minor, but they can make or break your success in report writing. If at all possible, leave yourself double or triple the amount of time you think you'll need to complete your project. With interruptions, system glitches, and last-minute corrections, you'll probably need all that time and then some. By the time you’re ready to complete your report or proposal, the amount of work you have left to do depends on your project's formality, length, and complexity. Most of the discussion in this chapter applies to formal reports and proposals, those documents that require an extra measure of polish and professionalism—whether because of audience expectations, company tradition, or even marketing needs.
