Paper and Report

[haych]

What's the difference between writing a paper and writing a report?

[dzug]

There is not necessarily any difference, though one distinction can be:

a paper describes something - ie whatever its subject is

a report gives the results of an investigation you have done

[haych]

Thank you :)

[ludwig]

Strictly speaking, a report is always commissioned - someone asks you specifically to undertake an investigation, and the report is the document you present back to them containing your findings.

A paper is not commissioned, it's just something you write because you decide to. e.g you may write a paper called 'the effects of ovaltine on pregnant anteaters' and present it to new scientist in the hope it will be published.