A proposal is a suggestion or plan about how something might be done. As well as being informative it aims to persuade. This can be achieved by using confident statements. Keeping the balance between confidence and over-enthusiasm can be difficult, however, so use concrete statements. Do not use superlatives, clichés or jargon. Above all, do not write anything derogatory about a rival.

• Proposals concentrate on suggestions and recommendations for future activity
• Reports may concentrate more on past and current situations
• Reports may contain a number of recommendations, but they will probably not form the main body of the report
• Neutral or formal language
• Content is usually presented objectively but it can have a personal conclusion

• Proposals have a similar style and format to a report, but:
• Proposals concentrate on suggestions and recommendations for future activity
• Reports may concentrate more on past and current situations
• Reports may contain a number of recommendations, but they will probably not form the main body of the report