The report you write is the tool you wield. It can be ineffective or it can carry the authority of Thor. You need to learn to write a report that is factual, grammatically correct, with proper spelling, and don't be afraid to quote the applicable clause out of the applicable code. Engineers are like most of us, overworked and underpaid. They are not going to get out of their comfortable seat to look for some arcane requirement in a code book unless they are forced to. So, you do it for them, include it in your report.
The owner and engineer reads your report. They develop a sense of your knowledge of the code, welding, etc. from what they read. If you don't take the time to make sure your information is factually correct, if you don't take the time to correct spelling errors, if you don't take the time to research the code requirements, the impression the reader develops is less than impressive.
Writing a report is much more time consuming that performing the actual inspection. I spend two to three hours writing my report for each hour spent in the field. Writing the report is the hardest thing an inspector has to learn. The CWI examination is a piece of cake compared to writing a good report.
I would be lost without my spell check and word processing programs. I have a very difficult time with English. I lost a scholarship in college because my English grades were so poor. My daughter used to correct my reports before I would hand them in. They were that bad! Over time I did get better at it and it makes a difference. My clients can hire any number of inspectors for a fraction of what I charge, but they are actually buying the report because that is the end product they need.
My reports include quotes from the applicable codes, sketches, photographs, and references to specific details and sections from the drawings I'm working with. When I reject the welds securing the angle clip to the end of a beam or a seat welded to a column flange, I report the piece number of the fitting as well as the beam or column piece mark, the face its welded to, the nature of the discontinuity, etc.
It is a rare event that the EOR will over ride my call because the report is very detailed in the description of the discrepancy. The engineer doesn't have to second guess the significance of the discontinuity being reported. If there is any question about how something is assembled, weld size, etc, I ask the question in writing and reference the RFI in the report and include a statement that I'm waiting for a written response from the EOR. That puts the liability of accepting a non-conforming work on squarely on the shoulders of the EOR and trust me, the engineer doesn't want to accept responsibility for non-conforming work performed by a contractor.
Good luck and keep working at it. You'll do fine. After all, you are being paid to be a pain in the contractor's butt.
My pencil is my thorn and I sharpen it every chance I get. I'm paid to be an SOB and most people that know me will tell you I'm darn good at it.
Best regards - Al