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Finding the Right Tense in a Research Paper

 

 

When you're writing a research paper, verb tense is something you might not initially worry about. If you weren't giving it a lot of thought, you might have just started with a specific tense and stuck with it the whole way through, or maybe you haven't even noticed what tense you're using. When you're worrying about content, the rules of grammar aren't necessarily at the front of your mind. But there are lots of conventions and guidelines out there for specifying how tense should be used, and if you're writing a research paper you need to know

 

What Is Tense?

 

Put simply, tense describes when the action being described by a verb took place. In English, we divide time up into three simple categories-past, present, and future-and we can conjugate verbs to indicate when an action is taking place (remember, conjugation means either changing the spelling of a verb or adding helping verbs).

 

Before we start talking about which tense to use, it's important to understand the basics of tense. The topic of tense can get pretty complicated; for example, English has dozens of tenses that cover a wide range of situations, from two events both happening at different points in the future to an event that might have happened but is has continued into the present. For our purposes here we're going to focus a few fairly simple verb tenses. These include:

 

To understand tense, first you have to understand the relative position you'll be using. Remember, tense is relative-past and future only exists in regards to a specific "present," and the present can be different depending on the situation. When you're writing, you may think of that particular moment as the present, but a person reading that paper days, weeks, or years later is going to think of their moment as the present, and the moment you're writing in as the past. As with many things in grammar, there's no necessarily "right" way to look at this issue, but for our purposes here we're going to imagine the person reading your paper as being in the present tense.

Finding the Right Tense for Your Field

 

Every field has its own rules about verb tenses in academic writing. Some are fairly firm while others can be bent or mostly ignored if the writer so chooses. The advice here will be general and won't get into the specifics for any one field. Instead, we're going to go through some general advice that will help you understand how to think about tense and should help you get started off on the right foot.

 

Rules of Tense

The conventions of tense in academic writing reddit essay writing service are complicated, but most of the time it all boils down to a simple question-do I use past or present tense? The answer is usually that you need a mix of both. Below is a section-by-section breakdown of when to use past and present tense.

Introduction/abstract

When to use present tense: Use present tense throughout the abstract and introduction. (The hormone ghrelin is one of the many biological factors that control appetite; this study looks at how ghrelin can be used to manipulate feeding behavior in mice.) By using the present tense you directly involve the reader in your work and let them know that it's ongoing instead of something that's already moved into the past.

When to use past tense: Use the past tense to discuss specific aspects of your work that have already been completed (the data was gathered from several sources) or when discussing the specific work done by others in the past (McIntyre showed that hormone levels rose steadily throughout the day). Basically if it's an action tied to a specific moment in the past, then it should be described in past tense.

Literature review

When to use present tense: Present tense is generally used in the literature review to discuss general ideas that can be considered part of the current research landscape (critics group Shakespeare's plays into two distinct categories)

When to use past tense: Use past tense when discussing specific studies that are linked to a particular time period in the past or are attributed to people who are known to be dead, i.e., famous dead people, not just regular dead people. (Darwin argued that evolution was a slow-moving process; several early studies showed that hormone levels remained constant.) 

It can also be a good idea to use past tense if you're discussing studies or papers where there has been controversy or changes in position by the authors. For example, Lopez stated that ... but has since proved that .... If you use the present tense in these cases, you can unintentionally be implying that a person currently believes something when in fact they've since changed their opinion.

Methodology

When to use present tense: Present tense is rarely used in the methodology section. Pretty much the only time it's needed is if you include a general discussion of particular methodology (the Western blot is the standard test used to determine the presence of the hormone).

When to use past tense: Use past tense to describe any experimental or field work you've done. (The mice were then tested for the presence of the hormone).

Discussion

   

When to use present tense: In general you want to use the present tense throughout most of your discussion. This includes discussion of your results (The data suggests that ghrelin levels can be easily manipulated) and limitations of your research (It is possible that the results were the effect of factors other than those being studied).

  

When to use past tense: The use of past tense in the discussion would be similar to the introduction, i.e., when you're talking about studies from a particular past time period.

When to use the conditional tense: When discussing future possible avenues for research, a critical part of the discussion, you'll likely use the conditional (e.g., could, should, would) tense. (In light of these results, future research could investigate the link between the two.)

Active Vs. Passive Voice

First of all, remember that active voice is when the subject is performing the action of the sentence, e.g., The boy ate the cake. Passive voice is when the subject is receiving the action of the verb, e.g., The cake was eaten by the boy. In general the sciences prefer the use of the passive voice, while other disciplines encourage the use of active. The question of whether to use active or passive voice gets wrapped up questions about tense, although it is actually a separate issue.

Choosing the right tense, however, can sometimes make it easier to use the correct voice. If you're trying to stick with the active voice, you'll likely do better with present tense, but if you're using the passive voice you'll probably find you use the past tense more often.

 

The Bottom Line

It should also be noted that all the guidelines given here are only recommendations. Even professional writers and editors argue about which tense is correct, and style guides usually aren't much help. If you're unsure, try copying the style of a journal in your field or ask your teacher or advisor what they prefer. And, if all else fails, just go with your gut about what makes sense for what you're trying to say.

Common Verb Usage Errors

Conjugating verbs is a tricky business. As soon as we learn to talk we start to learn the basics of singular and plural verbs, but often when writing we come up against conjugations that are a little more complicated that he is and they are. Below you'll find a guide to helping you sort out some of these common conjugation issues.

The problem

All of the dogs needs to be fed.

None of the information are up to date.

Most of the time it's pretty easy to make subjects and verbs agree in English. Singular subjects get one conjugation (I talk, he is) while plural subjects get another (we talk, they are). For most nouns it's clear whether they're singular or plural, making conjugation pretty straightforward, but there are also times when it's not so easy to tell.

Some of the most common words to create this problem are pronouns like any, all, some, most, and none which will change from singular to plural depending on the prepositional phrase or noun that follows them. But while these pronouns can switch back and forth, it's actually pretty easy to identify whether they should be considered singular or plural. Basically, if the prepositional phrase refers to a singular noun, then the verb should be singular; if it refers to a plural noun then the verb should be plural. For example, in the examples above, dogs is plural and information is singular, so the sentences should read "All of the dogs need to be fed" and "None of the information is up to date."

2. Ones, things, and bodies

The problem

Everybody need to listen.

   

Another set of pronouns that cause trouble are the ones (everyone, someone, etc.), things (anything, everything, etc.),

  

and bodies (everybody, nobody, etc.). Because these words can often be followed by prepositional phrases reddit essay writing services, it might seem at first like they follow the same rules listed above, but actually the rules for ones, things, and bodies is even easier-they're always singular. Therefore, the above example should read "Everybody needs to listen."

3. Conjugating for collective nouns

The problem

The class are going to get out early.

 

Collective nouns pose a similar problem to the pronouns listed above, which is that it's not always clear whether they're singular or plural. If you talk about a family or a class, you're using a singular noun to describe a group of people-so how can you tell if whether to treat it as a singular unit or a plural group?

 

In general, if all the component parts in a group noun are acting as one then you should treat that noun as singular. For example, in the example above, because the entire class is going to be getting out early, the noun class is singular: "The class is going to get out early." However, if we talk about the members of a group acting separately, then we treat them like a plural noun. In the sentence "The band are arriving on different buses," we can make the band plural because we're clearly talking about the members acting as individuals.

 

  

More often than not collective nouns will take a singular verb, and even when you have the option of making them plural you'll likely still be correct if you conjugate them as singular. There's no hard and fast rule here, so its best to use whatever fits with the spirit of each particular sentence.

 

4. Misidentifying the subject of a sentence

 

The problem

Her shoes, especially the green pair, is very pretty.

 

There is no apples left in the bag.

 

Sometime the problem isn't that you can't figure out whether the subject is singular or plural, but instead it's that you can't find the right subject in the first place. This usually happens when there are appositives or other syntax devices that separate the subject from the verb. For example, in the first sentence above it looks like the green pair is the subject since it's right next to the verb, but in fact the subject is her shoes, so the sentence should read "Her shoes especially the green pair, are very pretty." Likewise, in the second example the subject (apples) comes after the verb. The sentence should read "The are no apples left in the bag."

 

5. Identifying subjects joined by conjunctions

 

The problem

Her phone and her wallet was stolen.

 

Either the couch or the table have to go.

 

In these two example, the conjunctions and and or confuse the question of subject, but in fact the rules for these are pretty simple. Subjects joined by the conjunction and are always plural because you're necessarily talking about more than one thing. So, the above example should read "Her phone and her wallet were stolen."

 

When subjects are joined by the conjunction or, the verb should be singular because you're talking about either one thing or another, not both. So, the example should read "Either the couch or the table has to go." The only time these types of subjects have to take a plural verb is if both of the subjects are plural. If one subject is plural and one singular, the verbs should match the subject closest to it. So, you would write "The student or her parents have to attend the meeting" and "The parents or the student has to attend to attend the meeting."

 

6. Being tricked by odd words

 

The problem

 

Economics are my favorite class.

My pants is new.

Sometimes you'll mess up a conjugation not because you've broken some confusing grammar rule, but just because the subject of your sentence is a tricky word. English is full of nouns that, because of history or convention, seem singular or plural but are actually conjugated as the opposite. For example, words like economics, mathematics, and news look and sound plural, but are actually singular. So, the example above should read "Economics is my favorite class."

Similarly, there are also words that refer to a singular object but which are still conjugated as if they were plural. These include words like pants, scissors, and glasses. So, the sentence above should state "My pants are new." Unfortunately, there's no other way to deal with these words than to memorize them.

The problem

Academic writing relies heavily on lists. Almost every paper will include a succession of connected concepts that can be put together, and using lists is one of the most efficient ways to show the reader how to understand relationships. However, just because they're useful doesn't imply they're simple to make—making a decent list necessitates adhering to the principles of academic writing.

List-making Alternatives

What is the Best Way to Make a List?

There are a variety of ways for writers to organize material best essay writing service 2022 reddit into lists in their work.

In-text

   

In-text lists are the most popular sort of list in academic writing. Even anything as simple as "Factors that affect growth include sunlight, water, and soil composition" is a list, even if you don't realize it. More grammatically complicated statements can also be included in in-text lists, such as "In The Great Gatsby, Nick goes to the West Egg, meets Gatsby, and watches Gatsby's demise all in one summer."

Text is numbered.

To distinguish the entries in an in-text list, authors can use numbering or letters within the text. This is usually done when the list is large or to emphasize that the items happened in a specific sequence. "Subjects were asked to 1) identify areas where they thought improvements were needed, 2) outline the improvements they would apply, and 3) explain how those improvements would benefit the team," for example.

Lists of bullet points

We're all familiar with bullet point lists; most of us use them on a regular basis for tasks like these.

However, while they are beneficial for these activities, they are rarely used in official writing.

 

Lists with numbers

 

Numbered lists resemble bullet points, however the points are delineated by numbers rather than forms. They're also something to avoid in official writing, much as bullet lists.

 

Choosing a Type of List

  

In-text lists are by far the most prevalent sort of list used in academic writing. Bullet points and numbered lists, as previously said, will make your work appear more like an outline than a formal piece of writing. Remember that you should spend time in your work describing each point separately, rather of simply throwing a list in front of your reader with no context or interpretation.

When grouping objects together, you should also examine if you need to utilize a list or if it would be better to describe each item separately. Remember that readers will interpret all of the elements in a list as belonging together, and they will expect you to continue to treat them as linked thoughts.

 

Parallelism

 

One of the most essential grammatical principles for lists is that each item must have the same form and function. Consider the following scenario:

 

 

 

 

Students should focus on researching their themes best writing services reddit, writing outlines for their papers, and seeking help from their teacher in order to prepare for the paper."

 

The first two objects are parallel, but the last item isn't. Because the first two items begin with investigating and preparing, the final item must also begin with a -ing verb. The sentence should be written as follows:

 

"Students should concentrate on researching their themes, creating paper outlines, and seeking help from their teachers in order to prepare for the paper."

Here's another illustration:

 

"I need to sweep the carpet and clean the kitchen and bathroom."

 

The first two elements in this example are nouns, whereas the third item is a verb phrase. Trying the sentence with each component separately is an excellent technique to check for parallelism. So, while "I need to clean the kitchen" and "I need to clean the bathroom" are both acceptable, "I need to clean the carpet" is not. There are several ways to rewrite the sentence:

I have to clean the kitchen, bathroom, and carpet, says the narrator.

"I need to sweep the carpet and clean the kitchen and bathroom."

"I need to vacuum the carpet, clean the kitchen, and clean the bathroom."

Make a list of what you should and shouldn't do.

Make certain that all of the items on a list are related.

When modifying lists, the most crucial question to ask yourself is whether the items in the list truly belong together. When authors write, it's not uncommon for them to group thoughts together only to discover afterwards that they don't actually fit together. You may need to revise or remove that list if the ideas in your paper have changed as you've been writing or if you simply assumed three things suited together when they didn't. 

Make lists that are simple to read.

Don't make extended lists with a lot of sophisticated language and punctuation because this will just confuse the reader. A list should be simple—if the reader needs to go back and reread the sentence to understand it, it has failed to fulfill its purpose.

It's also worth noting that you should strive to put the most grammatically complex item at the end of the list. Although putting the items in a different order isn't technically improper, readers will have an easier time understanding the list if you save the item that demands the greatest work for last.

   

 

Correct and consistent punctuation

 

Most style manuals will have a section dedicated to punctuating lists (although some do not). It's critical to be consistent with your punctuation because punctuating lists isn't always a matter of following strict rules. Choose a style that falls somewhere within the guidelines established by the style guide you're employing, and stick to it throughout the report.

 

Do not grow overly reliant on lists.

 

Learning to convey your thoughts in whole sentences and then thoroughly explain their relevance in a style that flows smoothly from phrase to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, is an important part of academic writing. And, as much as you may enjoy lists, it's difficult to achieve that goal if your paper consists solely of bullet points or extended in-text lists. When you rely on lists too extensively, your paper will cease to be a paper and become more akin to a summary or a PowerPoint slide. Remember, it's your job as a writer to beautifully connect words and ideas, not to just slap down a list and expect readers to figure it out for themselves.

 

 

 

 

Related articles:    

https://espressobin.net/forums/users/stevecarter/  

https://en.mypen.net/opinion/312296  

https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/Conatus/comment/view/21717/19052/72009  

https://www.insightsassociation.org/users/imwesleymorrisprotonmailcom  

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