The third tip in my series is “tenses.” Even seasoned writers can struggle with writing in a consistent verb tense (past, present, future). It can be tough to decide which tense is right for what you’re writing, and different parts of the same document may use different tenses.
A big factor is the intent. Writing a proposal? Proposals haven’t happened yet, so you should use future tense, although background info would still use some past & present tense to “set the scene.” Sharing an update on ongoing research? A mix of past tense (what you’ve done so far) and present tense (what you’re still working on) is best. Presenting the results of a finished project? Most of this would be past tense, although applications of project outcomes may be present or future tense.
Audience also plays a role – peers usually want more info than the public. Where you might focus on results for the public (past tense), including ongoing work (present tense) is useful when speaking to colleagues.
Tenses are tricky, but if you consider who your audience is and what your intent is, you can be a very effective communicator!
Stay tuned for the next 9 tips!
