Tips on Verb Tenses

When do I use which tense?

Present Tense Use present tense to state facts that are already published or are common knowledge. Use present tense to refer to your current manuscript. Use present tense to refer to tables and figures. Use present tense to state your conclusions or thoughts about your study. Past Tense Use to state the methods and results of your study. Use the past tense to discuss previous results that cannot be generalized. Use to describe unpublished findings. Present perfect tense Use when the action is repeated and the time period is not finished. Use to indicate an indefinite time in the past. Use to indicate activities that have occurred but are also continuing. Use for recently completed actions or observations. Look for has or have plus the past participle: Studies have shown that chocolate makes people happy. Past perfect tense Use to describe observations that happened before others. Look for had plus the past participle: I had finished packing when I realized I forgot my shoes.

What tenses go in which sections of a scientific manuscript?

Introduction Use present tense for common, accepted knowledge. Use past tense to refer to your own studys methods, goals, and results. Methods Use past tense to describe what you did. Results Use past tense to describe what you did. Discussion Use present perfect tense for something that happened recently, but at no specific time. Use present tense for conclusions you are drawing from your work. Abstract Use verb tenses that correspond to relevant sections of the paper.