Which Verb Tenses to Use in a Research Paper

Summary

The video script emphasizes the importance of adhering to grammar and style conventions in academic writing to ensure clear communication. It explains the use of verb tenses—simple present, past, and present perfect—in different sections of a research paper. The simple present is used for general facts and future applications, the past tense for completed events, and the present perfect for ongoing or recently completed events without a specific time. The script provides guidelines for verb tense usage in abstracts, introductions, literature reviews, methods, discussion, and conclusions. It advises checking journal guidelines and reading examples for better understanding and concludes with the golden rule of academic writing: always verify the formatting guidelines and practice to improve.

Takeaways

• 📜 **Follow Conventions**: Adhering to grammar and style conventions is crucial for clear communication and meeting journal standards.
• 📝 **Verb Tenses**: Understanding when to use past, present, and present perfect tenses is essential for effective academic writing.
• 🕒 **Tense Usage**: The choice of verb tense depends on the section of the paper and the nature of the information being conveyed.
• 🔍 **APA, AMA, MLA**: Familiarize yourself with the specific formatting styles like APA, AMA, MLA, as they guide tense usage.
• ✅ **Completed Work**: Use the past tense to describe events, studies, or experiments that have been completed.
• 🔬 **Ongoing or Recent Work**: The present perfect tense is suitable for describing events with no specific time or those that are still ongoing.
• 📊 **Abstract Tenses**: The abstract typically uses the simple present tense for general statements and the present perfect for recent findings.
• 📚 **Introduction Tenses**: Discuss effects and previous research using the present and past tenses, respectively.
• 🧬 **Methods Section**: Use the past tense to detail what was done in your study, favoring the passive voice for actions.
• 📈 **Discussion Tenses**: Summarize your findings with the simple past tense and use the present tense to interpret their significance.
• ✍️ **Conclusion Tenses**: Use the present perfect to confirm lasting relevance and the present tense to suggest further research.
• 📘 **Formatting Guidelines**: Always check the journal's guidelines and read examples to understand how to correctly structure your paper.

Q & A

Why is it important to follow grammar and style conventions in academic writing?

Following grammar and style conventions is important in academic writing to abide by the accepted journal, institution, and domain standards, and to clearly communicate the research process, timing, and perspective to the reader.

Should I always use the past tense when writing an academic paper since everything has already been completed?

No, not always. Knowing which tense to use requires understanding the formatting style (such as APA, AMA, MLA, etc.) and discretion in choosing the tense that makes the most sense for a given statement.

What are the three main verb tenses used in a research paper?

The three main verb tenses used in a research paper are present simple, past simple, and present perfect.

What is the general usage of the present tense in academic writing?

The present tense is used to talk about general facts, discuss current meanings and implications, and suggest future applications.

How is the simple past tense used in academic writing?

The simple past tense is used to talk about events that have already been completed, such as studies, experiments, or phenomena that occurred in a locatable time or place in the past.

What is the purpose of the present perfect tense in a research paper?

The present perfect tense is used to describe events that have occurred at some unidentified time in the past or have recently been completed or are still ongoing.

Which verb tense is generally used in the abstract of a research paper?

In the abstract, the simple past is generally used, or the present perfect for general statements of facts and analysis of findings.

How should verb tense be used in the introduction of a research paper?

In the introduction, the present tense is applied when discussing effects with earlier research, and the past tense is used for efforts by the author or another group.

What verb tense should be used in the methods section of a research paper?

In the methods section, the past tense should be used to talk about what was done, such as experimental procedures.

How does verb tense usage differ in the discussion section of a research paper?

In the discussion section, the simple past is used to summarize findings, and the present tense is used for interpreting the significance of those findings.

What is the golden rule of research papers regarding verb tense according to the script?

The golden rule is to check the formatting guidelines of the journal or conference to which you are submitting and read plenty of examples to understand how authors construct their papers.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Academic Paper Writing: Verb Tense Essentials

This paragraph discusses the importance of adhering to grammar and style conventions in academic writing, particularly the correct use of verb tenses. It clarifies that while past tense is often used to describe completed research, present and present perfect tenses are also crucial for discussing general facts, implications, and future applications. The paragraph provides examples of each tense and suggests that authors should refer to specific formatting style guides like APA, AMA, or MLA for detailed rules. It also outlines general usage rules for present simple, past simple, and present perfect tenses in the context of different sections of a research paper, such as the abstract, introduction, literature review, and methods.

05:00

🔍 Applying Verb Tenses in Research Paper Sections

The second paragraph delves into the application of verb tenses within specific sections of a research paper. It advises using the simple past tense in the methods section to describe actions taken during the research, while the present tense is appropriate for explaining diagrams, figures, tables, and charts. The paragraph also covers the use of tenses in the discussion and conclusion sections, emphasizing the simple past for summarizing findings and the present tense for establishing dialogue with the study. Additionally, it suggests using the present perfect tense for cited information and the present or future tense for suggesting further research. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to consult journal guidelines and read examples to understand verb tense usage in academic writing.

Keywords

💡Academic Paper

An academic paper is a document typically written by scholars and researchers to present their original research findings. It is a critical tool in academia for sharing knowledge and contributing to a field of study. In the video, the focus is on the proper use of grammar and style conventions within an academic paper to ensure clear communication of research.

💡Grammar and Style Conventions

Grammar and style conventions refer to the rules and guidelines that dictate how language should be used in writing. These conventions are essential for maintaining clarity and coherence in academic writing. The video emphasizes their importance in adhering to journal standards and effectively communicating research.

💡Verb Tense

Verb tense is a grammatical feature that indicates the time at which an action occurs. The video discusses the significance of verb tense in academic writing, explaining that the correct tense can affect how a paper is understood by readers. It provides guidance on when to use past, present, and present perfect tenses.

💡APA, AMA, MLA

APA, AMA, and MLA are different academic formatting styles used in writing papers. APA is the American Psychological Association style, AMA is the American Medical Association style, and MLA is the Modern Language Association style. The video suggests understanding these styles is crucial for choosing the correct verb tense.

💡Present Simple

Present simple, also known as the simple present tense, is used to describe general facts, habitual actions, and universal truths. In the context of the video, it is used for discussing current meanings, implications, and suggesting future applications of research.

💡Past Simple

The past simple tense is used to describe actions or events that have been completed in the past. The video script provides examples of using the past simple to talk about completed studies, experiments, or phenomena that occurred at a specific time or place.

💡Present Perfect

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions or events that have occurred at an unspecified time in the past or are still ongoing. It is the least frequently used tense in research papers, as mentioned in the video, and is used to connect past events to the present.

💡Abstract

An abstract is a brief summary at the beginning of a research paper that highlights the main points of the study. The video explains that the simple present tense or present perfect is generally used in abstracts for introductory phrases and statements of fact.

💡Introduction

The introduction section of a research paper sets the stage for the research by discussing the background and significance of the study. The video indicates that the present tense is used to discuss effects and the past tense to describe previous research efforts.

💡Methods Section

The methods section of a research paper details the procedures and techniques used in the study. The video suggests using the past tense in this section to describe what was done during the research process.

💡Discussion Section

The discussion section interprets the results of the research, explaining their significance and implications. The video advises using the simple past to summarize findings and the present tense for analyzing and establishing a dialogue with the completed study.

💡Conclusion

The conclusion section of a research paper summarizes the main findings and suggests directions for future research. The video script indicates that the present perfect tense can be used to clarify that certain statements still hold true at the time of writing.

Highlights

Following grammar and style conventions is crucial for clear communication in academic writing.

Verb tense selection depends on formatting styles like APA, AMA, MLA, and discretion in tense choice.

Three main verb tenses used in research papers: present simple, past simple, and present perfect.

Present tense is for general facts, current meanings, implications, and future applications.

Past tense is for completed events, like studies or experiments, in a locatable time or place.

Present perfect tense is for events with unidentified time in the past or ongoing activities.

Abstracts generally use present tense or present perfect for general statements and findings.

Introductions use present tense for effects and past tense for completed research.

Literature review requires present tense for opinions and past tense for completed research findings.

Methods section uses past tense to describe actions taken during the study.

Present tense is used to explain diagrams, figures, tables, and charts.

Discussion section summarizes findings with simple past and interprets them with present tense.

Conclusion uses present perfect to clarify statements still true at the time of writing.

Present tense is for applying findings, stating implications, and suggesting further research.

Future tense or subjunctive mood can be used for further research or recommendations.

Check journal guidelines and read examples for proper verb tense usage in academic papers.

Practice and reading papers will help in identifying correct verb tense usage in research papers.

Transcripts

[Music]

when writing an academic paper it is

important to follow the grammar and

style conventions not only to abide by

the accepted journal institution and

domain standards but to clearly

communicate to the reader what you did

when you did it and from which

perspective you are discussing the

research in one central element that

will impact how you compose your paper

and how it will be understood by readers

is verb tense everything in this paper

has already been completed so shouldn't

I always use the past tense well no not

exactly

knowing which tends to use requires both

understanding of the formatting style

you're using for example APA AMA MLA etc

and also some discretion in savvy in

choosing the tense that makes the most

sense for a given statement in the paper

without going into specific rules for

each formatting style although new

authors should definitely look at those

rules first let's talk today about some

rules of thumb for when to use the past

and present tense in different sections

of the paper there are three main verb

tenses you should use in a research

paper present simple past and present

perfect now we'll talk about which

section requires which verb tense in a

minute but first let's go over the

general usage rules for each of these

tenses the present tense or as it's also

referred to the simple present tense is

used to talk about general facts discuss

current meanings and implications and

suggest future applications an example

of a general fact would be insulin and

glucagon regulate blood glucose levels

this fact has no temporal change and is

constant throughout time an example of

implications might be increased glucose

levels indicate decreased glucagon

hormones and for further research

further studies about glucagon receptors

are needed the simple past is used to

talk about events that have already been

completed

these are usually discrete events such

as studies experiments or phenomenon

that

happen in a locatable time or place in

the past for an example of an event that

has been completed at a certain time or

place in the course of this study

scientists discovered a new enzyme in

the liver protocol X was used to analyze

the data the president perfect tense is

the least frequently used tense in your

research paper its main purpose is to

describe events that have occurred at

some unidentified time in the past or

have recently been completed or are

still ongoing here are some examples of

the present perfect tense many studies

have focused on glucagon as an important

regulating hormone until recently

researchers have analyzed this kind of

data using a chi-square statistic

efforts have been made to understand

more about this process note that in all

of these examples none of the events are

given specific time or place indicators

all have occurred at some unidentified

time in the past or are still being

completed

now let's discuss which tends to use for

each section of your research paper

let's start with the abstract in the

abstract generally the simple path is

used or for a concise introductory

phrase the present perfect is use for

general statements of facts and analysis

of findings or for the paper and cell

use the present tense for abstracts an

introductory phrase use the present

perfect recent studies of glucagon and

insulin production have led to

breakthroughs in medicine for statements

effect as in other parts of your

research paper use the present tense in

the u.s. diabetes is the most common in

de crème de seas you can also use the

simple past for statements of fact that

were determined to be true at a specific

time in 2016

diabetes was the most common endocrine

disease in the introduction the present

tense is applied when discussing effect

with earlier research efforts by you or

another group use the past tense the

same research team discovered a similar

enzyme in their 2012 study for the

concluding statements use either the

simple past or the past perfect prior

research in this area was inconclusive

when discussing something that was

determined to be true but is no longer

true the

perfect is the way to describe this this

team had determined that X was y but

this was later found to be incorrect in

the literature session knowing which

test to use can be a bit tricky as it

depends both on the manual style that

you're using as well as on how exactly

you are incorporating the literature

let's look at some examples use the

present tense when giving your opinion

on another person's research or when

bringing up the results discussion in

conclusion for example riyuku concludes

that there are no additional enzymes

present in the liver a finding this

current study directly refutes some

related terms that might be used are

stresses advocates remarks argues and

claims in the methods section use the

past tense to talk about what you did a

glucose molecule was added to the

mixture to see how the peptide would

respond you will note here that the

passive voice is used if you use the

active than you usually need to use a

pronoun or another subject the passive

is simply more common in most journal

articles use the present tense when

explaining diagrams figures tables and

charts Table five displays the results

of this first isolated test use the past

to talk about actual results the

addition of 0.02 milligrams of glycogen

activated receptor cells no immediate

effect was observed again use the

present tense to explain diagrams

figures tables and charts figure 1.4

shows the measurements of these mixtures

or the measurements of these mixtures

are shown in Figure 1.4 it is generally

okay to mix the active and passive voice

in these sections if only to give your

writing a little bit more variance and

make it easier for the reader to

understand in the discussion section use

the simple past to summarize your own

findings and the perfect tense for cited

information when summarizing your own

findings use the simple past the

experiment yielded a number of results

associated with the processing of

glucose when discussing and interpreting

the significance of your own findings

use the present tense

this study confirms that synthetic

glucagon is 2 3

as effective at decreasing fatty acid

synthesis the reason for using the

present tense here is to establish a

dialogue between yourself and your study

you are essentially analyzing the work

that has already been completed in in

the conclusion you can use the perfect

tense to clarify that these statements

still hold true at the time of your

writing results from this study have led

to a deeper understanding about how

different substrates interact with this

enzyme use the present tense to apply

findings state implications and suggest

further research we can conclude that

endogenous glucagon is more essential in

insulin regulation than previously

understood when discussing further

research that is either needed or

intended to be carried out the future or

present tense or subjunctive mood can

also be used in addition to the present

tense passive voice for example further

clinical studies are needed to isolate

the cause of this reaction further

clinical studies will be needed to

isolate the cause of this reaction or

further clinical studies should be

carried out to isolate the cause of this

reaction follow these general rules

about verb tense and your paper will be

clearer more chronologically correct and

generally easier to read meaning the

important stuff in your paper will be

more easily understood and if you forget

all of these rules remember one golden

rule of research papers check the

formatting guidelines of the journal or

conference to what you're submitting and

read plenty of examples to get an idea

of how these authors construct the paper

you can always go back and edit the verb

tense after you've written the paper and

remember that the more papers you read

the more papers write and the more you

practice in general the easier will be

to identify which birds to use in which

part of the research paper if you would

like to learn more about how to write

your research paper and prepare it for

submissions and journals visit word

viscom and don't forget to Like and

subscribe if this information has been

helpful stay tuned for more and happy

writer