Verb Tenses in Scientific Writing

Verb Tenses in Scientific Writing

Verb tenses play a significant role in scientific writing, helping convey the temporal aspect of various elements in a study. Present tense, future tense, and past tense are the primary verb tenses used in scientific reports. Each tense is used to describe different aspects of the research, from the introduction to the results and conclusions.

Present Tense

In scientific writing, the present tense is used to describe general facts, discuss current meanings and implications, and suggest future applications. It is also used to make general statements, conclusions, or interpretations about previous research or data. The present tense is commonly used in the introduction to describe what is already known about the topic, and in the conclusion to summarize the current understanding and identify areas for further research.

Future Tense

Future tense is used in scientific writing to describe an action that will occur at a particular point in the future. In the context of research papers, future tense is typically used to relate to plans or predictions based on existing information. For example, when writing a proposal for a doctoral capstone study, the future tense is used to describe actions that will be conducted in the future.

Past Tense

The past tense is primarily used in scientific reports to describe completed actions that took place at a specific point in the past. It is also used to discuss actual results obtained from experiments or observations. In the methods section, the past tense is employed to narrate the steps followed in conducting the study. The past tense is also used to introduce other people's research, usually carrying out by named researchers.

Understanding the appropriate use of verb tenses is essential in scientific writing to ensure clarity, coherence, and adherence to the established norms of academic writing.