How to Use Tenses w88 Scientific Writing

Written by: Chloe Collier

One’s tense will vary depending on what one is trying to convey w88 their paper or section of their paper. For example, the tense may change between the methods section and the discussion section.

Abstract -- Past w88

• The abstract is usually in the past w88 due to it showing what has already been studied.

Example: “This study was conducted at the Iyarina Field School, and w88 the indigenous Waorani community w88 Yasuni National Park region.”

Introduction -- Present w88

• The introduction is usually in present w88 due to the fact that you are presenting facts and background information on your research topic. By having this information in present w88, you are showing that you believe that this research is correct. Present w88 should still be used even if the research you are speaking of aged.
  • w88: “ Clidemia heterophylla and Piperaceae musteum are both plants with ant domata, meaning that there is an ant mutualism which protects them from a higher level of herbivory.&w88;

Methods -- Past w88

• In the methods section one would use past w88 due to what they have done was in the past.
• It has been debated whether w88 should use active or passive voice. The scientific journal Nature states that w88 should use active voice as to convey the concepts more directly.
• It can be beneficial to use passive when one wants to keep a similar subject in a series of sentences w88 a paragraph. Passive voice also allows one to help move words to emphasize them. Passive voice can also be useful when emphasizing the action but not the one doing the action.
  • Example: “In the geographic areas selected for the study, ten random focal plants were selected as points for the study.&w88;

Results -- Past w88

• Past w88 would typically be used due to these results being found in the past
  • Example: “We observed that there was no significant statistical difference in herbivory on Piperaceae between the two locations, Yasuni National Park, Ecuador (01° 10’ 11, 13”S and 77° 10’ 01. 47 NW) and Iyarina Field School, Ecuador (01° 02’ 35.2” S and 77° 43’ 02. 45” W), with the one exception being that there was found to be a statistical significance in the number count w88 a one-meter radius of Piperaceae musteum (Piperaceae).&w88;

Discussion -- Present w88 and past w88

• One would use present w88 if they are explaining why one cares about their results and why they are important
  • Example: “Symbiotic ant mutualistic relationships w88 species will defend their host plant since the plant provides them with food. In the case of Melastomataceae, they have swellings at the base of their petioles that house the ants and aid to protect them from herbivores.”
• One would use past w88 to summarize one’s results
• Example: “In the future to further this experiment, we would expand this project and expand our sample size in order to have a more solid base for our findings.&w88;