can we write the research proposal in the past tense

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Writing and Style Basics

2 | When to Use the Past and Present Tense of Verbs

Best practices.

Scientific papers and proposals contain a mixture of verb tenses, and it can be challenging to know which tense to use. The tense of a verb is used to distinguish among past, present, or future times. In scientific documents, the past tense is used to discuss actions that occurred in the past. Hence, the methods and results sections are written primarily in the past tense. For example, “fluorescence was measured on a spectrofluorometer,” “the results showed that treatment A worked better than treatment B.”

The present tense is used when referring to well known facts or previously published research that is now widely considered to be factual. For example, “cancer is one of leading causes of death in the United States,” “a previous study demonstrated that immune checkpoint inhibitors are useful for treating advanced melanoma.” The present tense is used in these situations because the fact itself is not expected to change over time. Therefore, the present tense is used frequently in the introduction section of a paper, and it also may be used in the discussion. Additionally, the present tense is used when referring directly to a table or figure, for example, “Figure 1 shows that the tumors decreased in size over the course of three weeks.”

These general guidelines will apply to most scientific writing projects. However, check the journal’s author guidelines for any specific tense advice and follow it. While it is rare, a few journals prefer authors use present tense for their own results. The author guidelines should always be given preference if there is any discrepancy as to what style should be used in a scientific paper.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Medical Writing Copyright © 2024 by Deanna Erin Conners is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Mastering the Use of Tenses in Your Research Paper 

Many students and early career researchers find themselves grappling with various aspects of academic writing. One critical aspect is ensuring correct grammar, most importantly the appropriate use of tenses in your research paper. In this article, we explain the basics of using tenses in scientific writing and list best practices for different sections of your academic manuscript. By understanding the role of tenses in your research paper and applying them accurately, you can enhance the clarity and credibility of our research work. 

Table of Contents

• Understanding the basics: Using tenses in research papers 
• The simple past tense: Literature review, methods 
• The past perfect tense: Methods, conclusion 
• The simple present tense: Introduction, results, tables and figures  
• The present perfect tense: Introduction, literature review 
• The future tense: Discussion, conclusions 
• How Paperpal can help you ensure correct usage of verb tenses in academic writing?  

Understanding the basics: Using tenses in research papers

Tenses in scientific writing serve as valuable tools to indicate the time frame in which certain actions or ideas take place. The simple past tense and simple present tense are the most used tenses in research papers. They are supplemented by the present perfect, past perfect, and occasionally the future tense. Consistency and precision are crucial in academic writing, so let’s into the basics of tenses in your research paper and discuss the recommended tenses for each section.

Fix language and grammar, including tense errors, in minutes with Paperpal. Try it for free!    

The simple past tense: Literature review, methods

Use this tense in your research paper when talking of or describing specific actions or events that occurred in the past; they should not be linked to the present in the same sentence. The simple past tense is used predominantly in the literature review to talk about existing research on the topic, for example, “Watson and Crick published their landmark paper on the structure of DNA in 1953.” It is also typically used in the methods section to describe the methods used in previous studies; what you did and how you did it. For example, “We selected five samples at random.” This tense in scientific writing can also be used to state facts that were once believed to be true but have since been invalidated, for example, “Bats were thought to be blind.”  

The past perfect tense: Methods, conclusion

Best used to describe two related events that occurred at different times in the past, this tense is typically used in the methods section, especially when describing earlier stages of the experimental procedure. For example, “By the time the temperature and humidity reached optimal levels, the plants had already begun to revive,” or “Respondents who had been grouped into different control groups were given a placebo instead of the new formulation.” Use the past perfect tense in your research paper to describe research or experiments that may have already been completed at the time of writing the manuscript and in the conclusion to summarize the research findings.  

The simple present tense: Introduction, results, tables and figures

A researcher or academic writer can use simple present tense in the introduction when stating the objectives of the study, to interpret the results, discuss the significance of the findings or to present conclusions. Use the simple present tense in your research papers when referring to results presented in tables and figures in your writing. For example, “Fig.3 shows that…”. The present tense an also be used to talk about the research paper as a whole, for example, “Section 4.1 discusses…”. 

This tense in scientific writing is also used to state what is generally true and what is unlikely to change. For example, “The Earth revolves around the sun” or “Human babies generally start speaking when they are 2 years old.” This tense works well in the results section , which indicates what one believes to be true and relevant to the present research. For example, “Robinson maintains that soaking seeds in strong acid helps in breaking seed dormancy.”  

Avoid inconsistent verb tenses in academic writing. Check your writing with Paperpal now!

The present perfect tense: Introduction, literature review

The present perfect tense in scientific writing is used to talk about a past event that is linked to the present or to talk about trends or events that have occurred recently. One may need to use this tense in the introduction while providing a background to the study. For example, “The demand for more sophisticated 5G devices has increased significantly over the past few years.” Additionally, the present perfect tense is also used frequently in the literature review sections while referring to previous research that is fairly recent. For example, “Recent experiments on the samples collected have revealed high levels of saline.”  

The future tense: Discussion, conclusions  

Use the future tense in your research paper when describing events that are expected to occur in the future; this is not very common in academic writing. Typically, its use is limited to the discussion section toward the end, when one needs to make recommendations or indicate a future course of action based on the research results. It is usually recommended that parts of the conclusion section be written in the future tense. For example, “These research findings will open up new possibilities for the effective use of Epsom salt in agriculture.”  

Remember that the grammar and tense guidelines provided above are not hard and fast rules, which can make it more confusing, especially for those who do not have English as their first language. Ask peers to proofread your work carefully for incorrect or mixed tenses in a single sentence or paragraph or turn to trusted AI academic writing tools like Paperpal. 

How Paperpal can help you ensure correct usage of verb tenses in academic writing?   

Academic writing demands high-quality standards; it’s essential to adhere to grammar and style conventions. This ensures conformity with institutional and field-specific standards, and clarity in communicating what was studied, when it happened, and from which perspective the research is discussed. To determine the flow and coherency of your paper, using the right verb tenses is essential.  

Here’s how Paperpal, an AI academic writing assistant, can help you maintain consistency in verb tenses so that readers can easily follow the progress of your ideas and arguments: 

• Sign Up or Log In: Start by creating an account or logging into Paperpal . 
• Paste your content: Once logged in, paste your research paper’s content onto the writing document. 
• Get language and grammar suggestions: Click on the Edit icon on the right pane. Paperpal analyzes your text to identify errors, including verb form, tense usage, spellings, punctuations, word choice, and grammar. 
• Fix errors and review: You can accept the relevant suggestions, and reject the irrelevant ones, and correct all the errors in a go.  

Researchers need to familiarize themselves with the correct use of tenses in research papers, but with Paperpal, it gets easier. Paperpal is not just a grammar and language checker. It also provides rewriting, word reduction, and academic tone checks to align your writing with academic conventions. You can even build your writing skills and learn how to avoid such errors in the future with Paperpal’s detailed writing “tips” with simple explanations for editing suggestions.    

Understanding and implementing the appropriate use of tenses in different sections of your research paper is essential for effective communication of your ideas. By mastering the use of tenses in your research paper, you can ensure clarity, consistency, and accuracy and elevate the quality of your academic writing.  

Paperpal is a comprehensive AI writing toolkit that helps students and researchers achieve 2x the writing in half the time. It leverages 21+ years of STM experience and insights from millions of research articles to provide in-depth academic writing, language editing, and submission readiness support to help you write better, faster.  

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Mastering Tense Usage in Research Papers: A Section-by-Section Guide

Using the right verb tense is key in good academic writing . It’s like the hero no one talks about, making sure your paper looks solid next to others. Research shows that simple present, simple past, and present perfect are the most used tenses in research. Knowing how to use these tenses well shows you’re good with grammar. It also makes your writing clear and easy to follow.

Quick-Tips- Mastering Tense Usage in Research Papers

There’s a way to make tense use easier and even fun. By breaking down each part of your paper, we’ll show you how to handle tense. Let’s get started on making tense use in research papers something you can understand and maybe even like.

Key Takeaways

• Correct verb tense usage enhances academic credibility and clarity of expression in research papers.
• The simple present, simple past, and present perfect are the most utilized tenses in academic writing .
• Each section of a research paper has its preferred tense to maintain consistency and coherence.
• A well-structured methods section with accurate tense usage is crucial for research validity and reliability.
• Mastering verb tenses can transform the readability and impact of your research paper.

Introduction to Verb Tenses in Academic Writing

Mastery of verb tenses is key in academic writing. It helps make things clear and impactful. A study on using verb tenses in research papers got a lot of attention, showing their significance. Using tenses right makes research papers easier to read. It helps readers understand when things happened and their importance.

Why Verb Tenses Matter

Correct verb tenses set the right order and make research clear. The right tense at the start prevents confusion. This makes sure people understand the research well. Using tenses the same way keeps a clear timeline. This stops misunderstandings and keeps the research’s trustworthiness.

Overview of Common Verb Tenses

There are six main tenses in academic writing:

• Simple Present tense: Used for current actions or habits.
• Present Continuous tense: Shows ongoing actions now.
• Simple Past tense: Talks about finished actions in the past.
• Past Continuous tense: Focuses on actions happening over time in the past.
• Simple Future tense: Tells about actions that will happen.
• Future Continuous tense: Points to actions that will be happening over time.

For general statements in academic writing, the simple present tense is common. The present continuous tense is used for actions happening now. This is used less but still has its place. When talking about events that are finished, the simple past tense is fitting. For ongoing actions in the past, the past continuous tense is used. Future tenses are for predicting events to come.

The use of these tenses is very important in academic writing. Getting them right in a research paper makes it clear, builds trust, and shares the research’s impact well.

Choosing the Appropriate Tense for Different Sections

It’s key to use tenses correctly in academic writing. Doing so keeps your work clear and professional. Choose the tense that fits each part of your study well. Make sure to use the same tense throughout your paper.

Establishing Consistency

Using tenses right helps tell your research’s story clearly. Use the present for what’s happening now, the past for what’s done, and the future for newer ideas. This makes your study easy to follow. Here’s an example: “The enzyme activity increases with temperature.” Then, “Scientists found this in a lab test.” Finally, “Many studies have shown this works well.”

• Present tense: Ideal for general facts and ongoing research. Example: “Insulin and glucagon regulate blood glucose levels.”
• Simple past tense: Used for describing completed research activities. Example: “Scientists in Wales discovered a new enzyme in the liver.”
• Present perfect tense: Connects past studies with ongoing research. Example: “Many studies have focused on glucagon as an important regulating hormone.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many writers struggle to keep tenses consistent. They might mix tenses without a clear plan. For example, “The research examined the data and shows a significant pattern” confuses readers. To avoid this, stick to the rules for each part of your paper, like using past tense for methods and present for results.

“Tense consistency is key to maintaining the narrative flow and professionalism in your academic writing.” – Dr. Jane Smith, Linguistics Professor

Learning to use tenses well can make your academic writing better. By following these tips, you can make your work more clear and precise.

Verb Tenses in the Introduction Section

Understanding how to use tenses in the introduction of a research paper is key. It ensures the reader knows where the information stands. This makes the reader clear on when and why the information matters.

Present Tense for Established Knowledge

The present tense is important in the introduction. It’s great for stating known facts and common truths. This makes your paper sound up-to-date and follows academic writing norms.

“Photosynthesis is a process used by plants to convert light energy into chemical energy.”

This tense choice shows the basic info your study is built on. It helps readers place your work in the wider knowledge landscape.

Using Past Tenses for Historical Context

Past and present perfect tenses are used for historical background. The simple past tells about finished studies, while the present perfect links past research to the present.

• Simple Past : “Smith (2018) found that the new medication reduced symptoms by 35%.”
• Present Perfect : “Researchers have consistently shown an interest in the effects of sleep on cognitive function.”

Applying these tenses well stitches together past and current studies. This highlights the progress and continuing discovery in your field.

Using the right tenses in your introduction isn’t just about rules. It’s about guiding your readers and setting up a strong base for your research. Let’s apply these principles to improve how we write the introduction of our research papers.

Verb Tenses in the Literature Review Section

We mix verb tenses well in the literature review. This mix helps make past research and its importance now clear. It’s key in doing a good previous studies check and showing a smooth current knowledge summary.

Past Tense for Previous Studies

The literature review mainly uses past tense for looking back. This approach lets us talk about studies that have already happened. For example, we might say “Smith (2010) found that more study time boosted grades.” This makes the old study clear and gives it history.

Present Tense for Current Knowledge

However, we mostly use present tense for talking about lasting theories and ideas. This method is essential in the current knowledge blend. Phrases like “Now, studies show that social media changes how we learn” connect the old and new, showing a full view of research talks.

Getting the right literature review tense isn’t just about being correct. It’s also about telling a story that values both old and new research.

Methodology Section: Best Tense Practices

Getting the tense right in the methodology section is crucial. It’s usually best to use the simple past tense. This tense works well to talk about the research steps that are already complete. Using the right methodology tense helps to be clear. It also makes it easier for others to do the same study.

Imagine talking about how you collected data. You might say, “We conducted a survey… “. This isn’t just about telling what happened. It keeps the section clear and accurate. Using good tense practices helps to explain your research method better.

Now, what if you’re writing a research proposal? Here, it’s good to use the future tense. For example, you might write, “We will use a randomized control trial… “. This clearly shows your planned steps. It makes your proposal more persuasive and well-organized.

Using different tenses can confuse people. So, when you write about your methodology tense , keep it consistent. This helps your section sound professional and be easy to understand.

“Consistent tense usage in the methodology section propels readers effortlessly through your research steps, maintaining a seamless narrative,” says our go-to grammar guru.

Let’s break it down for more clarity:

To sum up, using the right methodology tense is very important. It can really help or hurt your research methodology explanation . By carefully using these tense tips, readers can easily understand our research methods.

Results Section: Maintaining Consistency

The results section is a special place in our research work. It’s where we share our hard-earned outcomes. We do this with very careful steps to keep everything clear and steady. Using the right tense, like talking in past time, helps us tell the story of our findings correctly and plainly.

A good results section shows our data clearly. According to Labani, Wadhwa, & Asthana (2017), the focus is on sharing the real outcomes of our work. It’s not just tossing numbers around. It’s about being so clear that anyone can understand what the numbers mean.

Things like tables and charts are key in this. They’re much more than just filling up space. They help us make our data easy to see and understand. Let’s check out some cool stats that can make our points strong:

These numbers show our findings are rock solid. Take the relapse risk, for example. We found it increases by 2.1 times with a tight confidence range. Such clear stats make our study’s strong points even stronger.

Being clear and to the point with our words is key in the results section. We should keep our sentences simple and straight. Each data point should add to our story. This helps paint a full picture of what we’ve found.

Finally, review and revision are super important. Double-checking our work keeps it free of mistakes and messy bits. This is crucial for keeping our work consistent and sharing our findings in the best possible way.

Tense Usage in Discussion Section

The discussion section in a research paper is key for using tense well. It helps make our points clearer and stronger. This part gets a lot of attention, with 211,445 views on the Wordvice article about it. When we mix tenses, we tie our results to what’s already known and point out what they mean now.

Connecting Findings with Past Studies

We use the simple past tense to link our findings with past research. For instance, we might say, “Previous research showed a positive link between X and Y.” Doing this places our new results in the context of what we already know. It shows we get the field and respect the work done before us.

Present Tense for Current Implications

When discussing what our results could mean now, we often use the present tense. Like, “These findings suggest a new treatment approach.” This shows our research fits into the latest science discussions. It also highlights the possible use of our work now. And, if we’re making future guesses or talking about new research plans, using the future tense helps make these ideas clear.

Conclusion Section: Summarizing Key Points with Proper Tense

The conclusion wraps up our research clearly. It makes sure our readers get the main points and sees the study’s importance today.

Past Tense for Completed Work

We use the past tense to talk about what we’ve finished. It helps us sum up our journey and the big discoveries. This tense closes our story by showing what we’ve achieved.

Present Tense for Ongoing Research

Conversely, the present tense is for what’s still happening from our work. It points out our findings’ ongoing impact and areas needing more study. This keeps our summary alive, not just in the past but now and maybe in the future too.

While short, the conclusion is vital for the study’s message. Using the right tense makes our work’s importance clear. It’s how we can be memorable and show the study matters in the academic world.

Why do verb tenses matter in academic writing?

What are the most commonly used verb tenses in research papers, how do we ensure consistency in verb tense usage, what are some common mistakes to avoid, what tense should be used in the introduction section, how should we approach verb tenses in the literature review section, what is the best tense practice for the methodology section, which tense should be used in the results section, what is the proper tense usage for the discussion section, how should tenses be used in the conclusion section.

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• Subject-Verb Agreement in Complex Academic Sentences →

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Dissertations & projects: Tenses

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• The process of reviewing
• Project management
• Literature-based projects

On this page:

“You will use a range of tenses depending on what you are writing about . ” Elizabeth M Fisher, Richard C Thompson, and Daniel Holtom,   Enjoy Writing Your Science Thesis Or Dissertation!

Tenses can be tricky to master. Even well respected journals differ in the guidance they give their authors for their use. However, their are some general conventions about what tenses are used in different parts of the report/dissertation. This page gives some advice on standard practice.

What tenses will you use?

There are exceptions however, most notably in the literature review where you will use a mixture of past , present and present perfect tenses (don't worry, that is explained below), when discussing the implications of your findings when the present tense is appropriate and in the recommendations where you are likely to use the future tense.

The tenses used as standard practice in each of these sections of your report are given and explained below.

In your abstract

You have some leeway with tense use in your abstract and guidance does vary which can sometimes be confusing. We recommend the following:

Describing the current situation and reason for your study

Mostly use the present tense,  i.e. "This is the current state of affairs and this is why this study is needed."

Occasionally, you may find the need to use something called the present perfect tense when you are describing things that happened in the past but are still relevant. The present perfect tense uses have/has and then the past participle of the verb i.e. Previous research on this topic has focused on... 

Describing the aims of your study

Here you have a choice. It is perfectly acceptable to use either the present or past tense,  i.e. "This study aims to..." or "This study aimed to..." 

Describing your methodology

Use the past tense to describe what you did, i.e. "A qualitative approach was used." "A survey was undertaken to ...". "The blood sample was analysed by..."

Describing your findings

Use the past tense to describe what you found as it is specific to your study, i.e. "The results showed that...", "The analysis indicated that..."

Suggesting the implications of your study

Use the present tense as even though your study took place in the past, your implications remain relevant in the present, i.e. Results revealed x which indicates that..."

Example abstract 

An example abstract with reasoning for the tenses chosen can be found at the bottom of this excellent blog post: 

Using the Present Tense and Past Tense When Writing an Abstract

In your methodology

The methodology is one of the easiest sections when it comes to tenses as you are explaining to your reader what you did. This is therefore almost exclusively written in the past tense.

Blood specimens were frozen at -80 o C.

A survey was designed using the Jisc Surveys tool.

Participants were purposefully selected.

The following search strategy was used to search the literature:

Very occasionally you may use the present tense if you are justifying a decision you have taken (as the justification is still valid, not just at the time you made the decision). For example: 

Purposeful sampling was used to ensure that a range of views were included. This sampling method maximises efficiency and validity as it identifies information-rich cases and ... (Morse & Niehaus, 2009).

In your discussion/conclusion

This will primarily be written in the present tense as you are generally discussing or making conclusions about the relevance of your findings at the present time. So you may write:

The findings of this research suggest that.../are potentially important because.../could open a new avenue for further research...

There will also be times when you use the past tense , especially when referring to part of your own research or previous published research research - but this is usually followed by something in the present tense to indicate the current relevance or the future tense to indicate possible future directions:

Analysis of the survey results found most respondents were not concerned with the processes, just the outcome. This suggests that managers should focus on...

These findings mirrored those of Cheung (2020), who also found that ESL pupils failed to understand some basic yet fundamental instructions. Addressing this will help ensure...

In your introduction

The introduction generally introduces what is in the rest of your document as is therefore describing the present situation and so uses the present tense :

Chapter 3  describes  the research methodology.

Depending on your discipline, your introduction may also review the literature so please also see that section below.

In your literature review

The findings of some literature may only be applicable in the specific circumstances that the research was undertaken and so need grounding to that study. Conversely, the findings of other literature may now be accepted as established knowledge. Also, you may consider the findings of older literature to be still relevant and relatively recent literature be already superseded. The tenses you write in will help to indicate a lot of this to the reader. In other words, you will use a mix of tenses in your review depending on what you are implying.

Findings only applicable in the specific circumstances

Use the past tense . For example: 

In an early study, Sharkey et al. (1991)  found  that isoprene emissions  were doubled  in leaves on sunnier sides of oak and aspen trees. 

Using the past tense indicates that you are not implying that isoprene emissions are always doubled on the sunnier side of the trees, just that is what was found in the Sharkey et al. study.

Findings that are still relevant or now established knowledge

Mostly use the present tense , unless the study is not recent and the authors are the subject of the sentence (which you should use very sparingly in a literature review) when you may need to use a mixture of the past and present. For example:

A narrowing of what 'graduateness' represents damages students’ abilities to thrive as they move through what will almost certainly be complex career pathways (Holmes, 2001).

Holmes (2001) argued strongly that a narrowing of what 'graduateness' represents damages  students’ abilities to thrive as they move through what will almost certainly be complex career pathways

Both of these imply that you think this is still the case (although it is perhaps more strongly implied in the first example). You may also want to use some academic caution too - such as writing 'may damage' rather than the more definite 'damages'.

Presenting your results

As with your methodology, your results section should be written in the past tense . This indicates that you are accepting that the results are specific to your research. Whilst they may have current implications, that part will not be considered until your discussion/conclusions section(s).

Four main themes were identified from the interview data.

There was a significant change in oxygen levels.

Like with the methodology, you will occasionally switch to present tense to write things like "Table 3.4 shows that ..." but generally, stick to the past tense.

In your recommendations

Not everyone will need to include recommendations and some may have them as part of the conclusions chapter. Recommendations are written in a mixture of the present tense and  future tense :

It is recommended that ward layout is adapted, where possible, to provide low-sensory bays for patients with autism. These will still be useable by all patients but...

Useful links

• Verb tenses in scientific manuscripts From International Science Editing
• Which Verb Tenses Should I Use in a Research Paper? Blog from WordVice
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