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Peaceblinkfriend Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Quoting data from reports -

The number of humanitarian workers in Darfur had been increasing steadily since 2003 and had reached a record 17700 in January 2009 (OCHA-Sudan 1/1/2009).

The number of humanitarian workers in Darfur has been increasing steadily since 2003 and reached a record 17700 in January 2009 (OCHA-Sudan 1/1/2009).

Hi all

If you are quoting data from reports, what tense should you use?

Thanks

PBF
  

Top answer

Well, you don't seem to be quoting (since there are no quotation marks), but reporting. Therefore: The number of humanitarian workers in Darfur had been increasing steadily since 2003 and reached a record 17700 in January 2009 (OCHA-Sudan 1/1/2009).

— Mister Micawber

  • Well, you don't seem to be quoting (since there are no quotation marks), but reporting.
  • Therefore: The number of humanitarian workers in Darfur had been increasing steadily since 2003 and reached a record 17700 in January 2009 (OCHA-Sudan 1/1/2009).
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4 Answers
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Well, you don't seem to be quoting (since there are no quotation marks), but reporting. Therefore:

The number of humanitarian workers in Darfur had been increasing steadily since 2003 and reached a record 17700 in January 2009 (OCHA-Sudan 1/1/2009).
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The tense you use should be consistent with what is in the report itself:

The population of Mexico city is estimated to be more than 13 million.
Old excavations showed that Mexico city's population was greater than London's in 1400.
Computer weather models predict that there will be four hurricanes this season.
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Thanks for your replies.

MM, if the number of humanitarian workers is still increasing yet the source is not up to date, can I say '...has been increasing...'?

Thanks

PBF
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Peaceblinkfriendif the number of humanitarian workers is still increasing yet the source is not up to date, can I say '...has been increasing...'?
Yes, if that is still a known fact. Then you might have to cite both sources.
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