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Wildblue Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Tense of the verb

Hello. Which of the following sentences should be used in the abstract of a paper, please?
"The aim of this study was to investigate. . . "
or
"The aim of this study is to investigate. . . "

I have searched a lot and found both tenses in a great number of published papers.
Thank you.
  

Top answer

Wildblue I have searched a lot and found both tenses in a great number of published papers. Then the option is obviously yours.

— Mister Micawber

  • Wildblue I have searched a lot and found both tenses in a great number of published papers.
  • Then the option is obviously yours.
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3 Answers
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WildblueI have searched a lot and found both tenses in a great number of published papers.
Then the option is obviously yours.
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Wildblue"The aim of this study was to investigate. . . "
The study is complete. The purpose statement was in the past. You re going to report about the completion of the purpose.
Wildblue"The aim of this study is to investigate. . . "
You are writing a narrative about this study, so you cast the text into the present.
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Thank you AlpheccaStars and Mister Micawber.
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