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Ecology Writing Guide |
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Tense
When you read a scientific paper you may notice that the verb tense changes throughout the text. Below are some guidelines for when to use the past or the present tense.
| Tense | When to use | Example |
| Past | Completed procedures | The DNA was extracted from soil samples. |
| Results | High concentrations of glucose inhibited enzyme activity. Smith et al. (2010) found that high concentrations of glucose inhibited enzyme activity. | |
| Present | Well-known theories | Animal cells contain membrane-bound organelles. |
| Reference to tables and figures | Figure 1 shows the effect of temperature on growth. | |
Geological and geographical features | The area consists of rich, volcanic soils. |
Adapted from: Silyn-Roberts, H. (2002). Writing for Science (2nd ed.) Auckland, New Zealand: Pearson Education New Zealand Ltd. (p. 142-143).
