Key Points
- Present tense builds credibility for established knowledge and current data relevance.
- Past tense signals completed research methods and results.
- Present perfect connects past studies to ongoing significance.
- Future and conditional tenses allow for cautious projections and academic humility.
- Strategic tense shifts clarify whether you’re stating facts, describing actions, interpreting results, or suggesting possibilities.
Reviewers subconsciously judge your professionalism from your tense use. Inconsistent tenses create cognitive friction, which make your work harder to follow and trigger doubts about your attention to detail. Consistent, purposeful tense use removes that friction and keeps the focus on your ideas.
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Last month, I was reviewing manuscripts for a top conference when something struck me.
I could predict which papers would get harsh reviews within the first few paragraphs and it wasn’t because of weak research, but because of how they were written. Papers with inconsistent tenses created cognitive friction (not the sexy kind) that made me work harder to understand the authors’ logic. It was a mess. I found myself constantly translating between things like “the study showed” and “research demonstrates” and “findings will indicate” in the same paragraph. Of course, I’m exaggerating, but you get my point.
One thing I’ve noticed after being an AC and papers chair for many years, is that when reviewers struggle to follow your writing, they become less charitable toward your ideas. They just get a little bit meaner. They start questioning your attention to detail. They wonder if the same carelessness that shows up in your verb tense use might extend to your methodology or analysis. It’s not fair, but it’s human nature. Clear, professional writing makes reviewers more receptive to your contributions, while confusing tense usage puts them in a critical mindset before they even reach your findings. You don’t want that.
But, I’m ready for the rescue, because today I’ll show you exactly how to master academic tenses so your papers flow smoothly from sentence one , so you keep reviewers focused on your research instead of decoding your grammar. Ready to belly-flop into the details? I sure am.
Academic writing uses different tenses for different rhetorical purposes: present tense for established facts, past tense for your own completed actions, present perfect for linking past research to current understanding, and future/conditional for projections. Strategic tense shifts help readers follow your logic and trust your work.
Present tense anchors established knowledge and builds immediate credibility
Use present tense for
- Scientific laws or accepted theories
- Findings that remain true and relevant
- Your current interpretation of your own data
Examples
- Climate change affects global weather patterns.
- The data indicate a strong correlation.
Why it works: Positions your paper within current scientific consensus and keeps findings relevant now.
Most academic writers think they need to use past tense for everything because all the research just happened in the past.
Well, wipe that bird poop of your DeLorean, Doc, because that is is wrong — and it’s costing you credibility with your reviewers. When you discuss established knowledge, scientific laws, or widely accepted theories, present tense signals authority and permanence. “Climate change affects global weather patterns” carries more weight and meaning than “Climate change affected global weather patterns.” The first version positions your work within current scientific consensus, while the second makes it sound like climate change is no longer relevant. And as someone writing this while the sun is burning his neck in Canada of all places, it’s relevant alright.
Present tense also works for discussing what your data shows. “The data indicate a strong correlation” is more powerful than “The data indicated a strong correlation” because it emphasizes the ongoing relevance of your data. Your analysis exists now, in the present moment, as readers engage with your paper. Let’s feel the flurry of excitement as our ANOVA produces some significant results with large effect sizes.
So, one thing we want to remember is that present tense makes our research feel immediate and applicable rather than historical and outdated.
Past tense chronicles your research journey and demonstrates methodological rigour
Use past tense for
- Methods and procedures
- Data collection steps
- Observations made during the study period
Examples
- We collected data from 500 participants.
- Temperature readings increased by 3.2 degrees.
Why it works: Creates a clear timeline and signals rigorous, finished research.
Everything you actually did (like the process that happened) during your research should be described in past tense.
This includes your methodology, data collection procedures, observations, and experimental steps. “We collected data from 500 participants over six months” clearly signals completed action. “Participants completed surveys between January and March 2025” provides the kind of temporal clarity that reviewers expect in rigorous academic work.
Past tense also applies to what you observed during your study. “Temperature readings increased by 3.2 degrees” describes a specific observation that occurred during your research period. This creates a clear narrative timeline that helps reviewers follow your research process.
The beauty of past tense in methodology sections is that it demonstrates you’ve actually completed the work. It builds trust by showing reviewers exactly what happened, when it happened, and how it happened. (And, of course, that you’re the one who did it.)
Present perfect connects historical research to current understanding
Use present perfect to
- Show that past studies still influence current understanding
- Indicate findings with ongoing relevance
Examples
- Studies have consistently demonstrated this relationship.
- Researchers have identified three key factors.
Why it works: Turns your literature review into a current conversation rather than a historical list.
Here’s where most academic writers get confused (and where you can gain a significant advantage).
Present perfect tense (“have discovered,” “has demonstrated,” “have shown”) bridges past research with present relevance. “Studies have consistently demonstrated this relationship” is more powerful than “Studies demonstrated this relationship” because it emphasizes ongoing significance. Marty McFly is coming back to the future. You’re not just citing old research here for funsies, but building everything on established patterns that remain crucial today.
This tense works exceptionally well for literature reviews because it shows how past work contributes to current knowledge. “Researchers have identified three key factors” positions those factors as currently relevant discoveries, not historical artifacts. It creates academic continuity by linking what others found with what you’re contributing today.
The strategic advantage? Present perfect makes your literature review feel like a living conversation rather than a museum tour of zombie research.
Future and conditional tenses project possibilities while maintaining academic humility
Use future tense or modal verbs (could, might) to
- Suggest further research
- Indicate potential applications
- Avoid overstating certainty
Examples
- Further research could explore this relationship.
- These findings might suggest broader applications.
Why it works: Shows academic humility and invites collaboration.
Academic writing demands intellectual honesty about what you don’t know. This a crucial part of writing any paper.
Future tense and modal verbs (“could,” “might,” “may”) allow you to suggest directions without overstating certainty. “Further research could explore this relationship” acknowledges limitations while opening doors for future work. “These findings might suggest broader applications” presents possibilities without making claims you can’t support.
This approach serves two critical purposes: It demonstrates academic humility and invites collaboration. Reviewers appreciate writers who acknowledge uncertainty rather than making grandiose claims. “This framework will revolutionize the field” sounds arrogant, while “This framework could provide new insights” sounds thoughtful and measured. It is a smart use of hedging to convince your peers of value.
Clever use of conditional language more often than not protects you from reviewer criticism. When you present possibilities rather than certainties, you’re less likely to face pushback for overstating your contributions.
Tense shifts signal rhetorical purpose and guide reader understanding
Tense shifts as rhetorical signals
Shifting tense intentionally tells readers your purpose:
- Past → Present: Move from describing what you saw to interpreting it
- Present Perfect → Conditional: Move from established patterns to future possibilities
Examples
We observed increased activity. (past)
These findings suggest active engagement. (present)
The most sophisticated academic writers use tense strategically to signal different types of claims.
When you move from past tense (“We observed increased activity”) to present tense (“These findings suggest active engagement”), you’re signalling a shift from description to interpretation. Readers unconsciously understand this progression, making your arguments easier to follow. That’s a bold power move for any writer.
Similarly, moving from present perfect (“Research has shown consistent patterns”) to future conditional (“Future studies could examine variations”) takes readers from established knowledge to open questions. These tense shifts create logical flow that sophisticated readers expect in professional academic writing.
The key insight here? Tense is so much more than just grammar. It lets readers navigate and understand what kind of claim you’re making at each moment in your paper.
Tense always signals rhetorical purpose. So, shift tenses when the purpose of your communication shifts (e.g., fact, action, interpretation, projection). Do not treat my suggestions above as immutable grammar law. Follow the communication goal.
Our takeaway today: Clear, consistent tense usage removes friction from your writing. It lets reviewers focus on what matters most: Your research contributions. Best of luck with your manuscripts.
Which tense to use when (Comparison)
| Section / Purpose | Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Established knowledge / theory | Present | Photosynthesis converts sunlight into energy. |
| Methods / completed actions | Past | We conducted three experiments. |
| Past findings with current relevance | Present Perfect | Studies have shown a link between X and Y. |
| Projections / limitations | Future / Conditional | Further research could confirm these effects. |
FAQ
Q1: Should I use past or present tense for my abstract?
Use past for what you did, present for what the results mean now.
Q2: What tense is best for literature reviews?
Mix present perfect (link past to present) and present tense for widely accepted facts.
Q3: Can I use multiple tenses in one paragraph?
Yes, if each tense clearly signals a different purpose — fact, method, or interpretation.
Q4: Is it wrong to write the entire paper in past tense?
Not wrong, but you lose rhetorical nuance and risk making findings feel outdated.
P.S.: Curious to explore how we can tackle your research struggles together? I've got three suggestions that could be a great fit: A seven-day email course that teaches you the basics of research methods. Or the recordings of our AI research tools webinar and PhD student fast track webinar.
