Which Verb Tense Is Commonly Used In Writing An Abstract

Here's a comprehensive guide to the verb tenses typically employed when crafting an abstract, ensuring clarity and impact.

Choosing the Right Verb Tense for Your Abstract: A Comprehensive Guide

An abstract serves as a concise yet comprehensive summary of your research paper, thesis, or other scholarly work. It's often the first (and sometimes the only) part of your work that potential readers encounter. Therefore, clarity and precision are paramount. One key element contributing to this clarity is the careful selection of verb tenses. Using the correct tense not only accurately reflects the timing of your research but also enhances the readability and impact of your abstract.

Understanding the Purpose of an Abstract

Before diving into the specifics of verb tenses, it's crucial to understand the distinct purposes an abstract serves:

To present the main objectives of the research: What questions were you trying to answer?
To describe the methods used: How did you conduct your research?
To summarize the key results: What were your major findings?
To state the main conclusions or interpretations: What do your findings mean? What are the implications?

The tense you choose for each of these components will depend on the specific information you're conveying.

General Guidelines for Verb Tenses in Abstracts

While specific fields and journals might have their own stylistic preferences, some general rules apply to verb tense usage in abstracts:

Background Information: Use the present tense to state established facts, general knowledge, or ongoing situations.
Objectives/Aims: Use the past tense or present perfect tense to describe the aims of your study. You can also use the present tense when explicitly stating the research question.
Methods: Use the past tense to describe the specific methods you employed in your research.
Results: Use the past tense to report specific findings of your study. You can also use the present tense to describe results that have ongoing relevance.
Conclusions/Interpretations: Use the present tense to state your conclusions, interpretations, and the significance of your findings.
General Truths/Implications: Use the present tense to discuss the broader implications of your research, its relevance to the field, or general truths that your research supports.

A Closer Look at Each Section and Verb Tense Choices

Let's break down the abstract section by section, exploring the most appropriate verb tenses and providing examples:

1. Background Information/Introduction

The background section of an abstract typically provides context for your research. Here, you'll primarily use the present tense to state established facts, definitions, or ongoing problems.

Example: "Climate change is a significant global challenge that poses a threat to ecosystems and human societies."
Example: "Machine learning is increasingly used in medical diagnosis due to its ability to identify patterns in complex datasets."
Example: "The prevalence of antibiotic resistance is a growing concern in healthcare settings."

Why the present tense? Because these statements are generally true and relevant at the time of writing and beyond.

2. Objectives/Aims of the Study

When stating the objectives or aims of your research, you have a few options:

Past Tense: Use the past tense to describe what you intended to do in the study.
- Example: "The study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise on cognitive function in older adults."
- Example: "We sought to determine the optimal dosage of the new drug for treating hypertension."
Present Perfect Tense: Use the present perfect tense to emphasize that the study's aim has now been achieved.
- Example: "This research has investigated the impact of social media on political polarization."
- Example: "We have demonstrated a novel approach to cancer therapy using nanoparticles."
Present Tense: Use the present tense to explicitly state the research question or the purpose of the study.
- Example: "This paper examines the relationship between socioeconomic status and access to healthcare."
- Example: "The present study investigates the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders."

Which tense should you choose? The best option depends on the emphasis you want to place. Past tense focuses on the intention, present perfect on the accomplishment, and present tense on the current focus of the paper.

3. Methods

The methods section describes how you conducted your research. Here, the past tense is almost always the correct choice.

Example: "Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group."
Example: "Data was collected through surveys and interviews."
Example: "We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled design to minimize bias."
Example: "The samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)."

Why the past tense? Because the methods you used are actions that were completed in the past.

4. Results

The results section presents the findings of your study. The past tense is typically used to describe specific results. However, the present tense can be used to describe results with ongoing relevance or when referring to tables and figures.

Past Tense (Specific Findings):
- Example: "The results showed a significant positive correlation between exercise and cognitive function (r = 0.65, p < 0.05)."
- Example: "We found that the new drug significantly reduced blood pressure compared to the placebo."
Present Tense (Ongoing Relevance/Referring to Tables/Figures):
- Example: "These findings suggest that exercise has a beneficial effect on cognitive health."
- Example: "Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of the participants."
- Example: "Figure 2 illustrates the relationship between stress levels and job performance."

Consider these points:

Be consistent within the results section. If you start using the past tense, stick with it unless there's a clear reason to switch to the present tense (e.g., referring to a table).
Avoid using the future tense in the results section. You're reporting what did happen, not what will happen.

5. Conclusions/Interpretations

The conclusions section summarizes the main takeaways from your research and their implications. The present tense is the most common choice here.

Example: "These results indicate that exercise may be an effective strategy for improving cognitive function in older adults."
Example: "Our findings suggest a novel mechanism for the regulation of blood pressure."
Example: "This study demonstrates the importance of early intervention for preventing chronic diseases."
Example: "The research highlights the need for further investigation into the long-term effects of social media use."

Why the present tense? Because your conclusions and interpretations are generally true based on the evidence you've presented. They represent your current understanding of the topic.

6. Implications/Significance

In this part of the abstract, you discuss the broader implications of your research and its significance to the field. The present tense is almost always used.

Example: "This research has important implications for the development of new therapies for Alzheimer's disease."
Example: "The findings contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between genetics and environment in shaping human behavior."
Example: "This study provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to address the issue of income inequality."
Example: "The proposed model offers a new framework for analyzing consumer behavior."

Why the present tense? Because you're discussing the ongoing relevance and potential impact of your research.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Inconsistent Tense Usage: Switching tenses unnecessarily within a sentence or paragraph can confuse the reader. Maintain a consistent tense unless there's a clear reason to change.
Using Future Tense Inappropriately: Avoid using the future tense to describe what you will do in the paper itself. The abstract summarizes what you have already done.
Overusing the Passive Voice: While the passive voice can be useful in certain situations (e.g., when the actor is unknown or unimportant), overusing it can make your writing sound weak and unclear. Aim for a balance between active and passive voice.
Using the Wrong Tense to Describe Methods: One of the most common errors is using the present tense to describe the methods used in the study. Always use the past tense for this section.

Examples of Abstracts with Correct Tense Usage

To illustrate the correct usage of verb tenses, here are two examples of abstracts from different fields:

Example 1: Medical Research

"Background: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. The exact causes of the disease are not fully understood, but genetic and environmental factors are believed to play a role.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between specific genetic markers and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study involving 500 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 500 age-matched controls. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and genetic markers were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: The results showed that individuals with a specific variant of the APOE gene had a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 2.1-4.8).

Conclusion: This study suggests that the APOE gene plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. These findings have important implications for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies."

Example 2: Social Sciences

"Background: Social media has become an integral part of modern life, particularly for young adults. However, the impact of social media on mental health is a topic of ongoing debate.

Objective: This research examined the relationship between social media use, body image, and self-esteem among college students.

Methods: We surveyed 300 college students using a questionnaire that assessed their social media usage, body image concerns, and self-esteem levels. Data was analyzed using correlation and regression analyses.

Results: The results revealed a significant negative correlation between social media use and self-esteem (r = -0.45, p < 0.01). Participants who spent more time on social media reported lower levels of self-esteem and greater body image concerns.

Conclusion: This study suggests that excessive social media use may contribute to negative body image and low self-esteem among college students. These findings highlight the need for interventions to promote healthy social media habits."

Tips for Polishing Your Abstract

Read Examples: Review abstracts in your field to get a sense of the common conventions and tense usage.
Proofread Carefully: Errors in grammar and tense can undermine your credibility. Proofread your abstract meticulously before submitting it.
Ask for Feedback: Have a colleague or mentor review your abstract to provide feedback on its clarity, accuracy, and tense usage.
Use a Grammar Checker: Tools like Grammarly can help you identify and correct errors in grammar, spelling, and tense.
Consult Journal Guidelines: Always check the specific guidelines of the journal or conference to which you are submitting your work. They may have specific requirements for abstract length, structure, and tense usage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I use the future tense in an abstract?
- A: Generally, no. The abstract should summarize what you have already done, not what you will do.
Q: Is it okay to use the passive voice in an abstract?
- A: Yes, but use it sparingly. Overusing the passive voice can make your writing sound weak and unclear.
Q: What if my research is ongoing? How should I describe the methods?
- A: Even if your research is ongoing, you should still use the past tense to describe the methods you have used so far.
Q: How long should my abstract be?
- A: The length of your abstract will depend on the specific requirements of the journal or conference to which you are submitting. Typically, abstracts are between 150 and 300 words.
Q: Should I include keywords in my abstract?
- A: Some journals or conferences require you to include keywords in your abstract. Check the guidelines to see if this is a requirement.

Conclusion

Choosing the right verb tenses in your abstract is crucial for conveying your research accurately and effectively. By following the guidelines outlined in this article and paying careful attention to the specific requirements of your field, you can ensure that your abstract makes a strong impression on potential readers. Remember to use the present tense for background information, conclusions, and general implications; the past tense for methods and specific results; and either the past tense or present perfect tense for objectives. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can craft an abstract that effectively summarizes your research and attracts the attention it deserves.