Active tense

The text should be written at the appropriate reading level. The active tense should be used and complex sentences avoided. 

The dimeric skeletal-muscle phosphorylase exists in two interconvertible forms a usually active phosphorylase a and a usually inactive phosphorylase b (Figure 21.9). Each of these two forms exists in equilibrium between an active relaxed (R) state and a much less active tense (T) state, but the equilibrium for phosphorylase a favors the R state, whereas the ei rium for phosphorylase b favors the T state (Figure 21.10). Muscle phosphorylase b is active only in the presence of high concentrations... 

Use the active tense rather than the passive tense. Avoid using the verb forms is, are, was, were too often. The overuse of these verbs makes you sound as though you lack conviction and confidence in your ideas. 

It was in the fortified city of Lhasa, in Tibet, that the Dalai Lama lived. Active tense ... 

Replace with 8-10 g albumin/L of ascitic fluid removed o Avoid large-volume paracentesis in patients with pre-existing hemodynamic compromise, acute renal insufficiency, active infection, or active upper gastrointestinal bleed. Cautious large-volume paracentesis in patients with tense... 

Genres also vary by their conventional uses of verb tense (past, present, or future) and voice (active or passive voice). For example, most jokes (including the three-men joke) are told (or vv ritten) in present tense ( Three men are... about to be executed as opposed to Three people were...about to executed ). Present tense is used to make the joke more vivid for the listener or reader. Jokes also tend to be told in active rather than passive voice ... 

Two writing conventions apply to the Methods section as a whole the use of tense (past or present) and voice (passive or active). Past tense and passive voice predominate in the Methods section however, in some cases, present tense and/ or active voice are also used. Like other writing conventions, the proper use of tense and voice reveals authors familiarity with the expectations of the held, their objectivity, and more expert-like writing abilities. 

Inappropriate We heat the mixture to 80 °C. [present tense, active voice] We heated the mixture to 80 °C. [past tense, active voice]... 

Use of tense (past/present) and voice (active/passive) in a Methods section... 

In hgure 3.3 (chapter 3), we reported the frequencies of passive voice in each section of a journal article. If you look back at figure 3.3, you will see that passive voice is used more frequently in Methods sections than in Results (or Discussion) sections. This distribution suggests that both active voice and passive voice are used in Results sections. Past and present tense, when combined with active and passive voice, form four different tense-voice combinations. Each combination has its own function, several of which are illustrated in table 4.1. 

For example, Plaper et al. (2002) state that three Cr + compounds were examined (work done In the past) but that the hydroxyl radical is a known mediator of DNA damage (knowledge that exists in the present). Similarly, the present-tense, active-voice combination Is used in the Discussion section to state scientific truths (knowledge expected to be true over time), just as it was in the Results section. Note that Interpretations and/or mechanisms put forth in a Discussion section are often considered to be truths and therefore are stated in present-tense active voice. Table 5.1 summarizes common verb tense—voice combinations and their functions, with example sentences. 

Use of present-tense active voice in a Discussion section... 

When citing others works to establish importance or provide background information, authors often use present tense or present perfect in either active or passive voice. 

Present tense-active Nagy etal. (/) propose... 

Verb tense Verb tenses in conference abstracts are consistent with conventions described elsewhere in the textbook (e.g., see tables 4.1, 5.1, 6.5). For example, past tense is used to describe work done in the past (e.g., The rates were measured ), and present tense is used to make statements of fact or state information that is expected to be true over time (e.g., Furans are found in natural products ). Some authors use future tense (in active or passive voice) in conference abstracts to refer to the work that will be presented (e.g., We will present these Endings and The synthesis will be presented ). Others prefer to state such intentions in present tense—passive voice (e.g., The Endings are presented ). 

Lastly, we briefly consider verb tense and voice used in move 1. Goals and objectives are commonly stated in present and/or future tense. Both active and passive voice may be used. Common tense and voice combinations are summarized in table 12.3. Personal pronouns (e.g., we, my, our) should be avoided in the opening goal statement but may be used elsewhere in move 1 ... 

Present tense and active voice are commonly used for statements of importance, knowledge, or fact. We is not used in move 2 because the proposed work is not mentioned. 

We close our discussion of move 3 by analyzing common verb tense and voice combinations used in this move (table 12.6). Gaps are often stated in present tense (in active and passive voice), sometimes in combination with a present perfect-passive statement fill-the-gap statements are usually in present or future tense and active voice. Personal pronouns (I or we) are common in fill-the-gap statements. 

We end this section by examining a few commonly used verb tense—voice combinations in move 1. As shown in table 13.3, prior accomplishments are typically written in active voice in either past tense or present perfect. Statements that establish expertise are typically written in present tense. 

We end this section by examining a few commonly used verb tense-voice combinations in move 2 (table 13.5). Present perfect is commonly used to describe preliminary work (done in the past) present tense is commonly used to share preliminary findings (believed to be true over time). Active voice is also common. Note that because authors want to call attention to their own promising results in this move, personal pronouns such as we or our are often used. 

We conclude this section by analyzing common verb tense-voice combinations in move 3. Because move 3 describes work that will be done in the future, future tense is most common. Future tense is used with both active and passive voice ... 

Consider the following sentences, adapted from CAREER proposals. Rewrite each sentence in future tense and active voice. 

We conclude our discussion of move 1 by considering verb tense and voice combinations. Present and future tenses, with either active or passive voice, are commonly used in narrative timelines (e.g., excerpt 14B and 14C), as summarized in table 14.2. The timeline itself is often a list of fragments that need not contain verbs, as illustrated in the following timeline adapted from Harpp (1998) ... 

We conclude our discussion of move 3 by considering verb tense and voice combinations commonly used in this move (summarized in table 14.5). Present tense, present perfect, and future tense are used to reiterate goals. Future tense is used most often to state broader impacts. Active voice is common throughout the move, and personal pronouns (e.g., we and our) may be used at the authors discretion. 

In this formula, isiwasiwerelwill he/has heenihave been are forms of to be that (1) match the tense of the active verb and (2) agree with the singular or plural form of the object of the active sentence. The past participle is usually the same as the past tense verb form. 

Table A3 Examples of active and passive voice in different verb tenses.

Proofreading Tip To meet the expectations of a chemistry audience, do your best to use active and passive voice following conventions in the field. Refer to tables 4.1,5.1,6.5,12.3, 12.5,12.6,13.3,14.2,14.5,15.1 for summaries of common tense-voice combinations and their functions. 

The simple past tense is used. Both the active and passive forms are acceptable The rats were dosed daily from day 6 to 17 of gestation. or We dosed the rats daily from day 6 to 17 of gestation. are equally acceptable. 

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