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Shorthand: “t”

Use verb tenses correctly and consistently.

To tell the story of a work of literature or a historical sequence, most writers use the “historical present”; they discuss the events as if they were happening in the present.

At the end of the movie Love Story, Jennifer dies a tragic death.

Historical present correctly used. It is permissible to use either the historical present or the simple past tense in such cases, but whichever one you use, use it consistently.

Frequently, however, errors of tense are due to standards that vary across disciplines. Check with your professors to find out what tenses their departments prefer.

For more information , see Verb Tense.

Bryce Fan '20

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