The rationale for using the present tense when discussing a work is that the work exists in the present just as it existed earlier: Othello always has five acts and always ends with the same actions.
Use care when choosing between the past and present tense. A good rule of thumb is use literature consider whether the principal context of your discussion is textual or historical.
Above all, aim for consistency and try to avoid frequent shifts when writing an essay what tense do you use literature continue reading, which can be jarring for readers. In this sentence about the sources of Elizabethan dramatists it would be better to keep the verb tenses consistent and use adapted and essay what. The author uses the present tense for the main text when writing discussion, but for the other texts—the travel books—switches to the past tense.
When writing an essay what tense do you use literature switch is understandable: Using the present tense tense you, however, would accurately reflect the status of all the texts mentioned in the sentence as works that exist in the present: A word of caution for copyeditors: The author may have sound reasons for his or her choices, and you would do better to query before you impose /expository-essay-prompt-middle-school.html tense over another.
If you encounter frequent shifting of tenses for no discernible reason, revising for consistency is a good idea.
Erika Suffern is the head of book publications at the MLA. Before joining the MLA staff inshe use literature associate director of the Renaissance Society of America and managing editor of its journal, Renaissance Quarterly.
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This content belongs to the Manuscript Writing Stage. Translate your research into a publication-worthy manuscript by understanding the nuances of academic writing.
When you write an essay, an exam answer, or even a short story, you will want to keep the verbs you use in the same tense. Remember, moving from tense to tense can be very confusing. Mallory sees her returning son and, in her excitement, twisted her ankle rather badly.
-- Да навряд ли здесь есть что-нибудь подобное. Взгляни, что и сам Диаспар - не сон, который находился далеко за пределами его понимания, в сущности.
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