tenses in annotated bibliography

[Tedwonny]

Hello All,

I was wondering which of the following tenses are most appropriate and acceptable in writing an annotated bibliography / critique in general. Thanks

1) In the article, the authors suggest three possible solutions to...
2) ................................... have suggested ...........................
3) ....................................suggested ............................

I have heard time and again that both the present and the past tenses can be used but do excuse me to be a bit pedantic here. I'd really like to know the 'most academic and conventional' way when writing the above.

Thank you so much

[bhaisahab]

Hello All,

I was wondering which of the following tenses are most appropriate and acceptable in writing an annotated bibliography / critique in general. Thanks

1) In the article, the authors suggest three possible solutions to...
2) ................................... have suggested ...........................
3) ....................................suggested ............................

I have heard time and again that both the present and the past tenses can be used but do excuse me to be a bit pedantic here. I'd really like to know the 'most academic and conventional' way when writing the above.

Thank you so much

I would use #1.

[5jj]

I would use #1.

So would I and, I think, so would most other writers. However, I have seen #3, particularly when the writer is about to come up with something that contradicts the authors, or something that the authors themselves have changed their minds about. #2 suggests, in my opinion, something that the writer is presenting as a recent view - one with which s/he may not be in total agreement. The present tense is always, in my opinion, acceptable.

[BobK]

I would use #1.

With the exception of a case like an academic discussion: 'In <date> B. F. Skinner had written ..., but in <date> Noam Chomsky suggested that this was a load of hooey'. (That last phrase is perhaps over-demotic )

b

PS 5jj got there first (not '5jj gets there first - though he often does)