What tense to use?

Doomer Doug · May 13, 2013

Hi, I am a newbie! I looked at all the threads and didn't find one about my problem. I am unsure if it is "better" to use present tense in writing, or if it is better to use past tense.

I have written two e-books now on Amazon Kindle. I also bought the White Smoke grammar checker. White Smoke always changes my past tense sentences to current tense. I am not sure why they do that. Is current tense the usual tense form used?
I normally use past tense. I use he had done this versus he did this. Does that matter?
I have read books that use current tense exclusively. I have read books that use past tense like I do.
Thanks for any suggestions!

rainsmom · May 13, 2013

Pete walks to school. -- present tense
Pete walked to school. --past tense
Pete had walked to school. -- past perfect tense

Books are most commonly written in present or past tense. The vast majority, I would guess, are written in past tense. Past perfect is not a tense that novels are written in. Past perfect is used to describe the past when you're writing in past tense.

Pete hurried to class. He had stopped to talk to Susie, and now he was late!

Kerosene · May 13, 2013

Tenses are mostly interchangeable. When you get down to it, there is very little difference in writing or reading in them. They can both do the same job the other can.

IMO, choose one and write in it.

I write past tense because even before I knew what tense was I was writing exclusively in past--I naturally conformed.

Chase · May 13, 2013

White Smoke is blowing a bit of smoke at you. Most books are written in past tense, but many use present tense.

Don't get tense, but I recommend you don't unbuckle your seat belt, 'cause a moderator will drop by sooner or later and whoosh this question and all its golden advice up to Basic Writing Questions.

Crescendo2020 · May 13, 2013

The only advice I can give is be consistent with whichever you choose. It's a major pain in the word to fix if it isn't on your mind while you write.

ArtsyAmy · May 14, 2013

Doomer Doug said:
White Smoke always changes my past tense sentences to current tense. I am not sure why they do that. Is current tense the usual tense form used?
I normally use past tense. I use he had done this versus he did this. Does that matter?

Hi Doug,

Are you sure White Smoke is changing past tense to present tense? From what you wrote, it sounds as if White Smoke might be changing past perfect tense to past tense. Rainsmom pointed out the differences in tense. Apply that to your examples:
He had done this. = past perfect tense (not past)
He did this. = past tense (not present)
He is doing this. = present tense

Jamesaritchie · May 14, 2013

White Smoke is crap software. Past tense is far and away the most common tense. There is no better or worse, but there is more and less common, general reader preference, and ease of writing.

Tenses are not interchangeable, and many refuse to read present tense, many have trouble with first person, and many refuse to read second person at all. The is a huge difference in reading them, and in writing them well.

Generally speaking, the "best" tense to use is the one you most enjoy reading.

rainsmom · May 14, 2013

<grin> I can't help it.

He does this. = present tense
He is doing this. = present progressive

Doomer Doug · May 14, 2013

Thanks

I understand this much better now.

I guess I have been writing in past perfect.

milkweed · May 15, 2013

Doomer Doug said:
I understand this much better now.

I guess I have been writing in past perfect.

Hi DD and welcome! :welcome:

As others have said pick one and stick with it, most readers won't care so long as your not all over the map, if you're not consistent they tend to get a little snippy.

What tense to use?

Doomer Doug

rainsmom

Feeling like an old timer

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

Crescendo2020

ArtsyAmy

Jamesaritchie

rainsmom

Feeling like an old timer

Doomer Doug

milkweed

Abuses commas at will.