Avoiding Shifts

Downloadable version (Microsoft Word document)

Shifting between verb tenses while writing causes confusion for your readers because they don't know which tense is accurate. Avoiding these faulty shifts in your writing is imperative.

Verb Tense

The tense of a verb shows the time in which the action of a sentence takes place.

Present Tense: I walk or I am walking.
Past Tense: I walked.
Future Tense: I will walk.

Tense should remain consistent. Make sure the verbs agree within a sentence or a paragraph.  Unless you have a specific reason for shifting, verbs should always be in the same time frame—for example, both verbs are either present tense or past tense.

Incorrect: Juliet saw Romeo, then says, "Romeo, Romeo." (Shift from past to present)
Correct: Juliet sees Romeo, then says, "Romeo, Romeo."(Both in present)

Note: A tense shift should only be used when writing about different time periods.

Example: Kristy will perform (future tense) tomorrow night, exactly three years after she won (past tense) the women's figure skating gold medal.

Person

"Person" refers to the person talking, the person being spoken to or the objects being discussed. English has three persons: first person (I, we); second person (you); and third person (he, she, it, one, or they). For clarity and continuity, avoid shifts in person.

Incorrect: If one stretches before exercising, you will decrease the chance of pulling muscles.
Correct: If one stretches before exercising, one will decrease the chance of pulling muscles.
(In American writing, the use of he or she would also be acceptable, in place of the second one, to avoid an overly formal tone.)
Correct: If you stretch before exercising, you will decrease the chance of pulling muscles.

Active or Passive Voice

When a verb is in the active voice, the subject performs the action. When a verb is in the passive voice, the subject receives the action. Do not shift to the passive voice when a person is the active element in a sentence.

Incorrect: We rode our bikes to the beach, then our swimming suits were dried out in the bright sun. (The sentence starts out active but shifts to passive because no one dried out the suits.)
Correct: We rode our bikes to the beach, then we dried out our swimming suits in the bright sun. (The sentence is active throughout: they ride the bikes and dry the suits.)

Shifts in voice are occasionally correct when used for emphasis. In the example that follows the passive voice keeps the emphasis on the shot, rather than on the fact that it was heard around the world.

Example: The shot was heard around the world. (Using passive keeps emphasis on the shot.)

Dialogue

Dialogue should take the form of statements or questions. When dialogue shifts between direct and indirect discourse within the same sentence, it causes confusion.

Incorrect: John asked, "Did Sue take the car?" and if she had gone to the store.
Correct: John asked if Sue had taken the car and gone to the store.
Correct: John asked, "Did Sue take the car and go to the store?"

Number

Number refers to using singular and plural nouns and pronouns. Subject/verb agreement, both singular and plural, is essential to creating an understandable sentence. Avoid shifting from a plural noun to singular pronoun and vice versa.

Incorrect: If a student finds himself (herself) in a large class, they should sit up front.
Correct: If a student finds himself (herself) in a large class, he (or she) should sit up front.
Correct: When students find themselves in a large class, they should sit up front.

Note:  Pluralizing the subject, as in the second correct example, removes any confusion and avoids language that might be considered sexist.

Mood

Mood reveals the writer's intentions and attitude, which affects the tone of the paper. Shifting from one mood to another can disrupt the feel of the writing.

Indicative mood makes a statement, delineates a fact or opinion, or asks a question.

Incorrect: The stars are creating light from hydrogen, helium and other elements that ignite in a nuclear reaction that can be seen in the night sky.
Correct: The stars are twinkling in the sky.

Imperative mood gives a command, offers advice, or makes a request.

Incorrect: "Bring the papers to my office and will you place them on my desk?"
Correct: "Bring the papers to my office, and place them on the desk."

Subjunctive, or conditional, mood expresses a wish, hypothesis, suggestion, condition contrary to fact, or requirement.

Incorrect: If I was president, I would introduce a new economic policy.
Correct: If I were president, I would introduce a new economic policy.

Style

Formal, personal, and poetic writings are examples of style or tone. The style of a paper should be consistent in each sentence throughout the work. Selecting a style that is appropriate to the topic, audience, and occasion is essential.

Informal: When the criminal's violent actions disrupted the court, the judge totally flipped out.
Formal: When the criminal's violent actions disrupted the court, the judge welled up with antimosity.

Note: For more information on voice and style, see the handouts Word Choice and Audience.

Jessica Stuart, summer 2005
Based on a handout by Neil Hughes, Feb. 1993