Is the 'Method' written in present or past tense?

[ZedCar]

Homework Statement

When writing up an experiment lab report I know the abstract is written in the past tense.

Should the 'Method' be written in the past tense, i.e. this is the way the experiment was conducted?

Or alternatively, should it be written in the present tense i.e. this is how you conduct the experiment if someone is now reading this and conducting it themselves?

Thank you.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[cepheid]

Homework Statement

When writing up an experiment lab report I know the abstract is written in the past tense.

Should the 'Method' be written in the past tense, i.e. this is the way the experiment was conducted?

Or alternatively, should it be written in the present tense i.e. this is how you conduct the experiment if someone is now reading this and conducting it themselves?

Thank you.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

This is not something for which there is a "universal rule" that all scientists follow. Professional, working scientists will just follow whatever arbitrary stylistic convention is dictated by the journal in which they are trying to publish their work. At the end of the day, this is not something that is particularly important either. Just ask your teacher what grammatical convention they want you to follow and go with that.

 

[ZedCar]

Thanks cepheid.