Using Past Tense for Historical Writing

Why Use Past Tense?

Historical writing requires writers to describe and discuss historical events. When writing about these historical events, a writer should use past tense so the reader knows the events being discussed happened at a previous time and place.

What is Past Tense?

Past tense refers to the use of verbs in a sentence to describe an action that took place at an earlier point in time.

How to Use Past Tense

People commonly use past tense verbs when sharing the events of their daily life with others. The way people tell stories about their personal lives in past tense and the way a writer depicts a historical event are similar.

“Pete went to the store and bought groceries.”

“Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense.”

While sharing these stories or events, a writer can also designate a specific point in time.

“Lisa arrived at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2019.”

“Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on August 28, 1963.”

It is possible to indicate the frequency of past actions as well.

“Shannon rarely ate dairy products due to her lactose intolerance.”

“Winston Churchill often smoked cigars during his time as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.”

Writers should maintain consistent use of past tense when discussing or analyzing such stories or events.

“Kyle watched a recording of the Apollo 11 moon landing as a child, which pushed him down the path to becoming an astronaut.”

“Abraham Lincoln’s decision to end slavery impacted the relationship between the North and South.”

When to Use Present Tense

There are some instances when a writer can use present tense in historical writing. The most common reason to use present tense is when comparing patterns of behavior between the past and the present. Typically, such comparisons are reserved for concluding sentences or the conclusion paragraph. Before using present tense, ask the instructor if using this verb form in Historical writing is allowed.

“The war on drugs in the 1980s demonstrates the consequences of declaring war on abstract concepts, yet the trend persists.”