You're never too old to study for a PhD ...

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/research/news.phtml?ref=1026487332

Hello again,

I've just been told that it's grammatically correct to put everything in past tense BUT it's ok to write about more recent stuff in the present (i.e. stuff a few years old).

I'm assuming however that studies (i.e. where people do stuff with other people/experiments), should always be written in the past tense as these are 'facts'.

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses. I discuss my own findings in past tense, so am really trying to work out what tense to use when discussing other peoples work.

Argh - it's confusing.

My supervisor has said strictly speaking everything should be past tense, but sometimes it reads better if things are present (i.e. work done within the last 5 years or so).

Any other opinions on this would be greatly appreciated.

Hello Everyone,

I'm currently making amendments to my chapters, and am very confused about whether things should be in the present or past tense (i.e. he asserts 'apples are good' OR he asserted 'apples are good').

The thing is, on the chapter I'm currently working on, my supervisor has said by a couple of paragraphs that I should put what I'm saying in past tense (because the studies were written a long time ago), but not done this by other paragraphs/work (which were also written a long time ago).

Is there a rule about tenses??? Is it grammatically wrong to put everything in past tense, or would you just put what your supervisor has commented on in past tense???

I've flicked through some books and noticed that people seem to chop and change sporadically!

Argh!!!

I agree with Badhaircut ...

80K is plenty for a soc sci PhD (I've known people who have only written 60K and passed).

Less words = less waffle (and less for the examiners to criticise in the viva)!!!

Also ... your supervisor is telling you to edit/chop bits out for a reason - listen to them!

Good luck.

You might want to look at 'Bath Spa University' (I know they run a PhD in Creative Writing - both full-time and part-time - and the part-time fees are very cheap compared to other uni's!)

Chris - 'writing about sea lions ...' - is this for pleasure or PhD work???

PinkNeuron - How on earth have you managed to collect 5 years worth of papers? I wouldn't have enough space in my abode to store as much stuff as that!

Mmmm - ok, I'm not a science person so some of this stuff is going to go above me (although I get what you are saying). Does it make it any clearer if I say ... did horses derive from sea horses?

Me and my flatmate got into a bit of a barney yesterday, over whether horses and sea horses are related or not. Does anyone have the answer???

Bananacake - I know I'm lucky - I've got a fab supervisor ... I honestly don't know how you guys work with ones who are 'slack'/you don't have a good relationship with.

MTB - I'm definitely with you on that one!

Good plan Ju (wise move not to get into anymore debt!), and good luck with the start in September!

Is your PhD related to the employment you are currently in?

Where's everybody gone? It's been really quiet on here this weekend. Is everyone out having fun (when they should be indoors doing lots of work!), or are you all getting down to some serious work?

Listen to your family ... complete your MSc first and then think about what you would like to do next (you wouldn't be planning on doing a PhD until 2008 so you have time to mull over this).

If the PhD isn't appropriate to your future career development, then you should give it serious consideration about whether it is worth doing (i.e. for the meantime would it be more beneficial for you to do a professional course and secure a job that you want to do - then, in future years, you could do a PhD (part-time) for personal 'pleasure'). Yes, a PhD is primarily for careers in academia but some industries also look for people who have these. Personally, I would go with your 'gut instinct' - complete the Masters, do a professional course, get a job, then maybe do a PhD part-time in future years (based on the fact that you definitely do not want a career in academia).

Keep us updated.

Think about your funding running out!!!