Dec. 5, 2022
Graphs and a mix of tenses
1.Could you please tell me if it's correct to use so many different tenses in a piece of writing?
The rate of people living in poverty in Europe FLUCTUATED between the years 1993 and 2005. Until the year 2015 when the chart ends, we can observe a DOWNWARD trend as the number of poor people has been DWINDLING.
As for poor people in the Middle East and North Africa, the number FLATLINED from 1999 until 2013, after which it ESCALATED and reached about 6 million poor people in 2015. South Asia has seen a consistent PLUNGE in poverty levels, and even though it has done very well, it still hasn’t OUTPACED Eastern Europe’s achievements. Latin America and the Caribbean appears to be the most stable. We have seen very little change during the study, as we can see there is predominantly a flat PLATEAU, especially during the years 2008 to 2015. Sub-Saharan Africa seems quite stable. There is an increase during the years 1987 and 1993, then it almost LEVELS OFF between 1993 and 2002, then we see a soft drop after that.
The global number of PC and smartphone users mounted to 1.7 BILLION people in 2014.
Global population was steadily ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until1500, after which it started soaring and EQUALLED 4 billion people in 1979. The UPWARD trend has been continuing and it is forecasted that the number of people inhabiting our planet will SURPASS 8.5 billion people in 2025.
2. Is it grammatically correct to say that global population has been ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until 2025?
3. In the sentence " It is forecasted that the number of people inhabiting our planet will SURPASS 8.5 billion people in 2025", can I replace ' surpass' with verbs like outstrip, outpace, and overtake without change in the meaning?
4. Which word is stronger TUMBLE or CRASH, SOAR or ROCKET?
5. Should I replace " was steadily ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until1500" with 'ESCALATED'?
Thank you in advance
The rate of people living in poverty in Europe FLUCTUATED between the years 1993 and 2005.
Until the year 2015 when the chart ends, we can observe a DOWNWARD trend as the number of poor people has been DWINDLINGED.
I changed "dwindling" to its past tense "dwindled", because 2015 is in the past.
Alternative: I think you could also use a present-tense version ("dwindles"), because you are making a present-tense observation of the data. The event occurred in the past (i.e. the dwindling occurred in the past, in 2015), but your observation of the data on the graph is happening NOW.
Example: Until the year 2015 when the chart ends, we can observe a downward trend as the number of poor people ON THE CHART DWINDLES.
I have emphasised "on the chart" because I want to be clear that "dwindles" is connected to your present-tense observation of the graph.
As for poor people in the Middle East and North Africa, the number FLATLINED from 1999 until 2013, after which it ESCALATED and reached about 6 million poor people in 2015.
South Asia has seen a consistent PLUNGEdecrease in poverty levels, and even though it has done very well, it still hasn’t OUTPACED Eastern Europe’s achievements.
A plunge is one sudden and complete event - it is not a continuous/consistent process. So, it's not correct to say that there is a "consistent plunge" or a "continuous plunge".
Latin America and the Caribbean appears to be the most stable.
Global population whas steadily ESCALATINGED starting from 500 BC until1500, after which it started soaring and EQUALLED 4 billion people in 1979.
2. Is it grammatically correct to say that global population has been ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until 2025?
I think it's grammatically correct, but there are better choices. Since you are talking about slow and steady change over a very long period of time, I would prefer to use "growing" or "increasing". When you say "escalating", it sounds like rapid growth over a shorter period of time.
3. In the sentence " It is forecasted that the number of people inhabiting our planet will SURPASS 8.5 billion people in 2025", can I replace ' surpass' with verbs like outstrip, outpace, and overtake without change in the meaning?
In this case, there is just one changing/moving number (global population), and one static/stationary number (8.5 billion). I think "surpass" is better here. I think the alternative words you suggested would be okay if two numbers are both moving, or racing against each other.
4. Which word is stronger TUMBLE or CRASH, SOAR or ROCKET?
In my view, for expressing a downwards trend: crash is stronger than tumble
Expressing an upwards trend: Rocket is stronger than soar
5. Should I replace " was steadily ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until1500" with 'ESCALATED'?
I'd say yes as you're referring to a past occurrence.
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Graphs and a mix of tenses |
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1.Could you please tell me if it's correct to use so many different tenses in a piece of writing? |
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The rate of people living in poverty in Europe FLUCTUATED between the years 1993 and 2005. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Until the year 2015 when the chart ends, we can observe a DOWNWARD trend as the number of poor people has been DWINDLING. Until the year 2015 when the chart ends, we can observe a DOWNWARD trend as the number of poor people I changed "dwindling" to its past tense "dwindled", because 2015 is in the past. Alternative: I think you could also use a present-tense version ("dwindles"), because you are making a present-tense observation of the data. The event occurred in the past (i.e. the dwindling occurred in the past, in 2015), but your observation of the data on the graph is happening NOW. Example: Until the year 2015 when the chart ends, we can observe a downward trend as the number of poor people ON THE CHART DWINDLES. I have emphasised "on the chart" because I want to be clear that "dwindles" is connected to your present-tense observation of the graph. |
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As for poor people in the Middle East and North Africa, the number FLATLINED from 1999 until 2013, after which it ESCALATED and reached about 6 million poor people in 2015. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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South Asia has seen a consistent PLUNGE in poverty levels, and even though it has done very well, it still hasn’t OUTPACED Eastern Europe’s achievements. South Asia has seen a consistent A plunge is one sudden and complete event - it is not a continuous/consistent process. So, it's not correct to say that there is a "consistent plunge" or a "continuous plunge". |
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Latin America and the Caribbean appears to be the most stable. Latin America and the Caribbean appear |
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We have seen very little change during the study, as we can see there is predominantly a flat PLATEAU, especially during the years 2008 to 2015. |
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Sub-Saharan Africa seems quite stable. |
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There is an increase during the years 1987 and 1993, then it almost LEVELS OFF between 1993 and 2002, then we see a soft drop after that. |
|
The global number of PC and smartphone users mounted to 1.7 BILLION people in 2014. |
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Global population was steadily ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until1500, after which it started soaring and EQUALLED 4 billion people in 1979. Global population |
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The UPWARD trend has been continuing and it is forecasted that the number of people inhabiting our planet will SURPASS 8.5 billion people in 2025. |
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2. Is it grammatically correct to say that global population has been ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until 2025? 2. Is it grammatically correct to say that global population has been ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until 2025? I think it's grammatically correct, but there are better choices. Since you are talking about slow and steady change over a very long period of time, I would prefer to use "growing" or "increasing". When you say "escalating", it sounds like rapid growth over a shorter period of time. |
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3. In the sentence " It is forecasted that the number of people inhabiting our planet will SURPASS 8.5 billion people in 2025", can I replace ' surpass' with verbs like outstrip, outpace, and overtake without change in the meaning? 3. In the sentence " It is forecasted that the number of people inhabiting our planet will SURPASS 8.5 billion people in 2025", can I replace ' surpass' with verbs like outstrip, outpace, and overtake without change in the meaning? In this case, there is just one changing/moving number (global population), and one static/stationary number (8.5 billion). I think "surpass" is better here. I think the alternative words you suggested would be okay if two numbers are both moving, or racing against each other. |
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4. Which word is stronger TUMBLE or CRASH, SOAR or ROCKET? 4. Which word is stronger TUMBLE or CRASH, SOAR or ROCKET? In my view, for expressing a downwards trend: crash is stronger than tumble Expressing an upwards trend: Rocket is stronger than soar |
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5. Should I replace " was steadily ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until1500" with 'ESCALATED'? 5. Should I replace " was steadily ESCALATING starting from 500 BC until1500" with 'ESCALATED'? I'd say yes as you're referring to a past occurrence. |
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Thank you in advance |
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