-1

I was looking through the online template of minutes and came across the usage of both present and past tense.

Etc. Grace enquired if there are any pressing issues. Mary shares that there is pending documentation needed.

Can anyone share if the above example is acceptable? I always thought that minutes should be recorded in past tense.

Improve this question
New contributor
Cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering. Check out our Code of Conduct.
7
  • 1
    I used to write minutes and always used reported speech and the simple past. You can do as you like as long as you are consistent. Don't much like "share" there.
    – Lambie
    May 13 at 17:04
  • 1
    I too used to write minutes, always with the past tense. Using the present tense for events in the past only works in a story, for dramatic effect. In any case, minutes of meetings do not usually record every word that was spoken.
    – Weather Vane
    May 13 at 17:21
  • ... or use "encounter group" terminology lile "Mary shares..."
    – Weather Vane
    May 13 at 17:38
  • 1
    Perhaps this belongs on Writing.SE, or maybe Law.
    – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_
    May 13 at 18:25
  • Per @WeatherVane, my stance when forced to write minutes was to summarize the agreements. If you wanted chitchat, next time attend.
    – Yosef Baskin
    May 13 at 18:31

0

Reset to default

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.