Peaceblinkfriend  +  765088 Thu, 04 Jun 09 12:30 PM The number of humanitarian workers in Darfur had been increasing steadily since 2003 and had reached a record 17700 in January 2009 (OCHA-Sudan 1/1/2009). The number of humanitarian workers in Darfur has been increasing steadily since 2003 and reached a record 17700 in January 2009 (OCHA-Sudan 1/1/2009). Hi all If you are quoting data from reports, what tense should you use? Thanks PBF Peaceblinkfriend Joined on Wed, May 9 2007 Senior Member 2,130 Success - it is not the position where you are standing, but which direction you are going. Tenses, Writing, Numbers

	Mister Micawber  +  765180 Thu, 04 Jun 09 02:25 PM Well, you don't seem to be quoting (since there are no quotation marks), but reporting.  Therefore: The number of humanitarian workers in Darfur had been increasing steadily since 2003 and reached a record 17700 in January 2009 (OCHA-Sudan 1/1/2009). Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,507 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Punctuation, Quotation Marks, Writing, Numbers

	AlpheccaStars  +  765192 Thu, 04 Jun 09 02:41 PM The tense you use should be consistent with what is in the report itself: The population of Mexico city is estimated to be more than 13 million. Old excavations showed that Mexico city's population was greater than London's in 1400. Computer weather models predict that there will be four hurricanes this season. AlpheccaStars Joined on Sun, Oct 12 2008 Senior Member 3,508 The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) Tenses, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain

	Peaceblinkfriend  +  766650 Fri, 05 Jun 09 04:39 PM Thanks for your replies. MM, if the number of humanitarian workers is still increasing yet the source is not up to date, can I say '...has been increasing...'? Thanks PBF Peaceblinkfriend Dates, Writing, Numbers

	AlpheccaStars  +  766879 Fri, 05 Jun 09 08:32 PM Peaceblinkfriend “if the number of humanitarian workers is still increasing yet the source is not up to date, can I say '...has been increasing...'?” Yes, if that is still a known fact. Then you might have to cite both sources. AlpheccaStars Dates, Writing, Numbers