Do not change tenses - Ten ways to avoid grammatical errors

100 ways to improve your writing - Gary Provost 2019

Do not change tenses
Ten ways to avoid grammatical errors

If you begin to write in one tense, you should not switch to another.

Bad

Better

We were going over to Tad’s house to see his daughter, Riley. When we arrived, Molly says, “The baby just fell asleep, so you can’t see her.”

We were going over to Tad’s house to see his daughter, Riley. When we arrived, Molly said, “The baby just fell asleep, so you can’t see her.”

Each day, John rose from bed and brushed his teeth. Today is different. Today, John doesn’t rise from bed at all. The reason? He’s dead.

Each day, John rose from bed and brushed his teeth. Today was different. Today, John didn’t rise from bed at all. The reason? He was dead.

You have been late for work; your work is of poor quality; and you don’t seem to care about this company.

You are late for work; your work is of poor quality; and you don’t seem to care about the company.