You are very welcome Clara!

Hi, Agripa. We don’t discuss tense in this post, but there is likely to be some variation. For instance, when setting out the research aims, you may use the future tense (e.g., saying something like “This study will examine…”). But when you’re discussing existing research, you may need to use the present tense (e.g., “The study by Smith and Jones shows…”) and the past tense (e.g., “It was once believed that…”) in places. It all depends on what works best for each section and situation. If you’re not sure how to approach this, it may be worth checking with the organization for which you’re writing a proposal (e.g., via email or checking a style guide if they have one) about whether they need particular parts of the proposal to use specific tenses. Otherwise, your best option is to use your best judgment while drafting and then to submit your proposal for proofreading, where an expert should be able to highlight any issues with tense that need addressing.

Hi, Salim. As in the response to Nadia, you should check the requirements of the organization you’re writing a proposal for to confirm the exact requirements. If they don’t have specific requirements, just try to include the things mentioned in this blog post.

What are components of research proposal

Hi, Abdulmanan. Research proposals may include a problem statement when you’re setting out the aims and objectives (you might want to check if the organization you’re proposing research to has guidelines on what to include in your proposal). We have a post on writing problem statements here if that helps: https://proofed.com/writing-tips/how-to-write-a-problem-statement/

May I write problem statement

Hi, Nadia. The format of a research proposal will depend on what you’re proposing and to whom, so your best bet is to check the funding organization’s website for guidance.