"The chairman of the building committee reported
that bids will be let on the new construction in
January." You tell what happened in the meeting. The chairman gave
his report. PAST TENSE. What did he report? He reported that
progress is being made. PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE. He reported
that the building will be completed in 2010. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE.
I'd describe the secretary's use of other than past tenses in these three
cases as "discretionary." Would be let; was being
made; would be completed, are all fine.
For practical purposes, the secretary may view his work as a record for posterity, or he may be thinking in terms of how the minutes of the meeting will be used (or will sound) when they are reviewed at the following meeting a month hence. At that time, the projected events may well be still in the future.
Perhaps you should seek more professional advice. My "secretary" experience has been somewhat informal.
(I'll try to catch up on your previous post, if no one beats me to it.) - A.
For practical purposes, the secretary may view his work as a record for posterity, or he may be thinking in terms of how the minutes of the meeting will be used (or will sound) when they are reviewed at the following meeting a month hence. At that time, the projected events may well be still in the future.
Perhaps you should seek more professional advice. My "secretary" experience has been somewhat informal.
(I'll try to catch up on your previous post, if no one beats me to it.) - A.
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