Day 39: Use the present tense to describe general ideas.

General ideas are ideas, facts, and concepts that are true across time, not just during one specific event. They were true in the past. They are true at this moment. And they will be true in the future.

For example, whenever Santa Fe, New Mexico, receives over 8 inches of snow during the night, state offices will be closed the following day. This is a general idea. State offices are not closed only one time or during a particular snow storm. This is generally true across time.

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Using this tip, we state the idea in the present tense, as in

“State offices close following heavy snowfalls.”

In this sentence, “close” is in the present tense. Notice, we did not write “will be closed,” “are closed,” “will close,” or “closed.” Because the idea is true all the time, it is always true at this exact, present moment, so we use the present tense.