Roger Dear, You'll always be considered a scientist! A darn good one too.

Thank you. Don and I had our usual te da te tonight over this and he says the language is correct because it is an ongoing thing; as though the research would continue for whatever period of time it takes.

I disagree in stating emphatically that it is like putting something into a petrie dish and later one examines the results of what happened. It was and it became something either positive/negative or what have you, but a conclusion is therefore rendered. So if one is researching something and writes about it after the fact, the details were examined, weighed and determined to be a force for good or evil and that's it. If the research continues later, then there is a new examination and new findings come forth and when they write about it again, they have absolutely "Examined" the results once again.

More than likely those who may wish to respond will present something favorable in consideration as that is the format they use, have used and will forever use; but in my book it will always be wrong.

It is much like the word regardless, meaning without regard to. Then some people just could not get it and decided saying "irregardless" instead was fine and today this word is in our dictionaries. It is a double entandra and is unnecessary in the English language.

The good news of course is that I most likely will never write a paper in my lifetime, thus I would not be put upon to write in such a fashion which I find objectionable at best.

Petra.....LOL!