Writing style question

Nash · 27 Jun 2007 at 23:44

I was reading an article on Wikipedia and the style its written in struck me as strange. It's not the first time I've seen things written/spoken like this but this is the first time I've thought about it. It's usually used in reviews or recounts of the history of literary or cinematic works etc, like this is.

This was the first novel to feature the character of Modesty Blaise and her right-hand-man, Willie Garvin, and the series of books (all written by O'Donnell) would run concurrently with the comic strip until 1996 (the comic strip would run until 2001).

Why is it written with words like "This was" and "would run"? I would have written it like this

It was the first novel to feature the character of Modesty Blaise and her right-hand-man, Willie Garvin, and the series of books (all written by O'Donnell) ran concurrently with the comic strip until 1996 (the comic ran until 2001)

Anyone know?

J1234 · 28 Jun 2007 at 00:03

Probably been added by someone from the public that can't write very well.

DB_SamX · 28 Jun 2007 at 00:34

"This was" sounds a bit more personal to me, especially if you imagine you are doing a presentation to an audience about the novel.

Inquisitor · 28 Jun 2007 at 00:44

I'd change it to be honest. Yours sounds better.

Nash · 28 Jun 2007 at 00:49

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modesty_Blaise_(novel)

That's the page it's from.

I reckon it reads okay actually (the writing style) so I won't change it

Mattus · 28 Jun 2007 at 01:01

There's a slight difference in meaning/expression.

"ran concurrently until 1996" simply looks back at the event from a 2007 perspective.

"would run concurrently until 1996" looks at the event from a point on the timeline before 1996, if the article is written as a chronological narrative.

It could also imply some uncertainty, ie. it was to run concurrently until 1996 but didn't - although in this case it doesn't.

ojo · 28 Jun 2007 at 01:01

Nash said:
I was reading an article on Wikipedia and the style its written in struck me as strange. It's not the first time I've seen things written/spoken like this but this is the first time I've thought about it. It's usually used in reviews or recounts of the history of literary or cinematic works etc, like this is.

Why is it written with words like "This was" and "would run"? I would have written it like this

Anyone know?

It is fine. Would is the past tense.

Riiya · 28 Jun 2007 at 03:16

Both are perfectly fine but I prefer the original.