Q. Dear CMOS Q&A Guru, we are having a heck of a time ferreting out the correct verb tense to use in the second half of a sentence. There are copyeditors lobbying for each of the following conjugations:
1. At the time of distribution of this circular, this item is not yet approved.
2. At the time of distribution of this circular, this item was not yet approved.
3. At the time of distribution of this circular, this item has not yet been approved.
4. At the time of distribution of this circular, this item had not yet been approved.
Can you definitively state which is most correct and why? Please help us put this question to rest. Thank you!
A. Your question is like asking “Which is the most correct: her eyes are blue, or her eyes are green?” The sentences are all grammatically correct. The idea is to use the one that describes the situation accurately. Sentences 1 and 3 are equally correct if the time of distribution is ongoing. Both imply that the item still has a chance of being approved, without stating whether approval is likely. Sentences 2 and 4 are equally correct if the time of distribution was in the past. Both imply that the item was ultimately approved, although it’s merely an implication.