Prepositions: Because the rules for preposition use are limited, you may sometimes need to ask a native speaker for help. However, it's a good idea to learn the rules that do exist. You can also improve by noticing them when you read and listening when people speak.
Here are some guidelines from the OWL Purdue site on preposition usage.
(practice handout)
Specifically for results sections, you will often introduce data with a linking as-clause.
As shown in Fig. and Fig. 2, the companies used in this survey varied significantly in geographical location, size, and method of operation.
These linking clauses (where as does not equal since or because) are exceptional in English grammar. In the passive, these linking clauses have no subjects. Compare the following sentences:
- As it has been proved, the theory may have practical importance.
- As has been proved, the theory may have practical importance.
Prepositions are tricky enough, but when you put them in linking as-clause stateents, it may be difficult to select the best preposition. Here are some of the main guidelines:
- in: As shown in Table 1...
- by: As predicted by the model...
- on: As described on the previous page...
(our answers)
3 Moves in Results sections: Results sections are never mere presentation or reporting but always involve selecting and ordering the data in a way that is designed to guide the reader to the understandings that the researcher withes the reader to come to.
- draw the significance of the data
- highlight significant trends
- keep indicating where the reader is being led
- build up the 'argument'
