“Today” can become inaccurate when copied from notes written on an earlier date. A letter's time references must agree with the task's timeline.
The first case-and-model pair in OET Medicine Writing Decoded contains dates that make this a useful review focus. This guide practises timeline accuracy without discussing the case's medical interpretation.
Use the date supplied by the task
Do not substitute the date on your own calendar. Identify the fictional current date and the dates of the events you need to describe.
Original timeline
Meeting: 12 March.
Letter: 14 March.
Accurate: “At the meeting on 12 March…”
Inaccurate: “At today's meeting…”
Prefer an explicit date when it prevents confusion
“Two days ago” can work when the reference date is clear. Naming the date may be easier for a reader handling several events. Choose wording that preserves the timeline.
Correct the reference
If the review took place on Monday and the letter is dated Wednesday, “reviewed today” is wrong. Use the Monday date or an accurate relative expression.
Review every time word
Search your draft for “today,” “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “recently” and “next.” Check each against the supplied dates. Pay particular attention to text copied from a model.
A brief timeline before drafting can prevent several downstream errors. It also helps you distinguish completed events from future arrangements.
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Source: OET MED WR 03.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.