"if I publish" vs "if I published"

Question

"if I publish" vs "if I published"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'If I publish' is used when talking about a future possibility or condition, while 'if I published' is used when talking about a hypothetical situation in the past.

Last Updated: March 22, 2024

Use 'if I publish' when you want to talk about a potential action you might take in the future.

Examples:

If I publish this book, I hope it will be successful.
If I publish my research findings, I will share them with the scientific community.

Alternatives:

if I decide to publish
if I choose to publish
if I release
if I make public
if I put out

Use 'if I published' when you want to talk about a hypothetical action or event that could have happened in the past.

Examples:

If I published that article, it would have reached a wider audience.
If I published my findings earlier, things might have turned out differently.

Alternatives:

if I had published
if I had put out
if I had released
if I had made public
if I had shared

Answer 1

if I publish

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a future possibility or condition.

Answer 2

if I published

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a hypothetical situation in the past.

"if I publish" vs "if I published"

if I publish

if I published

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