Dissertation editing tips
Dissertations can be longer and more tedious as they contain in-depth research on a specific topic. It comes at the end of your journey as a student. This is the culmination point of your studies; therefore, it should be at a top-notch level, better than what you have done in your academic career till now. Dissertations are like in-depth research papers, so a lot of focus and attention to detail are required while writing and editing them.
Dissertations are generally very long and require in-depth research; therefore, dissertation writing and editing require sitting for long hours in front of your laptop.
Tips to edit and write dissertations
- Avoid repetitions – The first thing for a dissertation editor to watch for is to delete repetitions. Repetitions in any form of writing are bad and should be avoided. An editor needs to eliminate any repetitions in the dissertation. Repetition may also come in the form of using the exact words or phrases again and again. Try choosing different words with similar meanings. This makes your dissertation a little more interesting to read.
- Create an appendix—Creating an appendix is an intelligent idea. The appendix contains extra details that are not part of the main dissertation; however, it may have added information on a particular topic. If a reader is looking for that extra information, they can view the appendix and get more detailed information.
- Follow the guidelines – Following the guidelines of the advisor under which you are preparing your dissertation is crucial. The guidelines may relate to content and formatting issues, such as using the correct font and style, margins, and other smaller issues. You must also adhere to the correct citation and referencing style. An editor should pay attention to the formatting issues and should correct them or advise the author to correct them as per the guidelines of the institute or university advisor.
- Watch for the structure of the manuscript—An editor should also look for the correct dissertation structure. A dissertation has a prescribed order, such as a title page, then a table of contents, an abstract, an introduction, and so on. Following the structure is very important for a dissertation to be considered for publication.
- Look for clarity—An editor should check if the writer has clearly expressed the subject. A clear expression of the subject is very important for a dissertation. Do not overexplain a point. Try to be as logical as possible while explaining the concepts.
- Follow the best practices- You must follow the best practices for copyediting and proofreading the dissertation. Run a grammar and spelling check, check punctuation, and ensure you fulfill all the required parameters.
- Check for inaccuracies in citations and references: Listing citations as per guidelines is essential. You may have been instructed to follow a particular style when writing the citations and references. You need to follow that. A dissertation editor must complete a check to see if it is in place.
- Checking for plagiarism – An editor should also check plagiarism and inform the writer if the level of plagiarism is over and above the suggested levels.