Let me start this by asking you a simple question: What are the important consideration to look up to for academic writing?
We recommend candidates to consider the following aspects, such as:
- The required word limit
- The desired level of academic writing
- The requirement to present content in a clear and logical order
- The necessary high standard in grammar & spelling
- Citation & References
All the above mentioned aspects may fit well into editing and yes, it definitely can do wonders to your thesis/ dissertation.
But the point is, how?
We advise researchers to make a clear separation between the process of writing and editing. Editing takes care of the critical attention and refinement that ensures your writing will reach the required standards. The editors at AccuEdit suggest the following process to work on during editing:
- The logical structure and balance of the dissertation/thesis
- Observance to the stated topic(title)/ research question/ plan
- Linking of content
- Checking the headings for appropriate content
- The consistency of the line of argument
- Use of tenses, active and passive voice
- Clarity of expression
- Length of sentence
- Economy of word use.
Editing can be more positive than writing as it is a process where candidates can really raise the standard of academic writing, here is how:
1) Reducing Redundancy: Simplifying and Shortening
The major part of academic writing may be true, interesting and well written but the redundancy may affect the value of a well writing thesis. Editing helps in reducing the redundancy and simplifying the content by identifying and removing unnecessary duplication, explanation and irrelevant material. See few examples of removing the redundancy and simplifying the sentences.
| Longer Version | Shorter version |
| On a regular basis | Regularly |
| If at all possible | If possible |
| During the month of May | In May |
| During the time that | While |
| Has an ability to | Can |
| It may well be that | Perhaps |
| Take into consideration | Consider |
| Conduct an investigation into | Investigate |
2) Checks for consistency:
A dissertation/thesis is a large document that takes almost a year or more to be completed. The problem with consistency is inevitable in this case and editing solves this inevitable mistake.
- Consistently avoiding the use of first person and using third person in the writing.
- It checks for consistent use one tense throughout a section.
- It checks for consistent use and formatting of heading & subheading.
- It checks for consistent use of bullet or number list
- It checks for consistency in referencing style.
- It checks for consistency in labelling images, tables, figures and other items.
3) Achieving Academic Rigour through Editing
This feature is typically related to the essence of academic writing and one prime thing that makes editing wondrous (though, it takes a lot of time). The three basic aspects to ‘editing for academic rigour’ are as:
The first one focuses:
® What did I plan to do and did I do it?
® What am I trying to convey and do I convey it.
It helps in checking whether you are going in the right direction or not.
The second aspect checks for:
® Overall reason for your research
® What did you find?
Basically, it helps in check for a well-supported and clear thread of logical reasoning throughout your research.
The third aspect challenges:
® Why should I believe this?
This makes you an awkward reader of your own writing which helps in ensuring that initially the claims you have made are either supported or removed.
4) Linking:
Editing takes care of linking that is an essential aspect of any writing. It guides the reader through different sections or paragraphs to highlight the logical structure of writing.
There are some words that are used for linking:
® As described in the previous chapter…..I’ll
® The method just presented is the……the next section describe
® This is the background as far as……the next section will explore.
I hope, it is clear by now that editing a boon to the researchers and makes wonders to the writing copy.
For any query and suggestion, write us at info@accuedit.com.