types of thesis editing

Dissertation Editing Services: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re unsure about the quality of your dissertation writing, it’s best to get it reviewed by an expert editor. But you may have lots of questions about how this works. Do you need professional dissertation editing services? What process do they follow? What are the best dissertation proofreading services and how can you choose the right one for yourself?

In this article, we’ve answered all these questions and more. From checks to find out if a company is legit to your expected dissertation editing costs, we’ve covered it all. So without further ado, let’s get into it.  

What Are Dissertation Editing Services?

Dissertation editing services are professional services that help students refine their dissertations before submitting them. Companies that provide these services for students and researchers are also called “dissertation editing services”. Depending on the type of review, they check your thesis for coherence, clarity, syntax, grammar, and word choice.

While understanding professional editing services for dissertations, you may wonder how they work. These companies employ hundreds of academic editors from diverse fields. They use advanced software and a skilled team to assign each dissertation to an expert from the field. This way, you don’t have to waste your time hunting for a dissertation editor and you still get expert feedback.

But are dissertation proofreading and editing services really that important? Could you do without them?

Why Choose Dissertation Editing Services?

You should choose dissertation editing services because your dissertation is the most important academic text you’ll ever work on. It’s your responsibility to ensure that it’s written and formatted as perfectly as possible, and you will lose marks if there are errors in the document!

Plus, your dissertation is your original contribution to your field of study. It has to be the best reflection of your research, or it’ll undermine all your hard work. Due diligence in editing and proofreading your dissertation elevates its quality and conveys your sincerity to your work.

But why not edit your dissertation yourself? Well, there are several disadvantages of self-editing. There are even more advantages of dissertation editing services. So, what do dissertation editing services offer?

Dissertation editing services:

• Catch the most minute errors you’ll likely miss, even with several reviews.
• Improve the clarity and coherence of your writing.
• Ensure accuracy in research methods, argument logic, and use of technical terms.
• Offer expert feedback to improve your document further.
• Elevate the overall impact and quality of your dissertation, helping you score higher.

But how does this process work? A dissertation is a lengthy document, so dissertation proofreading services take a layered approach.

Dissertation Editing Process

The dissertation editing process moves from macro-level edits to micro-level edits. So, document-spanning issues such as coherence and argument clarity are considered first. More specific issues such as grammar and spelling mistakes are fixed at the end to avoid repeated work. 

Depending on the scope of the editing step and the issues looked at, there are four major types of editing. They’re undertaken in a specific order, but various services may offer them in different formats.

Types of Dissertation Editing

The four types of dissertation editing are substantive or developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading. Does your dissertation need all four steps? Let’s take a look.

1. Substantive Editing

Substantive editing, also known as content editing or developmental editing, focuses on the content of your dissertation. It improves the structure and flow of the entire document, examining its clarity and coherence. 

A substantive editor:

• Examines the logical development of your argument.
• Ensures that your writing is clear and has a smooth flow.
• Checks the validity of your methodology and data points.
• Removes any ambiguous, redundant, or repetitive sections.
• Ensures that your dissertation aligns with your research objectives.

The substantive editor will leave comments on the document, highlighting problematic areas and suggesting improvements. Since you’re the writer, you decide which comments to work on and which ones to ignore, if any. 

2. Line Editing

Line editing is a line-by-line edit that improves the clarity, flow, and effectiveness of your academic sentences. This is a more stylistic review, focusing on meaning, tone, and word choice than grammar or punctuation. So if you want to ensure that your dissertation is engaging, coherent, and well-written, you need a line editor.

A line editor checks your dissertation for the following:

• Clear expression of the intended meaning
• Word choice and sentence structure
• Smooth flow between sentences and paragraphs
• Consistency in tone and style
• Pacing (sentence length, density of data, etc.)
• Overt language errors (not the main focus)

This step is crucial for ESL students and researchers as well as anyone who’s unsure of their writing abilities. However, providers of dissertation editing services often combine line editing with copy editing, since both these steps address overlapping concerns.

3. Copy Editing

Copy editing for a dissertation is a meticulous process that focuses on the mechanical aspects of writing such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. In its pure form, copy editing doesn’t pay much attention to stylistic or technical aspects of your writing. So, a copy editor will fix the language errors in a sentence but not inconsistencies in writing style or pacing.

Just because dissertation copy editing is mechanical doesn’t mean it has a narrow scope, though. A copy editor checks not only writing but also graphic elements, formatting style, and referencing. A copy editor undertakes the following tasks:

• Correcting errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence construction.
• Ensuring proper sentence structure with subject-verb agreement.
• Making the text clear and readable.
• Checking the use of technical terms, abbreviations, and acronyms.
• Reviewing the labeling, formatting, relevance, and overall fitness of tables, figures, and images.
• Ensuring that the dissertation follows the prescribed style guidelines (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
• Reviewing in-text citations and entries on the reference list; cross-checking them for accuracy and missing details.
• Checking for overall consistency in the document (formatting, word choice, and style).
• Undertaking a basic review of the page layout.

As you can see, a copy editor plays a crucial role in removing several kinds of errors from your dissertation. Compared to this, a line editor’s review seems smaller in scope. So, most dissertation copy editing service providers combine it with line editing. They correct language errors and add comments for stylistic improvements.

4. Proofreading

Dissertation proofreading is the final review that highlights any errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. It looks only for surface-level mistakes, such as typographical or language-related errors. So, it’s like copy editing in a sense but with a smaller scope.

Proofreading removes any lingering errors that may distract readers or undermine your hard work. It may seem like a minor step, but it’s an essential quality check and your last defense against any superficial errors. You should proofread your dissertation once all other editing steps are complete to avoid rework.

Proofreading highlights the following errors in your dissertation:

• Spelling mistakes and typos
• Punctuation errors
• Any obvious grammar errors
• Incorrect abbreviations and acronyms
• Errors in labeling or formatting tables and figures
• Referencing errors
• Problems with page formatting (such as improper margins and missing headers)

Since a dissertation proofreader has to catch such minute errors, proofreading is a painstaking and detail-oriented task. Dissertation proofreading services hire trained experts to undertake this step, saving you time and effort.

What Is Dissertation Referencing?

Dissertation referencing is the process of adding references to your dissertation. While researching, you’re bound to use information from a variety of sources, all of which you must credit in your thesis. Whether you follow the MLA style or APA format, you must add and correctly format your in-text citations and reference list entries.

Professional dissertation editors and proofreaders don’t usually undertake this step for you. They may fix one or two incorrect or missing citations, but they don’t write your reference list for you. If any APA dissertation editing services undertake this task, they may charge an additional price.

What Is Dissertation Formatting?

Dissertation formatting is the process of formatting your pages and text according to the style guidelines prescribed by your university. This is usually the MLA format for humanities students, APA format for STEM students, and Chicago style for students of business and history. Incorrect formatting in your dissertation may result in a lower score.

Like referencing, an editor does not undertake dissertation formatting for you unless as a separate task. Some companies do offer dissertation referencing and formatting services in addition to editing and proofreading.

Choosing an Editing Service: What to Look For

Now that you know what dissertation editing is, why it’s important, and how it works, it’s time to find out how to choose an editing service. There are several dissertation review services out there, old and new. Older firms have experience but are often more expensive, while newer companies are more affordable but aren’t well-known. So what signs should you look for?

1. Reviews and Recommendations

Personal recommendations from your peers or seniors are the best method when choosing an editing service. If a company has worked for them, it probably understands the requirements of your subject or university. Some universities also have tie-ups with doctoral dissertation editing services, so you should check if yours has one.

The next step is to check the company’s online reviews. Even a quick look at the reviews will give you a good idea of a company’s strengths and weaknesses. You can then make a more informed choice based on these testimonials.

Shortlist a few editing services from this initial check and refine that list as you find out more about them.

2. A Helpful but Realistic Support Team

All good editing firms have a support team that communicates your requirements to the editing team. The support staff also helps you place your order and guides you through the editing process. Ideally, the person communicating with you should be friendly, confident, and knowledgeable, but not pushy.

If you’re being rushed into placing an order or being offered dubious discounts, you should proceed with caution. So, make sure that the support team knows what they’re doing and can be relied upon. You should also remember to be very clear about your requirements and priorities in your document. This will help them target those issues in your dissertation and you won’t have to ask for any revisions.

3. Transparency and Confidentiality

Dissertation editing services must be transparent about their editing process and measures to ensure document confidentiality. At the end of your first call with the company, you should have clarity about the people who will work on your document and the process they’ll follow. If you can’t be sure of this, ask the support team for clarification. If you don’t get a satisfying answer, it’s probably best to avoid working with that particular service.

Another important aspect of dissertation editing is confidentiality. Almost all editing services have their editors sign NDAs at the time of joining, so you shouldn’t worry about that. One thing to look for, however, is the security measures the company undertakes to protect your document from outside threats. This includes 192-bit or 256-bit encryption methods, which are popularly used by dissertation editing companies.

4. Free Work Sample

Always ask for a sample edit. Editing companies don’t usually offer a sample edit unless you approach them with a major document. Since a dissertation qualifies as such, any firm worth its name should be good to offer you a one-page or 300-word free edit.

This sample edit will tell you a lot about a company’s work ethic, quality of edits, and professionalism. If you’ve shortlisted a few companies, the sample edit is probably the most reliable metric to base your final decision on. However, company policies keep changing and some established firms may have stopped offering sample edits. In this case, you’ll have to decide based on the three factors listed above.

5. A Good Offer

The final consideration is one for your pocket. Getting dissertation editing help can get expensive, and most companies understand the financial constraints on students. So, you’re likely to find big discounts during the dissertation season. If waiting that long isn’t an option for you, don’t hesitate to ask the support staff!

Once you have a quote from a few companies, compare their pros and cons and you’ll be able to choose the best dissertation editing service for you.

Be sure to enquire about the company’s revision policy. If you’re unhappy with the edit, you should be able to receive a partial or full refund. Most editing services offer one or two free revisions, so make sure to use those and get the best version of your document!

Now that we know how to choose a dissertation editing service, what are some well-known firms that fit the bill? Let’s take a look.

The Top Dissertation Editing Services of 2024

Of the many premium dissertation editing services out there, some stand out as the best of the best. In this list, we’ve considered quality of services, pricing, turnaround time, and editorial team. So, here are the best dissertation editing services of 2024:

An established name in academic editing, Scribbr is particularly popular among college students due to its online tools and resources. Their expertise and experience don’t come cheap, but you can rest assured that your dissertation will be well-edited. The best thing is that you can ask them to focus on certain aspects of your document.

If you know that your writing isn’t clear or that your structure needs to be refined, you can opt for the relevant checks. These come with a hike in price but may be helpful for those who have received targeted feedback from professors before. After all, structure, cohesion, and clarity are important factors that affect your overall grade.

Scribbr can return your edited dissertation in 12 hours to 7 days. At around $835 for a 15,000-word dissertation, however, dissertation editing with Scribbr will cost you a pretty penny.

2. Cambridge Proofreading

Cambridge Proofreading has been offering dissertation editing services for over 11 years. They employ more than 300 academic editors, all of whom are native speakers from the US and UK. Their system deletes all documents after 15 days of closing an order, which helps keep your dissertation confidential.

Cambridge Proofreading has expertise in editing dissertations from diverse fields, from astrophysics to philosophy. Recently they’ve also launched a service where they humanize AI-generated text. This is an additional boost for many students, helping them get more work done in less time.

Their dissertation editing process is fairly straightforward, but they stand out in terms of pricing. They charge dissertation editing rates of $28.90 per 1,000 words for a 24-hour delivery and $25.90 per 1,000 words for a 48-hour delivery. In terms of both the cost and turnaround time, this is excellent!

3. Scribendi

Scribendi was established in 1997, making it one of the oldest top dissertation editing companies. They have a separate approach to ESL writers, paying more attention to those documents. With 287 editors working at the firm, they should be able to pair you with an expert from your field.

Sribendi has ISO certification and prioritizes customer satisfaction. They can deliver your document in as little time as four hours! This isn’t feasible for longer documents like dissertations, however. For example, they can deliver a 15,000-word dissertation in 48 hours to 7 days. Their price range for this is $558–$615, putting them on the slightly expensive side of things.

You can use their dissertation editing service to refine not only complete theses but also dissertation and thesis proposals.

4. TrueEditors

Although a relatively newer company, TrueEditors is a robust and affordable dissertation editing service. They have more than 155 academic experts onboard from a diverse range of academic disciplines. The best thing is that their edit also includes dissertation referencing, dissertation formatting, and a plagiarism check!

TrueEditors offers five prices depending on the time duration. They can deliver your edited dissertation in 48 hours, but the price will be higher. If you opt for a delivery time of ten days, however, the price will be much lower.

Aside from editing and proofreading a dissertation, TrueEditors also offers:

• Paraphrasing & Rewriting
• Content Writing
• Translation

These additional services are especially useful to ESL students, who may struggle to express their ideas as eloquently in English.

Enago employs highly qualified editors and proofreaders to work on your dissertation. They offer dissertation editing services in two packages: Thesis Essentials and Thesis Pro. The Thesis Essentials package is limited to grammar, punctuation, academic style,  and expert commentary. You can get thesis formatting, reference formatting, plagiarism check, and one revision with this package as add-ons.

The Thesis Pro package includes everything in Essentials but adds a clarity check, structure check, and advanced commentary. Reference formatting and one revision round are free with this package. If you’re not sure about editing with Enago, you can get their sample edit of 200 words. They only offer this if your dissertation is over 10,000 words.

This overview of the best dissertation editing services must have given you an idea about the process and pricing. But let’s take a closer look at the average dissertation proofreading cost.

How Much Does it Cost to Edit a Dissertation?

It can cost between $400–$850 to edit a dissertation of 15,000 words. However, the cost of dissertation editing varies based on document length, complexity, and your requirements. Undergraduate and master’s dissertations, for instance, will be about 8,000–15,000 words long. PhD dissertations, on the other hand, can reach about 80,000–100,000 words in length, which hikes up the price dramatically.

Similarly, a specialized structure and quality check is likely to add a few hundred dollars to the editing cost. If you want the editing service to handle referencing and formatting on top of that, the cost will increase. The cost of dissertation editing is directly proportional to the amount of work the editor undertakes.

It’s always best to edit and proofread your dissertation a few times yourself and get an initial review from your instructor. You can then look for PhD dissertation editing services based on their feedback. If you know exactly what you need an editor to do, you’ll have to pay only for the essentials.

How Can I Get a Dissertation Editing Quote?

You can get a dissertation editing quote by visiting a company’s website. Most online dissertation editing services have their pricing readily available on their web pages. You can simply type the word count of your dissertation and get a tentative figure. Some companies ask you to upload your dissertation before offering a quote.

If you’d like to know more about a company and their style of work, you can reach out to their support team. These days, most companies have chatbots on their website and you can use them to get in touch with the team. This is a better way to get a quote since you can tell them your requirements and obtain a much better offer.

Can I Get a Discount on Dissertation Editing Services?

Yes, you can definitely get a discount on dissertation editing services. Almost every editing company will offer you a 5% to 10% discount on your first order. Some also have student discounts of up to 15%. Plus, most companies have offers going on throughout the year, such as Black Friday, Holiday Season, and Easter discounts.

If you’ve been working on your dissertation in advance, you’re likely to have a document ready when one of the big offers comes around. If you’re in a time crunch, though, you’ll probably have to make do with a 10% discount.

How Long Does it Take to Proofread a Dissertation?

It may take anywhere from 12 hours to 7 days to proofread a dissertation. If you pay for a premium dissertation editing service, they may even deliver the proofread document in a few hours! But less turnaround time usually means more expensive services. So, the time it takes to proofread a dissertation largely depends on your editing budget!

Do Dissertation Editing Services Offer Error-Free Dissertations?

Yes, dissertation editing services offer error-free dissertations—that’s their purpose! This doesn’t mean that no error can bypass an editor; such a claim would be impossible to live up to. However, dissertation editing and proofreading services undertake several reviews to find and remove as many errors as they can. This, in turn, almost always leaves your document completely error-free!

Is it Safe to Send a Dissertation for Editing Services?

Yes, it’s completely safe to send a dissertation to editing services! It is not only academically ethical but expected that you get your dissertation professionally edited. Editing companies undertake several measures to protect your document, from encryption methods to NDAs. Rest assured, your dissertation is safe in your editors’ hands!

What Types of Documents Can You Use Dissertation Editing Services For?

You can use dissertation editing services for complete theses and dissertations as well as partial drafts. Some services also consider thesis and dissertation proposals under dissertation editing services.

Who Will Be Editing My Dissertation?

An editor with expertise in your subject who matches your editing requirements will edit your dissertation. Since dissertation editing services are legally obligated to protect the identities of their editors, you can’t interact with them firsthand. You can, however, request the support staff to pair you up with a specific type of editor.

-Isabell S.

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• 14 min read

Dissertation and thesis editing: A complete guide

Updated: May 27

Key highlights / tl;dr:

1. There are four main options for thesis editing: i) Editing by yourself ; ii) Using paid editing software ; iii) Paying for editing and proofreading from an editing company ; and iv) Hiring a personal editor .

2. Editing your thesis by yourself or using paid editing software requires a certain level of expertise, experience, and even training in academic writing.

3. The big online editing companies generally provide affordable, expert, and reliable editing at approximately $30 – $45 per 1000 words.

4. Personal editors have the advantage of personalizing their  to your needs to provide unique value. 

Having your thesis edited can be an important step before submitting your final document. The editing process can reveal minor and major flaws that when corrected can increase the chances of successfully submitting your thesis or dissertation.

Editing your thesis manuscript can be done through either one of four options:

Editing your dissertation or thesis by yourself

Using paid AI proofreading software

Hiring a personal professional editor

Contracting  from a big online editing company

In this article, I talk about when it is appropriate for you to use professional editing providers as opposed to editing by yourself. Plus, I talk about the advantages and disadvantages of using each of the four options. Also, I talk about what goes into editing a thesis manuscript and the various stages or types of editing.

Table of Contents

Benefits of professional thesis editing

1. Thesis editing provides a fresh set of eyes

2. leveraging years of expertise and experience.

3. Professional thesis editing improves your writing

4. It ensures stylistic consistency

5. it saves you time and money.

The four options for thesis editing

1. Editing your thesis by yourself

Advantages and disadvantages of editing on your own, 2. using paid software for proofreading , advantages and disadvantages of using proofreading software, 3. thesis editing  from editing companies, how a thesis editing service works.

Advantages of using a proofreading company

Disadvantages of using a thesis editing company

Which is the best thesis editing service?

4. Hiring a personal editor to edit your thesis

Advantages of buying personal proofreading 

Final thoughts on thesis editing , frequently asked questions, 1. can i use grammarly to edit my thesis.

2. Can I use ChatGPT to edit my thesis?

3. What is the difference between proofreading and editing ?

Benefits of professional thesis editing .

The advantages of academic editing  lie in the fact that professional editors can approach your work with a lack of bias. This is due to their extensive experience and expertise.

As a result, professional thesis editing  may play a crucial role in ensuring that you can complete your thesis on time and that your thesis meets the requirements of your university. After all, a master's thesis or dissertation may be the most important project in your academic life.

First, let's take a look at what is included in professional thesis editing :  

Proofreading to fix grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors

Ensuring stylistic consistency to meet the requirements of your target journal or university rubric

Improving clarity, structure, and tone

Improving the language of non-native English speakers

Tightening or strengthening the arguments you make

Most students or academic professionals are advised to edit their thesis after writing it. Such advice often goes something like this. When writing the first draft of your thesis, you should not focus on writing the perfect document.

Instead, the focus should be transforming thoughts into words on the page. Every student and academic should go through this process or heed this advice. However, this type of self-editing may not be sufficient.

Sometimes, you need a fresh set of professional eyes to make sure that you produce the best possible dissertation or thesis. Let’s look at the benefits of hiring a professional editor for your thesis or dissertation: 

A professional editor provides a fresh perspective. This is because they are coming to your manuscript as an unbiased professional. They are also viewing your work for the first time. This means that they can read it with “brand-new eyes” — which enables them to spot areas of improvement that you may have missed.

Let’s face it. A master’s thesis may be the most important document that you have ever committed to in your life. The amount of pressure associated with this task may means you cannot approach your thesis in a cool and unbiased manner. 

A professional editor has done this a million times before. They would be in a position to approach your thesis from an angle that is free of bias or emotion. 

A professional editor, as opposed to an amateur, will bring years of experience and expertise to your academic writing. Academic writing is difficult and can take years of study and experience to master.

While you may be able to master it on your own, using a professional editor saves you time and effort.

Writing a 7000 – 12,000 word dissertation or thesis may seem like an unsurmountable challenge to you.

However, professional editors may have years of experience editing such documents. 

More importantly, a professional editor may also be a former or current academic. This means they might have subject matter expertise (or SME), which you can benefit from as a junior scholar. 

3. Professional thesis editing  improve your writing

A professional academic editor can help you become a better academic writer. Your thesis might be the first major academic project that you completed. However, it may not be the last. It may represent the beginning of a long career in academics.

The best professional editors do not simply correct your errors. They provide critical levels of feedback. If such feedback is followed, it can help you slowly turn into a better writer in the long run.

Style in academics means the rubric or formatting standards that are required by your university or department for your thesis manuscript.  For example, you might be required to use APA, CMOS, or MLA. 

If you’re a junior scholar, you might not be familiar with the details of academic style. And most persons writing a thesis for the first time will be junior scholars. In fact, no one — not even experienced academic editors — memorizes all the rules associated with a style guide such as APA or CMOS.

Professional editors make it their job to be familiar with these style guides. Even if they won’t memorize every rule, they know how to use style guides and enforce them consistently throughout your thesis manuscript.

Editing your own thesis comes with an opportunity cost. Perhaps, your time would be better spent doing other things, such as lab work. Hiring a professional editor might on the surface seem expensive.

However, this perspective changes when you think about a few things. What amount of time will you save? How much will you be able to cut back on costs?  A professional editor may end up saving you both time and money. 

The four options for thesis editing 

There are various options for editing your thesis. The one that you eventually choose will depend on several factors. As mentioned earlier, there are four options for thesis editing: 

1. Editing your dissertation or thesis by yourself

2. Using paid AI proofreading software

3. Hiring a personal professional editor

4. Contracting  from a big online editing company

So, which one of the four should you choose? It depends on factors such as: 

Your level of experience as an academic writer

Your level of skill as an English writer

The amount of money you can afford to spend

The amount of time you can afford to spend

The less experienced you are or the less time you have, the more you will benefit from professional thesis editing . In the following section, we will go on to discuss the pros and cons for each one of the four options. 

It might be perfectly OK to edit and proofread your thesis or dissertation manuscript by yourself. That means you won’t have to pay for someone to do so. Thus, saving you money.

This is a good option if you are a native English speaker or if you have native English level proficiency.

The main advantage of proofreading on your own is that you know or at least you should know your own research better than anyone else. This means you are more qualified than anyone else to correct yourself.

Moreover, you save money and don’t have to worry about falling foul of university rules that may prohibit certain types of editing by others. However, you may not have the time or skill to be an editor. Especially if we’re talking about the most important document in your academic or professional life. 

The table below summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of editing and proofreading your thesis by yourself. 

Highly specialized editing software can be used to edit your manuscript. Many of them have only been developed only in the past few years. However,  not all proofreading software is built equally.

Don’t be fooled by editors or businesses who offer AI-editing  for your manuscript. Only a few proofreading software have been designed specifically for academic editing. They include but are not limited to:

Sribendi AI

Scribbr’s proofreading AI

They are deal for long documents such as theses and dissertations. They ensure stylistic consistency, such as using abbreviations, proper spelling, and heading/subheading formatting style throughout the article.

For example, if you are using a foreign word in a 10,000 word article that needs to be in italics as required by the APA style guide, you can simply click a button to make sure that word is italicized throughout the article.

However, proofreading software is not a replacement for a human proofreader. It would be quite difficult to achieve the best proofreading  with paid proofreading software alone. This type of software is most efficient when used by a professional editor. 

Using paid editing software increases your efficiency because they are automated and make multiple corrections at the touch of a button. Also, the right proofreading software is designed specifically for   academic writing .

However, such software are specialized tools that require specific experience and skill. The table below sums up the advantages and disadvantages of using professional editing software to edit your thesis manuscript. 

There has been a rapid increase in editing companies to meet the growing demand for proofreading and editing  for both theses and other academic documents. 

This demand is driven by thousands of foreign students who are required to complete their theses or dissertations in English when English is not their first language.

Other editing customers include scholars trying to get published in prestigious English-language journals for promotions and funding in academia. Let’s see how these different editing companies work.

There are dozens of thesis editing service companies to choose from. These companies differ in how they operate. However, they have a few commonalities. 

Most have headquarters located in a major city. However, they use both in-house and freelance editors. These editors have to go through rigorous and difficult qualifying tests. This is before they undergo thorough training to get them ready to edit your thesis manuscript or other academic document.

This training results in your manuscript or document being edited skillfully and quickly at a relatively low cost. By paying only a little, you can end up with a document with substantial improvement.

Most of these  are online companies. They allow you to upload your documents to their websites, pay electronically, and have a fully edited paper returned to you between one week or four hours. 

Advantages of using an editing company

Using thesis editing  comes with a number of advantages. This is because they rely on large pools of highly qualified and highly trained freelance editors and proofreaders from all over the world.

Several editing and proofreading companies have become household names. These include Proofed, Scribendi, Scribbr, ProofreadingPal, Editage, and so on. Here, we only look briefly at them. 

For a more detailed discussion on choosing the best editing , take a look at my article here:   Selecting the best proofreading : Pricing and service . 

Let’s take a look at the advantages one by one. 

1. Affordable pricing . Due to the competitive nature of the market, editing prices can be quite affordable. Most editing  come as low as $30 to $45 per 1000 words.

2. Highly skilled editors.  These companies rely on freelance editors located throughout the world. They go through difficult qualifying tests and training to ensure that only the best or the cream of the crop end up working as professional editors.

3. Rapid and convenient . Proofreading companies offer rapid turnaround times. These turnaround times range between four and two hours and two weeks. And it’s often a 24-7 service. So, if you’re in a hurry to have your paper completed, they would be the best choice. 

4. Educational resources.  The best editing companies are not content with simply editing or proofreading your thesis. Instead, they have numerous articles or resource pages that teach you the basics of writing an academic paper or thesis. 

Editing companies have a business model that focuses on low pricing, mass marketing, and speed. This creates conditions that can encourage a lack of personalization and factory-like processes.  

1. Lack of personalization.  Because of the massive amount of work that editing companies perform, they have developed processes to speed things up. This means there is no face-to-face communication between the editor and you the client. 

2. Rushed . It would be ideal to get several weeks to edit your thesis. However many students and academics are under tight deadlines. This necessitates In general, editing and proofreading  put a premium on finishing quickly. These rushed  may lead to less-than-ideal . 

Table 1. A list of major proofreading companies and their proofreading rates per 1000 words and Trustpilot ratings.

Note. A table showing proofreading rates in USD per 1000 words and Trustpilot ratings out of five stars. 

Which is the best thesis editing company?

The best proofreading or editing company is a subjective matter?  However, we can try to answer by looking at factors such as price, convenience, and customer service.

1. Best thesis editing company based on Price. The average price per 1000 words for the average editing service is $40.6, and the median value is $. So, we can say that the typical price you can expect from these  is around $39.5  per 1000 words.

Figure 1.  Editing rates for 10 thesis editing companies

Note.  A bar chart showing proofreading rates per 1000 words in USD for 1. Scribendi, $37; 2. Scribbr, $42; 3. Proofed, $45; 4. Paper True, $32; 5. Enago, $58; 6. Editor World, $28; 7. Cambridge, $30; 8. Wordvice, $48; 9. Editage, $58; and 10. ProofreadingPal (PP), $28.

2. Best proofreading offers based on Speed and Convenience.  Most editing service companies provide 24-7 service. They also have a minimum of a 12-hour turnaround service, which is a premium service that comes at a slightly higher price. 

Also, remember that the price of proofreading changes according to turnaround time. The quicker the turnaround time, the higher the price you have to pay. The table shows the different turnaround times for five thesis editing service companies. 

Table 2. Price according to the turnaround time for five editing service companies

3. Best editing  based on Customer Satisfaction . For customer service, looking at the Trustpilot rating is ideal. The average Trustpilot rating was 4.6 out of 5, with none of the proofreading  scoring below 4.2.

This suggests that customers are normally happy with their editing . We can conclude that there is no major difference between the various proofreading service companies in terms of factors such speed, customer satisfaction, quality, and price.

4. Best proofreading  based on resource support.  Besides proofreading , other factors you might consider are the resources offered by an editing company. These are resources that answer questions related to how to conduct academic writing.

A good example of an editing company that provides useful resource support would be Scribbr. Here at EminentEdit, with our blog, we also try our best to provide you with the resources that you need to understand and improve your academic writing. 

4. Hiring a personal editor to edit your thesis 

A personal editor is in the ideal position to edit your thesis. By personal professional editor, I mean someone who offers proofreading  under their own name.

That person could be a solopreneur with a professional website, which you could use to contact them for their . It could also be someone who has been recommended to you because of their past work for others.

Take me for example. I worked for more than five years for a number of professional proofreading . In that period, I edited more than five million words! I now offer my proofreading  through my website,   EminentEdit . 

1. A personal editor is more reliable.  This is especially true if you acquired one through recommendations, this would mean that they have a history of doing good work.

2. A personal proofreader can provide more personalized .  Unlike with a proofreading company, which prohibits direct communication with their freelance proofreaders, you can communicate directly with a personal proofreader. Such communication can lead to deeper understanding between editor and client.

3. Personal proofreaders have more time . Unlike anonymous freelance proofreaders who have to speed through thousands of words, a personal proofreader often works at a much slower pace. 

This results in two advantages. It reduces the chances of errors. And it gives the editor more time to understand the unique challenges of your thesis manuscript.

Professional editing  for your thesis or any other academic document offer several advantages. These advantages boil down to saving you time and money and even making you a better writer. 

Editing your thesis by yourself can work. But you have to be a good enough writer, and you should make sure you have enough time, skill, and experience.

If you choose professional proofreading , there are three choices:

Buying AI editing software

Using a proofreading company

Hiring a personal proofreader

All three options have their benefits. Here's a summary of each approach.

1. Using editing software by itself is the least efficient.  That is because a tool is only as good as the person who uses it. If you don’t have English writing or proofreading expertise, you may be wasting money on such a choice.

2. Editing companies are a safe bet. Editing  from proofreading companies are generally affordable, professional, and reliable. This is because much of the work is carried out by highly trained and expert freelance editors.

They are an excellent option if you have limited time and budget. However, their impersonal or factory assembly-line approach to editing may mean that your thesis does not get the personalized attention and unique value that it deserves.

3. Personal editing  are the ideal option. Personal editing are teh ideal option. Editing companies may have more resources and may even be cheaper.

However, the opportunity to communicate face-to-face or person-to-person with a professional editor can give you more confidence and a better experience overall. Talking directly with an editor means that your editor gets a chance to appreciate the unique value of your thesis. 

The Italian novelist Umberto Eco said, “Your thesis is like your first love. It will be difficult to forget. In the end, it will represent your first serious and rigorous academic work, and this is no small thing." 

Working directly with a professional editor provides a perfect opportunity to treat your manuscript like your "first love."

Grammarly wasn’t designed for editing academic writing optimally. The software is excellent for professional writing, such as business emails and blogs. However, for research writing, it would be best to rely on proofreading software optimized for academic writing, such as PerfectIt, Scribendi AI, and Scribbr’s AI proofreader.

Lastly, it should aslo be remembered that a tool is as good as the person using it. Proofreading software is best used by someone who has a high level of English skills to begin with. Without the proper editing or proofreading skills, proofreading software may not give you the results you desire. 

For the time being, proofreading software is best used in conjunction with a professional proofreader. They are by no means a substitute for a professional.

2. Can I use ChatGPT to edit my thesis? 

ChatGPT can, ofcourse, be used to edit your thesis. However, you might not want to do that. This software has not been optimized for academic editing and proofreading. Professional proofreading and editing software designed and trained specifically for academic writing should be used  to edit your thesis.

In short,, there is no clear difference between proofreading and editing  regarding the type of proofreading  offered by proofreading companies. However, in the pricing and categorization of proofreading companies, proofreading usually means  where a manuscript requires fewer corrections per 1000 words, whereas editing  are reserved for manuscripts that require a much higher rate of corrections per 1000 words.

In short, editing refers to  for manuscripts that need more work before being good enough for publication or submission, whereas proofreading  refer to editing on manuscripts that are closer to being published or submitted. Editing  categorized in this way are usually priced lower. 

• Academic Editing

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How to Edit a Thesis and Revise it Successfully

As a researcher your PhD thesis is the culmination of many years of research on a subject. It helps to showcase your subject matter expertise, academic writing skills and capabilities as an independent researcher. After having spent months and years working on a PhD thesis, most early career researchers rush to submit their work before allowing themselves to take a breather. However, experienced researchers suggest that while taking a break from your thesis might be a good idea, it is imperative to spend some time to proofread, revise, and polish your thesis before submitting it for evaluation. Most early career researchers find this daunting and often procrastinate when it comes to editing PhD thesis and revising it.

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Why Editing PhD thesis and Proofreading it is Essential

Editing and revising your PhD thesis is absolutely essential as it helps improve the clarity and coherence of the thesis. Proofreading entails reading the content to ensure that it is understandable, accurate, and well-presented. A well-written thesis is easy to follow and presents ideas in a logical and organized manner. Editing and proofreading helps to identify areas where the thesis may be unclear or where the argument may be weak. A well-edited and proofread thesis demonstrates attention to detail and a commitment to excellence, which can help to impress the thesis committee and lead to a successful defence.

This article explains the importance of editing and proofreading a PhD thesis and offers advice on how to edit and revise your work.

  Tips for Successfully Editing and Revising Ph.D. Thesis

• Take a break: Once you finish your thesis, give yourself a few days or a week to relax and recharge your energies before return to it with a refreshed perspective. Taking a break from your work can help you to approach it with fresh eyes.
• Pay attention to detail: Take time to carefully edit your PhD thesis from start to finish, stay alert to minor grammatical errors, inaccurate information or issues with formatting. Focus on removing any contradiction and add supporting information where there is a lack of adequate proof.
• Edit section-by-section: Break down the thesis into smaller, more manageable sections to check for spelling errors, citation mistakes and look for problems with structure and coherence. This can be helpful to ease the editing and proofreading process.

• Refine your opening and conclusions: Pay attention to both the introduction and the conclusion of your thesis. They must be well written and impactful and must convey the details of your work in a compelling way. For better understanding and consistency, try re-organizing elements of your thesis by avoiding jargon and using clear and simple language to explain things.
• Ensure that your thesis meets submission guidelines: Most universities and departments may have guidelines and requirements for the submission of dissertations. These can include specifics on whether to use APA or MLA referencing and formatting guidelines. Being aware of these guidelines can ensure that your thesis is well-received and not returned for additional edits at a later stage.
• Check for inaccuracies in citations: Most early career researchers find themselves inadvertently making errors when it comes to listing citations. Reference management tools like Zotero and Mendeley can prove very helpful as they assistsyou with correctly linking sources and citing referenced articles.
• Be vigilant and check for inadvertent plagiarism: Plagiarism in academia is taken very seriously and can invite serious repercussions. Forgetting to insert quotation marks or citing a particular author you have paraphrased is deemed as plagiarism. When proofreading the thesis ensure that you check for these often inadvertent errors and correct them before final submissions.
• Consider using professional editing tools: There are numerous editing tools and apps available online that can be used to identify and fix common mistakes, make your writing clearer and format according to the required citation style, allowing you to submit a perfect thesis. Apps like Researcher.Life help evaluate the submission-readiness of dissertations and research manuscripts in addition to providing editing, translation, and end-to-end support through all stages of academic writing.
• Seek feedback : Having edited and proofread your PhD thesis do share it with your supervisors and request them to provide inputs and feedback. Constructive feedback can prove invaluable and help you to identify areas where you may need to make revisions or improvements. This ensures that your PhD thesis meets the high standards of academic excellence.

Finally, keep aside structured time for editing and proofreading your thesis. While you may be tempted to do so, avoid rushing through the editing and proofreading process. We hope that you will find these tips use in making your editing and proofreading process more efficient, manageable and less overwhelming.

Researcher.Life is a subscription-based platform that unifies top AI tools and services designed to speed up, simplify, and streamline a researcher’s journey, from reading to writing, submission, promotion and more. Based on over 20 years of experience in academia, Researcher.Life empowers researchers to put their best research forward and move closer to success.   

Try for free or sign up for the Researcher.Life  All Access Pack , a one-of-a-kind subscription that unlocks full access to an AI academic writing assistant, literature reading app, journal finder, scientific illustration tool, and exclusive discounts on professional services from Editage. Find the best AI tools a researcher needs, all in one place –  Get All Access now at just $25 a month or $199 for a year !    

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Features of Our Thesis Editing Services

Thesis proofreading.

Thesis proofreading includes correction for:

• Word-order, sentence structure, and grammar
• Spelling and punctuation issues
• Improper use of units, symbols, numerals, and abbreviations
• Inconsistencies in formatting and terminology

We guarantee 100% language accuracy —your thesis will be free of objective language errors and adhere to all necessary requirements.

Revisions for Clarity & Flow

Wordvice's thesis editors enhance the style, clarity, and tone of your writing in the following ways:

• Improving vocabulary and ensuring a natural tone
• Removing informal and unacademic phrases
• Rephrasing to enhance structure, flow, and readability
• Providing feedback and comments to explain changes

Our editors also apply your preferred formatting style ( APA , MLA , Chicago , etc.)

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Our thesis editing services provide more than just professional editing. Students keep coming back to us for a variety of reasons:

• Editor expertise in your field of study
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• Choose your turnaround time (from 9 hours to 7 days)

You can ask your editor as many questions as you want via our editor messaging system. We know how important your deadline is and guarantee delivery of your edited thesis by the selected delivery time.

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Professional editing for your graduate or doctoral thesis, authors love our thesis editing services.

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• Chen Xi "Will use Wordvice again" Wordvice saved my master's thesis! I was stressed out because I thought I couldn't get everything done before my deadline, but my editor was so fast and their comments guided me really well through the last phase of polishing my writing. It sounds much more academic now, and I learned a lot from the feedback my editor gave me. I will definitely use Wordvice again for my dissertation!
• Ronald Yates "Best dissertation editor EVER!" I submitted my dissertation to Wordvice before handing it in, and my editor Carla G. did such an amazing job - it was much more helpful than I had expected! She was very thorough and left many detailed suggestions in the manuscript that helped me immensely with organizing and strengthening my arguments. I got my dissertation back on time and felt very self-assured when I finally handed it in. Thank you for your very professional help.

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Dissertation Editing Service: Ensure Academic Success Fast, Affordable, Professional

Get dissertation editing services from an academic editor with years of experience editing dissertations, theses, and academic papers. Our dedicated Dissertation Editing service ensures top-notch editing, style refinement, and adherence to guidelines, enhancing the professionalism of your academic writing. With a focus on swift turnaround times, meet your trusted partner for the best dissertation editing services.

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Need Dissertation Editing Services?

When it comes to your dissertation, every word and sentence matters. That's where our Dissertation Editing services come into play. Our team of seasoned editors understands the significance of a well-crafted thesis . With years of academic editing experience, they are able to meticulously review your document, ensuring it adheres to your university's guidelines.

Our editing service for dissertations focuses on enhancing the English proficiency of your work. Go beyond basic editing services to ensure your dissertation truly shines . Whether you're a PhD candidate or a university student, we tailor our editing services for dissertations to meet your specific instructions. Transform your dissertation into the best dissertation it can be.

Our commitment to providing top-notch Dissertation Editing services extends beyond surface-level corrections. We understand that the perfect thesis requires more than just editing; it demands a keen eye for detail and an understanding of the nuances of academic writing.

Why Should I Get Dissertation Editing Services?

Transform your dissertation into the best possible version it can be with a polished thesis statement and a strong structure. 

When it comes to your dissertation, every word and sentence matters, and that's precisely where our Dissertation Editing services excel. Our team of seasoned editors, well-versed in academic writing and with years of experience in editing dissertations, can ensure your dissertation is error-free and adheres to your university's guidelines. 

Our editing services for dissertations offer rapid turnaround times , ensuring that your edited document, with its improved thesis statement and precise word count, is returned to you promptly. Your academic work deserves nothing less than the expertise of our editors who specialize in dissertation and thesis editing services, making sure your university paper is edited to perfection.

Why Choose Scribendi's Dissertation Editing Services?

Our dedication to providing the best thesis editing and Dissertation Proofreading sets us apart. We understand the importance of a clear and compelling thesis statement. Our editors work diligently to refine your document, focusing on word count, style, and overall quality. Ensure that your academic writing meets the highest standards so that your dissertation is a testament to your years of hard work.

With swift turnaround times, you can trust us to meet your deadlines, ensuring a stress-free editing process. Whether you're looking to i mprove your PhD thesis or need assistance with a dissertation, our Dissertation Editing services are your pathway to success. 

Get top-notch Dissertation Editing services and thesis proofreading. Our team of experienced editors can refine your document diligently, paying meticulous attention to word count, style, and overall quality. Don't compromise on the quality of your academic achievements; choose unparalleled editing that elevates your dissertation to the pinnacle of excellence.

Can I get a discount on Dissertation Editing services?

Enhancing your academic work has never been more affordable with our exclusive student discount for Dissertation Editing services.

Our team of expert editors is ready to take your thesis to the next level. Whether you're a PhD student or pursuing a master's degree, we understand the importance of a well-crafted dissertation. With our 10% student discount , you can enjoy substantial savings while receiving top-notch editing services for your dissertation. 

Our experienced dissertation editors are well-versed in academic writing and can help you refine your work, focusing on aspects like style, English proficiency, and adherence to university guidelines. Don't miss out on this limited-time offer to improve the quality of your thesis while saving on Dissertation Editing services.

Simply use the coupon code on our Student Discount page to start improving your writing today. Our editing service for dissertations is dedicated to helping students like you succeed in their academic journey. Take advantage of this opportunity to elevate your thesis or dissertation to its highest potential with our discounted Dissertation Editing services.

What will you receive with Dissertation Editing services? 

• An edited document in which misspellings, grammar errors, and typos have been corrected
• Changes and suggestions to help improve clarity, flow, structure, and readability
• Formatting of your citations and references to the style guide of your choice, if desired
• Tracked revisions so that you can see and review all the changes that have been made
• In-depth critical commentary on your paper 
• A short summary of the work that has been done and any major concerns

What types of documents can you use Dissertation Editing services for?

• Dissertations
• Thesis and dissertation proposals

Generative AI has become increasingly relevant in academia and can impact academic services at Scribendi; click here to see Scribendi’s policy on generative AI .

Rest assured, whether you're handling commercially sensitive data or conducting groundbreaking scholarly analysis, as part of our Dissertation Editing services, your manuscript's confidentiality is our top priority. 

We ensure the utmost privacy for your work. All uploads and downloads to our secure server are encrypted , and our stringent privacy policies are in place to safeguard your academic research and personal data. 

Dissertation editing services are just a click away . We are committed to ensuring the highest level of security and quality for your academic work. Obtain an instant quote below, and order now .

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Dissertation Editing Services FAQ

How much do dissertation editing services cost.

The cost of dissertation editing services can vary depending on factors like word count, turnaround time, and the level of editing needed. At Scribendi, you can use our instant quote widget to select the cost and turnaround time that best suit the needs of your document, including your word count, and your deadline. Our experienced editors have years of experience editing and proofreading dissertations and theses. We offer competitive prices for our editing services, ensuring your work is polished to perfection. 

Should I get editing services for my dissertation?

Absolutely! Getting professional editing services for your dissertation is crucial for academic success. Just as Personal Statement Editing ensures your application is ready to go, dissertation editing ensures your thesis is polished to perfection. We offer top-notch editing services tailored to your university's requirements, enhancing your document's style, English, and overall quality. With years of experience, our editors are able to meticulously review your work to meet the highest academic standards. Don't underestimate the importance of proofreading and editing!

Is it ethical to pursue dissertation editing services?

Yes, seeking dissertation editing services is not only ethical but highly advisable. Ethical editing services help you improve the style, English, and overall quality of your work. It's a responsible choice to invest in professional editing to elevate your academic writing as good dissertation editing services focus on integrity and academic excellence.

How do I choose an editing service for my dissertation?

Choosing the right editing service for your dissertation is crucial. Look for experienced editors with a strong background in academic writing and a focus on thesis and dissertation editing. Consider factors such as word count, turnaround time, and expertise in your field. Read reviews and ask about their years of experience editing dissertations. Ultimately, select a service that aligns with your needs and values, ensuring your work becomes the best dissertation it can be.

Your Writing, Expertly Edited

Get your work meticulously edited and proofread by PhD-qualified academic writing specialists, who know exactly what markers want .

Your All-In-One Solution

While many providers charge for editing and proofreading separately, our service includes both . This means we’ll take care of the following:

• Fix typos, misspellings, punctuation issues and ensure consistency of your spelling format (e.g., UK or US English).
• Undertake light rewriting of poorly presented sentences, to improve readability and ease of understanding. If substantial rewriting is needed, we’ll provide suggestions.
• Highlight areas where clarification and additional explanation are needed.
• Ensure that your in-text references are in the correct style, formatted correctly and are included in the end-text reference list.
• Ensure that your reference list is correctly formatted.
• Highlight areas where additional references are needed (e.g., sweeping statements, unfounded arguments, etc.).
• Generate the table of contents page, lists of figures and tables.
• Ensure consistent style for figure and table captions.
• Insert captions where we are able to, or highlight areas where captions are needed.
• Ensure consistency of heading levels and styles.
• Ensure correct page numbering (e.g., roman numerals for pre-matter).
• Ensure that your format/page layout is in line with your institute’s requirements.

What exactly you get  

Every editing and proofreading project includes the following key deliverables:

A perfectly edited document

You’ll receive a clean, finalised version of your document, fully edited and proofread. You’ll also receive a second version with all changes tracked , as well as our comments and suggestions to improve your writing further.

A detailed plagiarism report

If you’d like, we can run a comprehensive plagiarism scan on your document and provide you with a detailed report that outlines potential plagiarism issues and provides a similarity index. This is included free of charge.

A polished conceptual framework

If your document includes a conceptual framework, we’ll polish your design into a high-quality visual to give your work a professional look. Again, this service is provided completely free of charge. 

A certificate of editing

If your university requires a formal certificate of editing or confirmation letter, we’ll draft this according to your institution’s specific requirements. We can also provide copies of invoices and receipts if required by your sponsor. 

The Grad Coach Difference  

Editors are a dime a dozen  and there’s always someone who can do it cheaper. Here’s what makes Grad Coach’s editing and proofreading service different.

Academic Writing Specialists

Our PhD-qualified editors specialise in academic writing, so they know exactly what markers want.

Combined Editing & Proofreading

Our service includes both editing and proofreading, while others charge separately for each.

Full Plagiarism Reporting

In addition to editing and proofreading, we can also provide a  plagiarism report , completely free of charge.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most popular editing-related questions we receive.

Editing & Proofreading

How do you edit and proofread.

Our editing and proofreading process is 100% manual - in other words, it's handled by a team of highly qualified human editors, not machines . We don't use any automation software or tools, as nothing can beat the quality and accuracy of human editing.

Our editing team consists of a diverse mix of Doctoral and Master's-qualified language specialists . The team is managed by Dr Eunice Rautenbach , who holds both a Master's and Doctoral degree in language practice. All team members have extensive academic editing experience, are native English speakers (from the US, UK and SA) and have worked on numerous dissertations, theses and research projects.

Can I see an example/sample of your editing?

Certainly . You can download a sample editing and proofreading project here .

Will you sort out my references and citations?

Yes . As part of the editing process, we will ensure that your references and citations are in the correct format (e.g., Harvard, APA, etc) as per your university's requirements (you'll need to advise us what these are).

However, keep in mind that we can't fill in incomplete references or find the relevant sources for you (as it's impossible for us to know which sources you've referenced). We also cannot check whether the references you have are accurate or suitable for the arguments you make in your writing.

Can you fix/build my table of contents?

Yes , we can create a table of contents based on the headings and subheadings throughout your dissertation or thesis. This table of contents will include the respective page number for each heading or subheading.

Can you lower my word count?

Yes - as part of the editing process, we will edit your work for concision. However, we cannot guarantee a specific word count or percentage reduction, as this would risk cutting out important content.

Can you check my work for plagiarism?

Yes - we can provide a detailed plagiarism report with every editing and proofreading project. However, please keep in mind that universities use a variety of plagiarism-checking services. Therefore, if your university provides you with a plagiarism-checking facility (as they often do), you should double-check your score on that system.

How long does the editing and proofreading process take?

It depends on the length of the document, the overall quality of the writing (i.e., the number of issues to be resolved) and our project load at the time of submission.

Generally speaking, we can complete a standard dissertation/thesis of 20,000 words within 2-3 days , but this varies depending on the factors above. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you pre-book your editing with us for a specific date. For pre-booked projects, we can provide a guaranteed timeline, which is generally shorter than that of "walk-in" projects. Please email us to pre-book your project.

Can you provide a certificate of editing?

Yes , certainly. We can issue a certificate according to your university's requirements. We can also sign any paperwork required by your university as proof of editing.

Will my document be treated as confidential?

Yes , absolutely. Your work will be treated as strictly confidential and will never be shared or published. We will gladly sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with you if you wish.

How much does editing cost?

Our fee is based on the total word count of the document. This includes the body content and the reference list (as we need to review this). You can also include the appendices if you wish, but it's generally not required.

Click here to view our pricing or book a free consultation to discuss your project.

When should I submit my document to you?

Generally, editing and proofreading should be the very last step in your writing process. This ensures that you don't "undo" any editing work, or introduce new typos or grammar issues.

However, if your supervisor has specifically instructed you to get your work edited before submitting it to them for final review, you should follow their instructions. If you're unsure which approach to take, get in touch with us.

Can you edit my dissertation/thesis as I complete each chapter?

We can, but we don't recommend it . By editing chapter by chapter, consistency is reduced and there is a strong chance that there will be conflicts between document versions in terms of references, page, table and figure numbers, and so on. As a result, a lot of the work will be "undone" and you'll need to spend a lot of time revising and checking each section.

How much time should I factor in post-edit to make corrections?

We recommend that you factor in a day or two to make your final corrections after receiving your document back from us. This is not essential (as you can just accept all our edits "as is"), but it is a good idea to have a buffer in case you want to make any additions or revisions. You might also need to fix issues highlighted by the edit, e.g., regarding clarity of meaning or problems flagged with your referencing.

Can you do a second review of my document after the first edit?

We can review your document as many times as you need , but each review is charged separately. In other words, we cannot provide a second review (after we've edited and proofread) free of charge.

Can you check that my Conclusions and Recommendations represent all my findings?

This is beyond the scope of language editing, as it involves data analysis and interpretation. If you would like assistance with this, we can assist with 1-on-1 coaching , where we review your work critically and provide in-depth feedback (you can view a sample of this here ).

Can you write my abstract (or exec summary) for me?

No , we can't. As part of the editing process, we will improve the quality of your writing, but we cannot write any section for you. Having any section written for you would constitute academic misconduct.

Can you rephrase text to reduce my plagiarism score?

No , we can’t. While we may undertake some very light rewriting of poorly constructed sentences to improve readability and ease of understanding, we cannot revise content to reduce plagiarism, as we are not familiar with the articles/sources being referenced.

Can you arrange the separate sections of my document?

No , we cannot arrange (or rearrange) sections of content on your behalf, as this may impact the core meaning and/or the thread of argument.

That said, if we feel that a section could be structured better for clarity, we will comment on this and make suggestions. Additionally, we will check that your headings and subheadings are numbered sequentially and are consistent in style.

I still have questions…

No problem. Feel free to email us or book an initial consultation to discuss.

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The 7 Types of Dissertations Explained: Which One is Right for You?

Your dissertation is a pretty big deal and likely represents years of hard slog studying your subject of expertise.

But did you know there are 7 different types of dissertation ?

The purpose of this article is to demystify the various types of dissertations you might encounter or choose to undertake during your advanced studies. Armed with this knowledge, you can select the most appropriate methodology and framework for your research interests and academic requirements.

Each type of dissertation serves a different academic purpose and requires a unique approach and structure. In this article, we’ll take a look at these differences in detail, providing clear explanations and examples from a range of academic disciplines. By the end of this article, you should have a thorough understanding of the options available for your dissertation and be better prepared to select a path that aligns with your research goals and academic ambitions.

Remember, regardless of what type of dissertation you ultimately decide to pursue, best dissertation proofreading can make all the difference between a pass and a fail.

7 Types of Dissertation

Empirical Dissertations

So, let’s dive right in with empirical dissertations—arguably the most hands-on type of dissertation out there. If you’re studying a field like psychology, biology, or social sciences, you’re probably going to become very familiar with this approach.

What exactly is an empirical dissertation?

It’s all about gathering data. You’ll be conducting your own experiments, surveys, or observations, making this type extremely engaging (and a bit daunting). Essentially, you’re collecting new data from the world or from people, rather than relying on existing data from other studies.

The structure of an empirical dissertation is pretty straightforward but involves rigorous methodology. Typically, it will include an introduction to set up your SMART research question , a literature review to justify why this question needs answering, a methodology section that details how you’ve gone about your data collection, a results chapter presenting your findings, and a discussion that ties everything back to your research question and explores the implications.

This type of dissertation not only tests your ability to conduct research and analyze data but also challenges you to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios. By the end of an empirical dissertation, you should not only have answers to your original questions but also a solid chunk of real-world experience under your belt.

Best suited to: Students who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty.

Theoretical Dissertations

Now, shifting gears, let’s talk about theoretical dissertations. If the empirical dissertation is the hands-on, muddy boots kind of research, the theoretical dissertation is its more contemplative, indoor cousin. Perfect for those of you in fields like philosophy, literature, or certain branches of sociology and psychology, where concrete data might not be the main focus.

What’s the deal with theoretical dissertations? They revolve around developing, exploring, or expanding on existing theories. Instead of collecting new data, you invest your time and effort studying existing research and theoretical frameworks to build an argument or propose a new theory or perspective on an old one.

The structure of a theoretical dissertation generally includes a comprehensive introduction where you lay out your thesis or theory, followed by a detailed literature review that supports and provides the foundation for your thesis. After this, you’ll move into a discussion or analysis section, where you critically analyze your thesis in the light of existing theories and literature. The aim here is to offer a fresh or refined perspective that contributes to the existing body of knowledge.

This type of dissertation is a test of your analytical skills and your ability to synthesize complex ideas into a coherent argument. It’s less about creating new paths and more about mapping the ones already laid out in new ways.

Best suited to: Students who love theory and thrive on crafting arguments.

Case Study Dissertations

Next up, it’s case study dissertations. This type of dissertation is especially attractive if you’re someone who loves storytelling with a purpose or is drawn to in-depth analysis of specific events, individuals, or organizations. It’s a favorite in disciplines like business, education, psychology, and social sciences, where a single case can lead to the development of new theories and concepts.

A case study dissertation involves an intensive investigation of a particular individual, group, organization, or event. You’ll get to the nitty gritty of the specifics, examining various aspects of the case to understand its implications and applications. This method allows you to apply theoretical concepts in a real-world context, providing rich insights that aren’t always accessible through broader surveys or experiments.

The structure of a case study dissertation usually starts with an introduction to the chosen case, followed by a literature review that sets the theoretical framework. You then proceed to a detailed methodology section explaining how you collected and analyzed your data. The core of your dissertation will likely be the case analysis chapter, where you dissect the case in relation to your research question. Finally, you’ll conclude with a discussion of how the case impacts the wider field and what new understandings it brings to the fore.

Best suited to: Those who are meticulous and have a keen eye for detail, a case study dissertation allows you to explore the intricacies of a specific example while contributing to broader academic debates.

Comparative Dissertations

Next up is the comparative dissertation. This type is tailor-made for the analytically minded who love drawing connections and distinctions between different elements. It’s particularly prevalent in fields like law, education, political science, and international relations, where understanding differences and similarities across cases, laws, or educational methods can provide critical insights.

Essentially, a comparative dissertation involves systematically comparing and contrasting two or more entities. These could be policies, theories, populations, or even historical periods, depending on your study area. The goal is to identify patterns or discrepancies that reveal underlying principles or suggest new interpretations of data.

The structure of a dissertation of this nature typically includes a dissertation abstract followed by an introduction that defines the entities being compared and poses your research question. This is followed by a literature review that frames the theoretical bases for comparison. The methodology section should clearly outline the criteria and methods for comparison, ensuring transparency and replicability. The subsequent chapters will then detail the comparative analysis, discussing each entity individually before bringing them together for a comprehensive comparison. Finally, the conclusion synthesizes the findings, highlighting the significance of the differences and similarities discovered.

Best suited to: Those who can juggle multiple themes and variables without losing sight of the overarching question, a comparative dissertation challenges you to remain objective and balanced in your analysis.

Project-Based Dissertations

Project-based dissertations are more practical in nature. This type of dissertation is particularly appealing if you’re inclined towards applying your theoretical knowledge to create something tangible or solve a real-world problem. It’s a common choice in fields like engineering, computer science, and applied arts, where the end product can be a piece of software, an engineering prototype, or a design project.

What makes a project-based dissertation stand out? It centers around a project that you will plan, execute, and manage through the duration of your dissertation process. This could involve designing a new gadget, developing a software program, or creating a marketing plan for a startup. The focus is on applying the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired through your studies to produce a project that has practical and theoretical implications.

The structure of a project-based dissertation generally includes an introduction to the project, its objectives, and its relevance to your field. Following this, you’ll provide a literature review that supports the theories and methodologies you intend to use. The methodology section should detail your project plan, resources, and the processes you will follow. The main body of the dissertation will describe the project development and implementation phases in detail. Finally, the conclusion will evaluate the project’s success, its impact, and potential future developments or applications.

Best suited to: The innovative and the practical, a project-based dissertation allows you to showcase your ability to deliver a concrete outcome that demonstrates your professional capabilities.

Narrative Dissertations

If you’re drawn to writing and storytelling, a narrative dissertation might be right up your alley. This type is particularly popular in fields such as creative arts, literature, and education, where personal narratives or creative elements can be used to explore and communicate complex ideas.

What does a narrative dissertation involve? It’s about crafting a dissertation that primarily uses narrative techniques to convey research findings or explore scholarly questions. This could mean writing in a first-person perspective, incorporating fictional elements, or structuring the dissertation like a series of interconnected stories or essays.

The structure of a narrative dissertation often deviates from the traditional format. It begins with an introduction that sets the stage for the narrative journey. The literature review might be woven into the narrative itself, providing contextual background as the story unfolds. The methodology section explains how narrative methods will be used to explore the research question. The main body is where the narrative takes center stage, presenting research through personal reflections, storytelling, or hypothetical scenarios. The conclusion then ties all narrative threads together, reflecting on the insights gained and their broader implications.

Best suited to: those who think and express themselves best through stories, a narrative dissertation allows you to engage with your topic in a deeply personal and creative way.

Systematic Review Dissertations

Systematic review dissertations are perfect if you’re keen on synthesizing existing research to draw comprehensive conclusions about a specific topic. This type is particularly valuable in fields like healthcare, psychology, and social sciences, where summarizing and evaluating existing studies can provide powerful insights and inform practice and policy.

A systematic review dissertation involves a rigorous and structured approach to reviewing literature. You’ll gather all relevant data from previously published studies to answer a specific research question. The focus is on transparency and reproducibility, employing predefined methods to minimize bias and provide reliable results.

The structure of a systematic review dissertation typically begins with an introduction that outlines the research question and its significance. This is followed by a methodologically detailed section that explains the criteria for selecting studies, the search strategy used, and the methods for data extraction and synthesis. The results section then presents a detailed analysis of the studies included in the review, often using quantitative methods like meta-analysis. The discussion interprets these findings, considering their implications for the field and any limitations. The conclusion suggests areas for further research and summarizes the contributions made by the review.

Best suited to: Those with a keen eye for detail and a systematic approach to research, a systematic review dissertation can significantly impact by clarifying and summarizing existing knowledge.

Methodological Considerations

Choosing the right type of dissertation is an important decision in your academic journey, and several factors should guide your selection. This section aims to help you navigate these choices, ensuring that the methodology and framework you choose align perfectly with your research goals, available resources, and time constraints.

First, consider your discipline’s requirements and norms. Different fields favor different types of dissertations, so understanding what is expected and respected in your area of study is crucial. Next, think about your own strengths and interests. Choose a dissertation type that not only meets academic criteria but also excites you and plays to your strengths, whether they lie in empirical research, theoretical exploration, practical application, or creative expression.

Resource availability is another critical factor. Some types of dissertations, like empirical and project-based, may require access to specific equipment, software, or locations, which can be a deciding factor. Time constraints are also essential to consider; some dissertations, particularly those involving extensive data collection and analysis, may require more time than others.

Finally, discuss your ideas with your advisor or mentor. They can provide valuable insights and feedback that can help you refine your choice and ensure that you are prepared to tackle the challenges ahead. With the right preparation and understanding of what each type of dissertation entails, you can make an informed decision that sets the stage for a successful and rewarding research endeavor.

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Guides • Understanding Publishing

Last updated on May 05, 2023

Types of Editing: An Inside Look at What Editors Do

Literary editors are a writer's best friend — they have the skills, experience, and knowledge to take your manuscript to the next level. However, not all editors do the same job and it's important to understand what type of editing your project needs at any given stage.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the different types of editing and offer insights from Reedsy's deep roster of expert manuscript editors . 

5 common types of editing in publishing:

1. Editorial assessment

2. developmental editing, 3. copy editing, 4. proofreading, 5. fact-checking.

An editorial assessment is often the first piece of professional help a manuscript will receive. Your editor will offer you some broad, insightful feedback on major strengths and weaknesses in your plot, characters, or structure.

“In an editorial assessment, the author wouldn’t receive comments and example rewrites in the manuscript,” says genre fiction editor Leah Brown . “Instead, they would receive a letter that focuses on the broad strokes. An editorial assessment is best for an author who is early in the process and whose manuscript may be messier.”

Seeking out an editorial assessment early on will make the job of a developmental and copy edit later down the line much easier. Similarly, they can help you determine whether your work is ready for querying before you contact any literary agents . 

What kind of editing does your book need?

Takes one minute!

Developmental editing — also called content or substantive editing — involves an editor providing detailed feedback on “big-picture” issues. They’ll refine your ideas, shape your narrative, and help you fix any major plot or character inconsistencies to tell you if any elements of your story just don’t work. It’s similar to an editorial assessment but contains much more detail.

“For a developmental edit, I look at some of the larger questions,” says editor Mary-Theresa Hussey . “Why are the characters behaving as they do? What are their motivations? Do these scenes add to the overall story? What is your underlying theme, and how does it change?” 

Your editor will return an annotated manuscript, a marked-up version of the original manuscript with specific suggestions for each issue, and an editorial report. This is essentially a summary of the raw feedback left on the manuscript. 

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Copy editing is the next step after you're certain you've solved your book's big-picture issues. An editor will read your work on the lookout for anything that makes it less readable, like word repetition or character inconsistencies. This type is also known as mechanical or line editing, depending on its particular application.

“ A copy editor’s job is to bring the author’s completed manuscript to a more professional level,” says editor Chersti Nieveen . “A copy edit helps create the most readable version of your book, improving clarity, coherency, consistency, and correctness. The goal is to bridge any remaining gaps between the author’s intent and the reader’s understanding.”

What elements do copy editors consider?

A copy editor examines and corrects the following elements in your work:

• Capitalization
• Word usage and repetition
• Dialogue tags
• Usage of numbers or numerals
• POV /tense (to fix any unintentional shifts)
• Descriptive inconsistencies (character descriptions, locations, blocking, etc.)

It’d be pretty distracting to your reader if you constantly misuse dialogue tags or misspell the word “restaurant.” Copy editing ensures that errors like these don’t happen, so your writing is as strong as possible, and your reader remains 100% focused on the story. They can also help make sure that you’re using the right terminology and that you’re using inclusive language in your writing.

Is line editing the same as copy editing? 

People often use "line editing" and "copy editing" interchangeably — but they’re not exactly the same thing. To clarify: line editing focuses specifically on the content and flow of your prose. It’s also called 'stylistic editing' since it concentrates on style rather than mechanics.

In other words, it still falls under the umbrella of copy editing but is more precise. While a full copy edit looks at all of the elements listed in the bullets above, a line edit would only consider word usage, POV/tense, and descriptive inconsistencies and provide more detailed suggestions on strengthening the prose.

If you feel incredibly confident about the mechanics of your prose but less so about its flow and style, you might request that your copy editor focus their energy on line editing alone. After all, a proofreader can always catch any minor errors that slip through the cracks.

And speaking of proofreaders...

Proofreading is the last major stage of the editing process. Proofreaders are eagle-eyed inspectors who ensure no spelling or grammar errors make it to the final version of your work. 

Back in the day, an impression of a metal plate would be created as “proof” of a typeset book . But before that happened, it would be triple-checked by the proofreader, who made sure the publisher didn’t churn out thousands of copies of a novel called A Tale of Tow Cities .

Even with modern digital typesetting, proofreaders still often work from physical proofs, often using a language of their own , as they go. They’ll watch out for:

• Inconsistencies in spelling and style;
• Inconsistencies in layout and typography;
• Confusing or awkward page and word breaks;
• Incorrect captioning on any illustrations and page numbers in the contents.

Although most issues will be resolved by this stage, proofreaders still scrutinize the text for anything previous edits might have missed. Hopefully, they don’t find much, but better safe than sorry!

The style sheet

When working with a proofreader, you should provide them with a style sheet that notifies them of any unusual spellings or styles in your manuscript — for example, if you’ve written a fantasy novel and have invented some words. Otherwise, they’ll read your manuscript “blind,” which is still pretty effective but may not incorporate every little detail of your work.

Once they’re done, your proofreader will return a marked-up document for you to revise one final time. After making those changes, you should be ready to send your manuscript into production, either by working with a typesetter or using a free tool like the Reedsy Book Editor to export your ebook .

No matter how thoroughly you research your book, it can still end up with informational inconsistencies — and that's a fact (pun fully intended). Developmental and copy editors can help with this, but at the end of the day, it’s not their responsibility to fact-check.

If you have a lot of niche information in your book, and especially if it’s a topic you’ve never written on before — you might consider getting a designated fact-checker to comb through it. They’ll note all the factual references in your book, then carefully confirm them via external sources; if they find any inaccuracies, they’ll alert you immediately. 

This type of editing is particularly crucial if you’re writing nonfiction (and dedicated nonfiction editors are often experienced fact-checkers too ). But getting a trained eye on your manuscript can also be very helpful for historical fiction and hard sci-fi works.

Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your book is the same — a quick self-edit won’t be enough if you want to be a successful author (whatever that means to you). An outside perspective from a professional editor, will help you lay the foundation the right way. With that in mind, you’re ready to go forth and conquer the world — the world of editing!

To learn how to find an editor to work on your book, proceed to the next post in this series.

3 responses

Emily Bradley says:

08/05/2019 – 12:28

A good editor would have caught the fact that that those are lilac blossoms over the book, not lavender. :)

29/06/2019 – 15:50

Are these out of order? Would you get copy-editing before line editing?

↪️ Martin Cavannagh replied:

01/07/2019 – 09:04

In terms of the order in which you'd get them — you're right that you'd look at line editing before a strict copy-edit, though realistically a copyeditor in publishing would be doing both, in a way. We'll have a look at swapping these around just for clarity. Thanks, Tom!

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Academic editors can save time and reduce stress for researchers

• About editing
• Editors’ pay rates
• Editing courses
• Types of editing
• IPEd Standards

Academic editing

• Resources for editors
• IngramSpark
• PerfectIt Cloud

Academic editors can save time and stress for writers of academic material, both research students and academics, at all stages of an academic project. Editors can help ensure a smooth transition from research to publication by working with authors to improve language and expression.

Academic editors work on a range of documents, including, but not limited to:

• academic articles
• books and book chapters
• conference papers and academic conference-related material
• working papers
• academic job and promotion applications
• policy recommendations
• grant applications
• survey, interview and data collection materials

An academic editor’s work includes:

• identifying and correcting errors and problems, including in spelling, grammar, terminology and punctuation
• suggesting changes to improve the flow, concision and/or presentation
• ensuring clarity of expression, correct idiom and appropriate tone
• helping with formatting and layout to meet department, journal or grant application instructions
• translating technical language to more general language when needed
• advising on argument and structure (although not usually for theses, which must adhere to the Guidelines )
• creating style sheets and templates
• editing, formatting and converting references to required styles.

IPEd members can find further resources on academic editing via the member-only portal .

On this page, you will find: 

• Guidelines for Editing Research Theses

Indicative costs of academic editing

• Academic editing resources.
• Guidelines for editing research theses

Guidelines for editing research theses outlines the nature and extent of services that professional editors may ethically provide when editing students’ theses and the responsibilities of editors, students and supervisors relevant to editing. The Guidelines applies to all forms of research theses, including an exegesis that may accompany a creative work submitted for examination.

This 2019 edition of the Guidelines has been consolidated and updated after a critical analysis of the previous version by the IPEd Standing Committee on Academic Editing (SCAE), particularly the Guidelines Pod, during 2018.

The revised  Guidelines  has been approved by the IPEd Board and endorsed by the  Australian Council of Graduate Research (collaborator on earlier versions, 2001 and 2010).

The revised  Guidelines  now comprise one document, which replaces the four documents (webpages) that made up the earlier version:

• Editing academic theses  (for editors)
• Engaging a professional editor for your thesis  (for research students)
• When your student wishes to engage an editor  (for supervisors).

Download the  Guidelines [PDF 156KB].

Range of indicative costs for academic editing (excluding GST)

IPEd’s Standing Committee on Academic Editing has developed indicative costs for editing common types of academic work. The table and the notes provide a range of costs to guide potential clients on budgeting.

Updated March 2024.

*Costs are in $A. Australian editors registered for GST are required to charge 10% GST.

Notes on indicative costs

• Because many factors can affect the time and cost of editing academic work, there is no set price for editing a thesis or per page or per 1000 words. Editors set their own prices based on the work required. Clients should provide the work to be edited to editors so editors can provide a quote or guide on the cost.
• Academic work, including theses, can vary greatly in the total length and the editing work required.  IPEd’s  Guidelines for editing research theses  [PDF156 KB] notes that ‘the cost of editing a thesis depends on a range of factors that affect the time needed for editing, including the quality of the writing and the length, complexity and presentation of the thesis’.
• length of the work in words and pages
• editing and proofreading services required, reflecting the English and software skills of the author
• formatting required such as applying styles and generating a table of contents and lists of tables and figures
• number of iterations of editing and proofreading required
• number of tables and figures and the editing or formatting required of the material
• use of reference management software (or not)
• inclusion of material in foreign languages or transcribed material
• inclusion of previously edited and/or published material such as journal papers
• urgency of the editing and specific deadlines
• experience of the editor
• The indicative costs reflect  IPEd’s fair hourly pay rates  for self-employed editors.

Editing services The range of editing services provided can vary depending on the need. An agreement for academic editing between editor and client may refer to IPEd’s  Australian standards for editing practice  or IPEd’s  Guidelines for editing research theses  [PDF 156KB] or use IPEd’s sample agreement  here [DOCX 20KB].

Copy editing can include editing for:

• clarity of expression and flow of the text, such as removing ambiguity, wordiness and needless repetition, and ensuring clear and logical connections between phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections
• correct use of grammar, spelling and punctuation
• appropriate use of idiom, style and tone
• appropriate use of technical and specialised terminology, including discipline-specific items, abbreviations and units of measurement
• consistency in the presentation of illustrations, diagrams and other display items.

Proofreading can include checking that all elements are complete, consistent and correctly placed including:

• completeness of all parts of the work
• consistency in the use of language, style, terminology, numbers, symbols, shortened forms, capitalisation, italics and other mechanics of text
• consistency in the presentation of illustrations and tables
• consistency in the format and layout according to a specified style
• conformity of references and citations to a specified style.

The indicative costs may not include:

• extensive formatting work, particularly if features in Word and reference management software have not been used
• cross-checking of references in the text and the reference list if reference management software has not been used appropriately
• urgent work.

Academic editing resources

• Academic editing FAQs [PDF 128KB]
• Why use an academic editor? [PDF 86KB]
• Summary of the Guidelines [PDF 83KB]
• Self-editing tips for academic writers [PDF 158KB].
• The value of academic editing [PDF 151KB]

Academic Editing and Proofreading

• Tips to Self-Edit Your Dissertation
• Guide to Essay Editing: Methods, Tips, & Examples
• Journal Article Proofreading: Process, Cost, & Checklist
• The A–Z of Dissertation Editing: Standard Rates & Involved Steps
• Research Paper Editing | Guide to a Perfect Research Paper
• Dissertation Proofreading | Definition & Standard Rates
• Thesis Proofreading | Definition, Importance & Standard Pricing
• Research Paper Proofreading | Definition, Significance & Standard Rates
• Essay Proofreading | Options, Cost & Checklist
• Top 10 Paper Editing Services of 2024 (Costs & Features)
• Top 10 Essay Checkers in 2024 (Free & Paid)
• 2024’s Best Proofreaders for Authors, Students & Businesses
• Top 10 English Correctors to Perfect Your Text in 2024
• Top 10 Essay Editing Services of 2024

Academic Research

• Research Paper Outline: Templates & Examples
• How to Write a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Write a Lab Report: Examples from Academic Editors
• Research Methodology Guide: Writing Tips, Types, & Examples
• The 10 Best Essential Resources for Academic Research
• 100+ Useful ChatGPT Prompts for Thesis Writing in 2024
• Best ChatGPT Prompts for Academic Writing (100+ Prompts!)
• Sampling Methods Guide: Types, Strategies, and Examples
• Independent vs. Dependent Variables | Meaning & Examples

Academic Writing & Publishing

• Difference Between Paper Editing and Peer Review
• What are the different types of peer review?
• How to deal with rejection from a journal?
• Editing and Proofreading Academic Papers: A Short Guide
• How to Carry Out Secondary Research
• The Results Section of a Dissertation
• Checklist: Is my Article Ready for Submitting to Journals?
• Types of Research Articles to Boost Your Research Profile
• 8 Types of Peer Review Processes You Should Know
• The Ethics of Academic Research
• How does LaTeX based proofreading work?
• How to Improve Your Scientific Writing: A Short Guide
• Chicago Title, Cover Page & Body | Paper Format Guidelines
• How to Write a Thesis Statement: Examples & Tips
• Chicago Style Citation: Quick Guide & Examples
• The A-Z Of Publishing Your Article in A Journal
• What is Journal Article Editing? 3 Reasons You Need It
• 5 Powerful Personal Statement Examples (Template Included)
• Complete Guide to MLA Format (9th Edition)
• How to Cite a Book in APA Style | Format & Examples
• How to Start a Research Paper | Step-by-step Guide
• APA Citations Made Easy with Our Concise Guide for 2024
• A Step-by-Step Guide to APA Formatting Style (7th Edition)

Top 10 Online Dissertation Editing Services of 2024

• Academic Writing in 2024: 5 Key Dos & Don’ts + Examples
• What Are the Standard Book Sizes for Publishing Your Book?
• MLA Works Cited Page: Quick Tips & Examples
• 2024’s Top 10 Thesis Statement Generators (Free Included!)
• Top 10 Title Page Generators for Students in 2024
• What Is an Open Access Journal? 10 Myths Busted!
• Primary vs. Secondary Sources: Definition, Types & Examples
• How To Write a College Admissions Essay That Stands Out
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• APA Journal Citation: 7 Types, In-Text Rules, & Examples
• What Is Predatory Publishing and How to Avoid It!
• What Is Plagiarism? Meaning, Types & Examples
• How to Write a Strong Dissertation & Thesis Introduction
• How to Cite a Book in MLA Format (9th Edition)
• How to Cite a Website in MLA Format | 9th Edition Rules
• 10 Best AI Conclusion Generators (Features & Pricing)
• Additional Resources
• Plagiarism: How to avoid it in your thesis?
• Final Submission Checklist | Dissertation & Thesis
• 7 Useful MS Word Formatting Tips for Dissertation Writing
• How to Write a MEAL Paragraph: Writing Plan Explained in Detail
• Em Dash vs. En Dash vs. Hyphen: When to Use Which
• The 10 Best Citation Generators in 2024 | Free & Paid Plans!
• 2024’s Top 10 Self-Help Books for Better Living
• Citation and Referencing
• Citing References: APA, MLA, and Chicago
• How to Cite Sources in the MLA Format
• MLA Citation Examples: Cite Essays, Websites, Movies & More
• Citations and References: What Are They and Why They Matter
• APA Headings & Subheadings | Formatting Guidelines & Examples
• Formatting an APA Reference Page | Template & Examples
• Research Paper Format: APA, MLA, & Chicago Style
• How to Create an MLA Title Page | Format, Steps, & Examples
• How to Create an MLA Header | Format Guidelines & Examples
• MLA Annotated Bibliography | Guidelines and Examples
• APA Website Citation (7th Edition) Guide | Format & Examples
• APA Citation Examples: The Bible, TED Talk, PPT & More
• APA Header Format: 5 Steps & Running Head Examples
• APA Title Page Format Simplified | Examples + Free Template
• How to Write an Abstract in MLA Format: Tips & Examples
• 10 Best Free Plagiarism Checkers of 2024 [100% Free Tools]
• 5 Reasons to Cite Your Sources Properly | Avoid Plagiarism!
• Dissertation Writing Guide
• Writing a Dissertation Proposal
• The Acknowledgments Section of a Dissertation
• The Table of Contents Page of a Dissertation
• The Introduction Chapter of a Dissertation
• The Literature Review of a Dissertation
• The Only Dissertation Toolkit You’ll Ever Need!
• 5 Thesis Writing Tips for Master Procrastinators
• How to Write a Dissertation | 5 Tips from Academic Editors
• The Title Page of a Dissertation
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• Tags: dissertation editing , dissertation editing services , dissertation proofreading , dissertation proofreading services , thesis editing services , thesis proofreading services

Are you ready to elevate your dissertation to its full potential? Explore all features of the best dissertation editing services online! Compare their pros and cons to choose the best service for your dissertation. 

We’ve also included the pricing for all dissertation proofreading services. So, without wasting time, let’s dive in! 

1. PaperTrue

PaperTrue provides professional dissertation editing services to ensure your academic documents have clarity, coherence, and a good flow. They also ensure that the dissertation has proper formatting, along with reviewing the dissertation’s content for plagiarism and checking citations. 

PaperTrue’s academic experts check whether the document follows the referencing style guidelines (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, etc). They also remove any spelling mistakes, typographical errors, and grammatical errors. With this, they also identify any literature review gaps and help to substantiate arguments and ideas in dissertations. 

View PaperTrue’s sample edits and get your free one here .

Pricing: Proofreading and editing for a 1000-word document start from $29. 

Scribbr is a well-known academic editing company that offers expert Ph.D. editing and dissertation proofreading services. They have a team of more than 200 native English editors to edit dissertations. Along with correcting any spelling and grammar errors, they also check the document’s formatting, clarity, citations, and structure. 

If your document has more than 20,000 words, they also provide you with a sample edit of 2,000 words. They edit documents in American English, British English, or Australian English, depending on the requirements.

Pricing: It costs $61 to edit and proofread a 1000-word document.

3. Scribendi 

Scribendi provides expert dissertation editing, proposal editing, and thesis editing services. They correct any misspellings, or typographical errors and briefly summarize the work done along with listing down major concerns. With this, they also ensure that the dissertation’s word count is as per the requirements. 

Scribendi enables you to track revisions in your document and gives you a summary of the changes done in your document. They also have secure, encrypted systems to ensure complete confidentiality of your document.

Pricing: A 24-hour proofread of a 1000-word academic text will cost you about US $44.69

4. Editage  

Editage is one of the best dissertation proofreader services. They edit dissertations in American English or British English, as per the requirements.

They offer various packages for editing like advanced editing, scientific editing, and premium editing for your dissertation. Their premium and scientific editing packages include unlimited rounds of free re-editing. However, their dissertation copyediting services do not include rephrasing the content and verifying the dissertation’s references.

Pricing: You can have your papers checked with Editage for $68 per 1000 words.

5. Enago  

Enago is a global academic editing company that offers high-quality dissertation and thesis proofreading services. They offer two packages: Thesis Essentials and Thesis Pro. Both packages include the standard spelling, grammar, academic style review, and plagiarism check. However, the Thesis Pro includes extra features like a clarity check, structure check, and advanced recommendations. They also offer features like formatting references and one round of revision free in the Pro package, which you’ll have to pay for if you choose the Essentials package. 

Along with these services, Enago also offers additional services like an Editing certificate, thesis expert summary report, plagiarism check, and expert ratings for your dissertation report. 

Pricing: The cost for substantive editing of a 1000-word document is $173.

6. Kibin  

While Kibin primarily focuses on essay editing services, it also provides dissertation editing services. They enhance your dissertation’s sentence structure, idea flow, and logic along with the standard round of grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks. With this, they also check, proofread, and edit your dissertation’s references and citations at no extra cost. 

They also offer additional tools like a free Paper Grader and a Thesis statement generator. With expert English editors from diverse backgrounds, they are a reliable service to work with.

Pricing: A standard editing affair of 24 hours for a 1000 word document is priced at the US $40.

7. Capstone Editing 

Capstone Editing is a trusted company offering dissertation editing services for students, universities, and academics. They are one of the few companies that offer an after-pay service. They ensure that the dissertation’s formatting, referencing, and academic style are as per the guidelines. 

They edit the document in British or US English as per the requirements. With this, their expert editors also strengthen your dissertation’s arguments. They also check your in-text citations and edit and format your appendices to ensure consistency.

Pricing: The price to edit and proofread a 1000-word document in 48 hours is $295.05. 

8. Wordvice  

Wordvice has a team of more than 500 native-English editors to edit dissertations. They rephrase any complex sentences, also improving the document’s logical flow and readability. With this, they also correct any improper use of symbols and abbreviations. 

Their editors are comfortable with editing your document as per the required referencing style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc). They also offer extensive feedback and suggestions to enhance your dissertation.

Pricing: It costs $88 to edit a 1000-word document in 24 hours. 

9. EliteEditing  

Australia’s most trusted academic editing company has world-class, PhD-qualified editors to provide you with dissertation editing services. Along with reviewing the document’s spelling and grammar, they also fact-check the graphs and data representations. 

Their editors are native English speakers, many of whom have degrees from top-tier US universities. They also ensure complete confidentiality of your document. The editors return each piece of reviewed work with a comprehensive letter that explains all the changes made to your document and advice on how to improve it further.

Pricing: You will have to shell out $27.80 for basic editing of a 1000-word document with a turnaround time of 24 hours.

10. Proofed 

Proofed has a dedicated team of professional editors to enhance your dissertation. They offer 24/7 support, and your document is proofread by at least 2 editors. With this, they also give customers the option of creating a corporate account. Once your account is created, you can directly get updates via email. 

For any queries, they also offer efficient customer service from Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. With this, they also provide fast turnaround times if you want to submit documents within tight deadlines.

Pricing: It costs $30 to edit and proofread a 1000-word document. 

Now that you know the top online thesis and dissertation editing services, you can choose the best. As a leader in dissertation editing services , we’d love to help you perfect your dissertation. 

Here are some other articles that you might find useful: 

• The A–Z of Dissertation Editing: Standard Rates & Involved Steps
• The Research Methodology Section of a Dissertation

Frequently Asked Questions

What do dissertation editing services offer, do editing services guarantee error-free dissertations, are these services confidential, will the editor change the content of my dissertation, how much does dissertation editing cost.

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5 comments on “ Top 10 Online Dissertation Editing Services of 2024 ”

Dissertation editing is an essential service and this blog helps you find the best company for it. Awesome work!

I’d like to know more about services and payment information

Hi Adarsh! You can visit our website to know more about our services. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any more questions.

Thanks for the information, especially on grammar checker apps.

A very helpful blog you have posted on dissertation editing services. As this is a very much-needed service, your editing will help a lot.

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Reliable l Hassle-free l Expert Guided Struggling to draft your thesis with a solid logical foundation and clarity? Our team of experts is standing by to help you succeed!

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We find the best thesis editing expert that matches your needs based on your field of study, choice of service, and preferences. The expert will work on your thesis and send you the edited thesis ready for submission. If our expert has queries or suggestions, they will let you know so you can implement them before submission.

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You have put in years of hard work toward your Master’s or Ph.D.; the last thing you need is to have your work critiqued due to imperfect language and structure. Our editing experts help you eliminate grammar and language mistakes and enhance the overall presentation of your thesis.  Choose either Thesis Essentials or Thesis Pro service based on your unique requirements.

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Get a thorough copy editing and proofreading service that checks and corrects grammatical and vocabulary errors, improves punctuation and technical terms, and sharpens your thesis writing. Your editor will also provide a summary report and a rate card on your writing style.

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Our experienced editors will ensure proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and academic style while improving clarity, concision, and transitions in your writing. Your edited thesis/dissertation will have good readability and a proper academic tone, allowing your examiners to assess your research and studies easily.

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We will format your thesis according to your submission guidelines or designated style guide. This includes template application and implementation of page layout, heading, and numbering styles. We can also format your end-list references and check your cross-referencing.

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Our editors will insert comments with suggestions for enhancements and request clarifications at appropriate instances. They will also assess your strengths and weaknesses in the Thesis Rating Card and Thesis Expert Summary to help you sharpen your academic writing skills.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should i choose thesis pro or thesis essentials +.

Thesis Essentials provides a thorough grammar and language revision, so you won't have to worry about basic language mistakes. It is suitable for students who are confident in their writing and/or under close guidance from their research advisers. Thesis Pro gives you more holistic editing that not only ensures your manuscript is free of error but also enhances its content presentation.

How is Thesis Editing different from other Enago editing services? +

Enago offers 3 academic editing services- Top Impact Scientific Editing ,  Substantive Editing , and  Copy Editing - targeting authors who wish to publish their research in international journals. Two to three editors edit each manuscript in the same research field for precise adherence to academic publishing conventions. These services also provide additional support for journal submission, including revision against peer reviewers' comments.

Will your experts fix issues in the content and structure of my thesis? +

Our thesis services may be equated to proofreading (Thesis Essentials) and copy editing (Thesis Pro). Neither of these services offers content edits or structural reviews. However, our experts will point out the issues they notice in Thesis Pro.

Can you format my thesis as per the required referencing style? Are your editors familiar with citation styles? +

Even though there are many distinct citation/reference formats, they all generally adhere to one of three basic principles: parenthetical, numerical, or note citations. Our thesis editors are well-versed with your institution's regulations and have over 10 years of experience in thesis editing & formatting.

Is there a thesis editing discount? I am a student. +

We offer a flat 15% off on our thesis editing services regardless of the word count of your paper, our thesis editing rates start at 18 cents/word because we understand that students are on a tight budget.

Can I get a Thesis Editing Samples? +

Yes, if your thesis is more than 10,000 words, you will receive a sample of about 200 words. This example edit gives you an idea of the editor's editing approach as well as an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. Alternatively, you can check our editing sample here .  How does the sample edit work? After placing your order via the free trial form , you will receive the sample edit within 24 hours. You will then have 24 hours to let us know if you are satisfied with the sample or if there is anything you would like the editor to change.  

Are you ready for professional thesis editing?

Table of Contents

Developmental Editing

Evaluation editing, content editing, line editing, copyediting, proofreading, what are the different types of editing.

Every book needs editing . The question is: what type of editing do you need for your book?

Well, it depends.

It gets confusing because there are many different types of editing, but no agreed-upon definitions for those different types in the editing process.

I’m going to fix that for you. I’ll lay out the common definitions of all the different types of editing , then explain when it’s appropriate to use each one.

(Also called: conceptual editing or manuscript appraisal.)

A developmental edit happens early in the writing process, often when an author has an idea for a book or a rough outline , but they need help bringing the pieces together.

A developmental editor looks at the big picture with your book, focusing on organization and structure more than word choice, punctuation, and grammar . They help ensure your arguments line up, reduce inconsistency, that your stories are in the right place, and that everything flows.

Are you leaving out any key details? Is there irrelevant material that needs to be cut?

These are the types of questions a developmental editor should answer for you, along with helping you fix what’s not working and amp up what’s working well in your book.

Keep in mind that developmental editors don’t do any writing or rewriting. They might make suggestions, but their job is to help you become a better writer by explaining how to organize your ideas, structure your book’s content, and transition smoothly between ideas.

They’ll help you see your book the way your readers will see it and provide feedback that is aimed at helping you craft a book people will enjoy reading.

If you’re a seasoned author or have confidence in the manuscript you’ve created, you likely don’t need to hire a developmental editor. But if you need help taking your ideas and forming them into a book, developmental editing can be a major help.

(In the Scribe Professional process, this is very similar to what you do in the Positioning and Roadmap phases.)

(Also called: manuscript critique or structural edit.)

With an evaluation edit, a professional editor looks at your manuscript to assess structure, flow, completeness, and overall quality. The editor will usually provide you with a short memo that summarizes their key points, areas of concern, and suggestions for your book.

They’ll also mark up your manuscript at a high level, making note of any structural concerns or questions they have. Similar to a developmental editor, they’re not as focused on the finer details of your writing, but rather any big picture issues.

If you receive a glowing evaluation, your book might be ready for copyediting and proofreading.

If the editor says your book’s organization and structure need serious work, you might need a developmental editor.

If the structure is sound but your writing needs work, you might need a line edit or content edit to strengthen your manuscript.

An evaluation edit is a safeguard that keeps you from paying for later stage edits (described below) or trying to publish your book before it’s ready.

There is some overlap between developmental editing and evaluation editing, with the key difference being that you need a finished manuscript for an evaluation edit.

You can come to a developmental editor with or without a book, but if you want an evaluation editor to assess your work, you need to have a finished manuscript to show them.

(Also called: substantive editing or full editing.)

Whereas developmental and evaluation edits look mainly at big picture issues, a content edit is the level at which an editor also starts to dig into the words on the page.

In addition to evaluating the structure of your book, a content editor reads and carefully edits the manuscript with an eye on the completeness, flow, and construction of ideas and stories, working paragraph by paragraph and chapter by chapter.

A content editor should provide you with a paragraph-level set of markups on your manuscript, offering corrections, pointing out incomplete sections, and offering advice on smoothing the flow and construction of your chapters, sections, and subsections.

A key focus for a content edit should also be the tone and voice of your manuscript. A content editor should be aware of your target audience to ensure that the way your content comes off (tone) is a good fit for that audience, and that the writing sounds like you (voice). They help refine your language for your intended audience.

The key difference between a content edit and a line edit (two terms that are often used interchangeably) is that a content edit is not as detailed as a line edit. It exists between the high-level view of a developmental or evaluation edit, and the ground-level view that a line editor takes as they work through each line of your manuscript.

A content editor won’t move your chapters around, but they will move sections or paragraphs around within your chapters, move content to different chapters, or delete content entirely.

Think of it this way: a developmental or evaluation editor helps you build the house (the book) and figure out which rooms (chapters) should go where.

With those rooms in place, the content editor’s job is to help you arrange the furniture (sections and paragraphs) inside those rooms in a way that’s appealing.

Unlike line editors, they’re not concerned with the decorations (sentences).

(Also called: stylistic edit or comprehensive edit.)

As the name implies, a line editor performs a line-by-line review of your manuscript. Up to this point, the editors have worked on your manuscript at a high level—either the macro level where they consider the entire book, or the chapter and paragraph level.

The line editor jumps into the manuscript with both feet, providing the most detailed edit you can get. Notice that I didn’t say “comprehensive.” A great line editor will make your prose sing, but if your content isn’t structured properly, it won’t matter.

That’s why it’s important not to jump in with line editing before your book has the proper structure and organization in place and your content is where it needs to be.

A line editor is down in the weeds, so they’re not looking at the big picture. They’re focusing on word choice and whether each sentence has the intended impact.

Like other editors, they focus on your book’s flow, but they’re more concerned with how each word in a sentence interacts with the others and how sentences flow into each other.

Line editors point out run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and clichés. They help you clarify meaning, eliminate jargon, and ensure that each sentence sounds right in the reader’s mind.

They also push back against the natural inclination many of us have toward wordiness by tightening your sentences and helping you say in five words what you initially said in fifteen.

A line editor is not as concerned with errors, but rather the words you use to communicate with your reader. They want your writing to be short, simple, concise, and about the reader—the essential writing principles of great non-fiction.

That said, a line editor may perform the duties of a copyeditor, but it’s not a given. If you want an editor who can provide this kind of all-in-one service, clarify that desire up front.

When you have a finished manuscript—and I mean completely finished, not one that’s close to done or has a few gaps to fill in—it’s time to hire a copyeditor.

A copyeditor will meticulously go through your book and find the spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes.

That’s right—no matter how confident you are that your manuscript is mistake free, there are mistakes in there.

When you read your book out loud (which all authors should do), you’ll catch the sloppy mistakes and wording issues, but you’ll miss the stuff that copyeditors search for: small grammatical rules that native English speakers often don’t even realize exist.

There is a lot of data on this, but average people only detect about 60 percent of errors, and even professionals usually only catch about 85 percent. That’s why copyediting and the next type of editing (proofreading) should be in tandem.

Copyeditors not only find mistakes, they also check that your book follows the style guide appropriate for your genre (most books use the Chicago Manual of Style ).

Even if you think having your neighbor read through your book is enough to find all the spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes (which it’s not), unless that neighbor is a professional copyeditor, they won’t know how to style your book correctly.

The kinds of mistakes copyeditors catch are not life threatening, but they make the difference between a professional book and one that comes across as amateur.

Although the terms “copyediting” and “proofreading” are often used interchangeably, they describe different processes that benefit your book in unique ways.

A proofreader takes the printed version of your book after it’s been designed and formatted (called a “proof) and gives it a final review before the book goes to print. Since it comes right before publication, proofreading is the last line of defense against errors.

You should always have your manuscript copyedited before it goes to layout, and then always have your book professionally formatted before it goes to a proofreader.

Here’s why: like a copyeditor, a proofreader looks for typos and misplaced punctuation, but also searches for layout issues like page numbering, consistency with headings, placement of tables of figures in the text, bad line or page breaks, and more.

A proofreader isn’t looking to fix your content—just correct any errors they see.

Because so much published writing lives online nowadays, many editorial teams don’t bother with proofreaders and just use copyeditors to get content ready for publication. However, many will still ask for the copy to be proofread before it’s published.

That’s why confusion exists about how copyediting and proofreading differ. If you want to break it down, here’s an easy way to remember the difference:

Copyeditors catch all the mistakes the author missed.

Proofreaders catch all the mistakes the copyeditor missed.

What Type of Editing Does Your Book Need?

Now that we’ve walked through the different types of editing, you should have a better idea which ones are appropriate for your book based on your needs as an author.

At the very least, you need to hire a professional copyeditor and proofreader to ensure readers can enjoy the book you worked hard to write without being distracted by dozens of typos.

The Scribe Crew

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Writing a thesis is a critical component of many PhD courses in the UK, requiring meticulous attention to detail and adherence to a specific format. Understanding the thesis writing format and accessing the right assistance can make the process more manageable. This article explores whether writing a thesis format is easy and provides comprehensive guidelines for success.

Thesis Writing Format

A thesis writing format refers to the structured layout and guidelines that a thesis must follow. This format ensures that the document is organised, clear, and meets academic standards. A typical thesis structure includes several key components:

• Title Page : Includes the thesis title, author’s name, institution, department, and date of submission.
• Abstract : A brief summary of the research, including the purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions.
• Table of Contents : Lists all sections and sub-sections with page numbers.
• Introduction : Introduces the research topic, objectives, and significance.
• Literature Review : Reviews existing research and identifies gaps the thesis will address.
• Methodology : Describes the research design, methods, and procedures used.
• Results : Presents the research findings.
• Discussion : Interprets the results, explaining their implications and limitations.
• Conclusion : Summarises the main findings and suggests future research directions.
• References : Lists all sources cited in the thesis.
• Appendices : Includes supplementary material such as raw data, questionnaires, or additional notes.

Writing a Thesis Format is Easy

While the thesis writing format may seem daunting at first, understanding and following the structured guidelines can simplify the process. You have to consider that during a PhD, you’ll have 3 to 4 years to write a thesis. By breaking down the task into manageable sections and systematically addressing each component, PhD students can make thesis writing more approachable. Additionally, adhering to the format ensures that the thesis is well-organised, which can facilitate the writing and review process.

Thesis Writing Assistance

For many students, seeking thesis writing assistance can be invaluable. This assistance can come in various forms:

• Academic Advisors : Professors, in particular your supervisors, can provide guidance on research design, methodology, and writing strategies.
• Writing Centres : Many institutions have writing centres where students can receive help with structure, grammar, and clarity.
• Peer Support : Collaborating with peers can offer new perspectives and feedback on the thesis.
• Professional Services : There are professional thesis writing services that offer comprehensive support, from editing to full writing assistance.

Thesis Format

The thesis format is a crucial aspect of the writing process. It ensures consistency and adherence to academic standards. Each institution may have its own specific formatting guidelines, which students must follow meticulously. These guidelines often cover aspects such as font size, margin width, citation style, and headings. Familiarising yourself with these requirements early on can save time and prevent the need for extensive revisions later.

The Bottom Line

Thesis writing is a rigorous process that requires dedication, time management, and a systematic approach. Breaking down the process into smaller tasks can make it more manageable. Regularly consulting with advisors, staying organised, and adhering to a clear schedule are key strategies for successful thesis writing. Additionally, using tools such as reference management software can help streamline the process of citing sources and creating a bibliography.

How to Make Thesis Writing an Easy Task

To conclude, while the thesis writing format may initially seem complex, it becomes easier with a clear understanding of the structure and requirements. Seeking assistance, adhering to guidelines, and approaching the process systematically can significantly ease the burden of thesis writing. With proper planning and support, writing a thesis can be a rewarding and intellectually enriching experience, especially if you can get it published after your PhD.

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Revising and Editing Tutorial

Editing checklist, revision video.

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Revising and editing ensure a paper communicates its message effectively. This process involves examining the content, structure, and mechanics of writing. Revising focuses on coherence, logical flow, and organization. Editing refines language use, such as word choice, sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation. Considering these aspects, revising and editing enhance the paper's quality, making it more compelling and readable.

This detailed tutorial emphasizes the importance of revising and editing, highlighting how they significantly improve a paper's coherence, organization, and language use, thus making it more compelling and readable.

Revising and Editing opens a new window

When you revise or edit a paper, focus on the  ideas, organization, grammar , spelling,  and   punctuation .

Check ideas and organization

• Is my thesis statement concise and clear?
• Did I follow my outline?
• Are my arguments presented in a logical sequence?
• Are all of the items in my reference page cited in my text?
• Are all of the items cited in my text in my reference page?
• Did I use the proper APA style?
• Have I proved my thesis with strong supporting arguments?
• Have I made my intentions and points clear in the essay? Are my arguments well-supported and well-reasoned? Did I have another reader review my paper?

Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation

• Are there ideas I could express more concisely and in fewer words?
• Do subjects and verbs agree?
• Do pronouns and their antecedents agree in number and gender?
• Words such as  there, they're,  and   their  are commonly misused. Did I use the correct forms?
• Did I avoid writing with  I  and  you  for an academic paper?
• To avoid repetition, I should vary the beginnings of my sentences. Did I avoid starting two sentences with the same word in the paragraph?
• Did I use transition words when moving from one concept to the next? These are words like:  first, second, then, however, therefore, in addition...
• Did I check for spelling?

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• Last Updated: Jun 18, 2024 2:06 PM
• URL: https://guides.rasmussen.edu/writingpaper

• HEALTH & FITNESS

After 4 rounds of chemotherapy, Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella rings the bell

Isabella Strahan, the daughter of "Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan, is celebrating a major milestone nearly six months after publicly revealing she had been diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

The 20-year-old shared in a vlog on her YouTube channel that she recently completed her final round of chemotherapy.

"This (has been) a long journey but I made it," she said. "And now I have to recover and get back to my usual state, which is going to take a long time, but I'm done with treatments."

Friends, family and hospital staff celebrated Isabella Strahan's accomplishment with a confetti parade at the hospital.

SEE ALSO: Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella reveals brain tumor battle

She then rang the bell to signify the end of chemotherapy, summing up the celebration as a "great day."

Michael Strahan took to Instagram to celebrate his daughter's milestone in her fight against cancer.

"@isabellastrahan you are a SUPERWOMAN! Ringing that bell finishing chemo and on your way!" he captioned a video of her ringing the bell. "You continue to fight with a smile on your face, strength, and determination. I am one proud Dad! Love you, Bella."

Isabella Strahan was a freshman at the University of Southern California when an MRI scan in October led to her diagnosis of medulloblastoma, a cancerous and fast-growing brain tumor that develops in the cerebellum, the back of the brain where movement and coordination are controlled, according to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University, where she is being treated.

SEE ALSO: Isabella Strahan shares positive update in brain tumor battle

Medulloblastoma is a type of malignant tumor that accounts for about 20% of all childhood brain tumors, according to estimates published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. About 300 children are diagnosed with medulloblastoma each year.

After undergoing brain surgery in late October, Isabella Strahan underwent rehabilitation followed by six weeks of radiation treatment.

She began chemotherapy in February and said she endured side effects including fatigue, hair loss and brain fog, and was hospitalized several times due to setbacks including fevers.

For the past six months, Isabella Strahan has shared the ups and downs of her health journey on her YouTube channel, an effort she said she started to help raise awareness about brain tumors, especially in kids.

"With my platform, I hope to just kind of be a voice and be a person who people who maybe are going through something similar, going through chemotherapy or radiation, can look at and just hear and just watch, or find something interesting about their day," she said on "GMA" in January. "I'm just excited for that."

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• CHILDREN'S HEALTH

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Free Online Proofreader

Try our other writing services

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• Proofread on 100+ language issues
• Specialized in academic texts
• Corrections directly in your document

Instantly correct your entire document in minutes

Nobody's perfect all the time—and now, you don’t have to be!

There are times when you just want to write without worrying about every grammar or spelling convention. The online proofreader immediately finds all of your errors. This allows you to concentrate on the bigger picture. You’ll be 100% confident that your writing won’t affect your grade.

What does a proofreader do?

The proofreading process is your last chance to catch any errors in your writing before you submit it. A proofreader makes sure your spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors are reviewed and fixed. This can be done automatically by an AI-powered tool like the one at the top of this page or by a real human. Both options have their advantages, so pick the one that suits you most.

Fix mistakes that slip under your radar

✔ Fix problems with commonly confused words, like affect vs. effect, which vs. that and who vs. that.

✔ Catch words that sound similar but aren’t, like their vs. they’re, your vs. you’re.

✔ Check your punctuation to avoid errors with dashes and hyphens, commas, apostrophes, and more.

✔ Avoid sentence fragments, subject-verb agreement errors, and problems with parallelism.

How does the proofreader work?

The online proofreader.

It’s really straightforward. Just paste the text into the tool. All your errors will now be underlined in red. You can hover over these mistakes to see how they can be addressed. If you agree, just click on the button “Fix all errors,” and your mistakes will be fixed instantly! 

The professional proofreader

Upload your entire document first. Choose the pages you want proofread, the extra services you want to use, and the deadline. Then fill in some key details like your field of study so that we can find you the best proofreader. When you’re done, you pay for your order, and we make sure that your writing is checked by a proofreader. You’ll be contacted when the job is done!

Who should use this proofreader?

Avoid a bad grade and hand in your documents with absolute confidence.

Businesspeople

Look like a pro by writing error-free emails, reports, and more.

Ensure your work is clear and readable to increase the chance that it’ll get published.

Want your whole document checked and corrected in a matter of minutes?

Would you like to upload your entire document and check all your documents for 100+ language issues? Then Scribbr’s AI-powered proofreading is perfect for you.

With AI-powered proofreading, you can correct your text in no time.

• Upload document
• Wait briefly while all errors are corrected directly in your document
• Correct errors with one click

Proofread my document

Fantastic service!!

“Excellent review of a paper that was deciding my grade. I appreciate both the edits and the feedback to increase my knowledge of correct APA formatting and accurate citations. I needed the paper returned quickly, and the team worked hard to make sure I had what I needed. I just got my grade back, A+. I would 100% use this service again, it was worth every penny!!!!!!”

A proofreader for everyone

Don’t let typos and grammar keep you down. Make your writing count

Ask our team.

Want to contact us directly? No problem.  We  are always here for you.

• Email [email protected]
• Start live chat
• Call +1 (510) 822-8066
• WhatsApp +31 20 261 6040

Frequently asked questions

Our support team is here to help you daily via chat, WhatsApp, email, or phone between 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CET.

Yes! Our personal statement editors can help you reduce your word count by up to 25%. You can choose to receive this feedback through direct edits or suggestions in comments – just select your choice when you upload your personal statement.

Our APA experts default to APA 7 for editing and formatting. For the Citation Editing Service you are able to choose between APA 6 and 7.

It is not necessary to reserve a time slot for your edit. As soon as your document is ready to be proofread, you can upload it at any time via our website . Based on your chosen deadline, our editor(s) will then proofread your document within 24 hours, 3 days, or 7 days.

If you are unsure about the availability of our services or are planning to upload a very large document (>13,000 words) with a 24 hour deadline, we recommend that you contact us beforehand via chat or email .

Scribbr is following the guidelines announced by the WHO (World Health Organization). As an online platform, all our services remain available, and we will continue to help students as usual.

Can I still place an order? Will my order be completed within the deadline? Yes, you can still place orders and orders will be delivered within the agreed upon deadline. Scribbr is an online platform – our proofreading & editing services are provided by editors working remotely from all over the world. This means Scribbr can guarantee that we will process your order with the same diligence and professionalism as always. The same holds true for our Plagiarism Checker .

Can I still contact customer support? Yes. Our support team is available from 09.00 to 23.00 CET and happy to answer any questions you might have!

Yes, if your document is longer than 20,000 words, you will get a sample of approximately 2,000 words. This sample edit gives you a first impression of the editor’s editing style and a chance to ask questions and give feedback.

How does the sample edit work?

You will receive the sample edit within 12 hours after placing your order. You then have 24 hours to let us know if you’re happy with the sample or if there’s something you would like the editor to do differently.

Read more about how the sample edit works

When you upload a large document (20,000+ words), we will ask your editor to send a sample edit of approximately 2,000 words as soon as possible. This sample edit gives you a first impression of your editor’s editing style and what you can expect from the service. You will receive it within 12 hours after uploading your order.

Why do we provide you with a sample edit?

We always aim to make you 100% happy, and Proofreading & Editing is a complex service. We want to make sure that our editing style meets your expectations before the editor improves your entire document.

Our editors are trained to follow Scribbr’s academic style . However, your preferences might deviate from our conventions. The sample edit gives you the chance to provide feedback – you can let us know if you’re happy with the sample or if there’s something you would like the editor to do differently.

Once your editor has completed your sample edit, you will receive a notification via email. You have 24 hours to reply to this email and provide us with feedback. If we receive your feedback in time, your editor will go the extra mile and adjust the edit according to your input.

What sort of feedback can you give?

Give us feedback that will help your editor meet your requirements. For example:

• “I am completely happy. The editor can continue editing like this.”
• “I forgot to mention that my school has the following rules for gendered pronouns.”
• “The editor changed the spelling of a technical term, but my professor spells it differently. Please keep the original spelling of this term.”

The  Structure  and Clarity Check can only be purchased in conjunction with Proofreading & Editing . Providing feedback on structure and clarity requires extensive knowledge of the text, which the editor acquires while proofreading and editing your text.

However, our Paper Formatting Service,   Citation Editing Service and Plagiarism Checker can be purchased separately.

Yes, Scribbr will proofread the summary in another language as well.

Who will proofread my summary?

If your document contains a summary in a different language, we will send this part to another editor who is a native speaker of that language. The editor will check your summary, applying our standard Proofreading & Editing service.

If you ordered any additional services, such as the Structure Check or Clarity Check, the editor will not apply them to your summary. This is because the summary is a translation of your abstract – you already receive Structure and Clarity feedback on the text in the original language. Therefore, when proofreading your summary, the editor will focus on making sure your language and style is correct.

How does it work?

We will create a new assignment within your order and send you a confirmation email. This also means that you will receive a separate email/SMS notification from us when the editor has finished proofreading your summary. Once your summary is proofread, you can download it via your Scribbr account and read the editor’s feedback.

Yes, we can provide a certificate of proofreading.

As soon as the editor delivers the edit, you can email us at [email protected] to request a certificate.

Please indicate the following in your email:

• Your order number
• Your full name
• The title of your work

We will create a PDF certificate and email it to you as soon as possible.

Scribbr specializes in editing study-related documents . We proofread:

• PhD dissertations
• Research proposals
• Personal statements
• Admission essays
• Motivation letters
• Reflection papers
• Journal articles
• Capstone projects

Yes, when you accept all changes and delete all comments your document is ready to be handed in.

How to accept all changes:

• Word for Mac 2011

How to remove all comments:

When you’ve finished this, others will no longer be able to see the changes made by the editor.

• Read your last version one last time to make sure everything is the way you want it.
• Save your document as a .pdf file to come across more professional and to ensure the format of your document doesn’t change.

Yes, in the order process you can indicate your preference for American, British, or Australian English .

If you don’t choose one, your editor will follow the style of English you currently use. If your editor has any questions about this, we will contact you.

Yes, you can upload your thesis in sections.

We try our best to ensure that the same editor checks all the different sections of your thesis. When you upload a new file, our system recognizes you as a returning customer, and we immediately contact the editor who helped you before.

However, we cannot guarantee that the same editor will be available. Your chances are higher if

• You send us your text as soon as possible and
• You can be flexible about the deadline.

Please note that the shorter your deadline is, the bigger the risk that your previous editor is not available.

If your previous editor isn’t available, then we will inform you immediately and look for another qualified editor. Fear not! Every Scribbr editor follows the  Scribbr Improvement Model  and will deliver high-quality work.

However, every editor has a slightly different editing style, so you may notice small inconsistencies in editing choices. As with every proofreading order, be sure to carefully review your editor’s changes and suggestions as you finalize your text to ensure that everything is as you want it.

The fastest turnaround time is 12 hours.

You can upload your document at any time and choose between four deadlines:

At Scribbr, we promise to make every customer 100% happy with the service we offer. Our philosophy: Your complaint is always justified – no denial, no doubts.

Our customer support team is here to find the solution that helps you the most, whether that’s a free new edit or a refund for the service.

Every Scribbr order comes with our award-winning Proofreading & Editing service , which combines two important stages of the revision process.

For a more comprehensive edit, you can add a Structure Check or Clarity Check to your order. With these building blocks, you can customize the kind of feedback you receive.

You might be familiar with a different set of editing terms. To help you understand what you can expect at Scribbr, we created this table:

View an example

Scribbr not only specializes in proofreading and editing texts in English , but also in several other languages . This way, we help out students from all over the world.

As a global academic writing proofreading service, we work with professional editors  – all native speakers – who edit in the following languages :

This way, you can also have your academic writing proofread and edited in your second language!

Please note that we do not offer Finnish proofreading, but students can still upload English papers on scribbr.fi .

Yes, regardless of the deadline you choose, our editors can proofread your document during weekends and holidays.

Example: If you select the 12-hour service on Saturday, you will receive your edited document back within 12 hours on Sunday.

The footnotes are not automatically included in the word count.

If you want the language errors in your footnotes to be corrected by the editor, you can indicate this in step 3 of the upload process . The words in the footnotes are then automatically added to the total word count.

Need help with your references?

• If you use the APA reference style, you can use our free APA Citation Generator or the articles about APA in our Knowledge Base.
• If you’d like us to check your references for consistency, you can use our Citation Editing Service .

To keep our prices competitive, we do not offer a free trial edit. However, if your document is longer than 30,000 words, we are happy to provide you with a sample edit of 2,000 words to ensure you are satisfied with the editor’s editing style.

Rest assured, our customers are very satisfied with our proofreading services. We’re proud that they have rated us with an excellent 4.6 on Trustpilot. In the unlikely event that you have a less positive experience, we’ll solve that with our 100% happiness guarantee !

After your thesis has been edited , you will receive an email with a link to download the edited document.

The editor has made changes to your document using ‘ Track Changes ’ in Word.  This means that you only have to accept or ignore the changes that are made in the text one by one.

It is also possible to accept all changes at once. However, we strongly advise you not to do so for the following reasons:

• You can learn much by looking at what mistakes you have made.
• The editors do not only change the text, they also place comments when sentences or sometimes even entire paragraphs are unclear. We therefore advise you to read through these comments and take into account your editor’s tips and suggestions.
• Because of the many changes, sometimes there may be double spaces, double periods, or other minor mistakes in a sentence. Checking the changes one by one, you can easily detect these minor errors.

We have written a manual in which we explain step by step how ‘Track Changes’ works.

Check out an example

Our editors are very experienced and will do their utmost to correct all errors in your thesis .

However, with our current rates, an editor can only check your thesis once. This may cause an editor to overlook an error. We can therefore not guarantee that your thesis is 100% error free after you have had your thesis edited.

The editor uses ‘Track Changes’ in Word when editing your thesis.

Don’t know how this works? Then read the following guide  in which we explain step by step how ‘Track Changes’ works.

No, we do not provide you with a clean copy. You will always receive a file edited with tracked changes .

We do this for two main reasons:

• In most papers, there are sentences that the editor cannot edit without additional information from the author. In these cases, your editor will provide guidance but leave you to implement the feedback. If we were to simply accept the changes for you, then these issues would be left unaddressed.
• We believe students should be accountable for their work. Our editors can correct language errors and coach you to be a better writer. However, the end product belongs to you and should reflect your ideas and decisions.

All Scribbr editors are language experts with interests in different subject areas.

You can indicate your field of study when you upload your document . We’ll make sure that the editor who proofreads your work is familiar with your discipline and its specialist vocabulary.

These are the fields of study you can choose from, and examples of the main subjects in each field:

• Business and Management: Business Administration, Hotel Management, Accountancy, Marketing
• Economics: Business Economics, Econometrics, Finance
• IT and Engineering: ICT, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Industrial Design, Electrical Engineering
• Natural and Life Sciences: Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Chemistry
• Geography, Agriculture and Environment: Ecology, Earth Sciences, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning
• Health and Medical Sciences: Medicine, Obstetrics, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Dentistry
• Arts and Humanities: Philosophy, History, Literature, Cultural Studies, Theology
• Law and Policy: Law, Political Science, Public Policy, Human Rights
• Social and Behavioral Sciences: Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Communication Sciences

Editors don’t have to be experts in the content of your paper, but they do know how to present it in the best way possible! Our goal is to improve your writing and give you feedback on the readability, structure, logic, and clarity of your text. We know from experience that the most effective editors are specialists in language and academic writing.

We’ve carefully selected and trained all of our editors to proofread theses and other academic documents. Once they’re qualified, we continue to carefully monitor their work to make sure we always deliver the highest quality .