6 Helpful Ways for Students to do Dissertation Proofreading

Students who work on a dissertation know that it is a monumental task that needs days, weeks or even months of focus to finish within the stipulated time. Everything must be done appropriately, from researching the topic assigned for the dissertation to revising it before submission. Once you are done writing your dissertation, then comes the crucial step, which is dissertation proofreading. Your dissertation will undoubtedly go through ample editing rounds as you revise it. Proofreading is one way to ensure that your final submission is made as per the guidelines provided and without any errors. If you are curious to know how it should be done systematically, here are a few steps you can follow.

Know What to Look for While Proofreading

Before proofreading your dissertation, you must ensure that certain items in the checklist are marked once they are reviewed. It would help if you looking for the following common errors which are:

· Spelling and grammar issues

· Typing mistake

· Inconsistent usage of US and UK English

· Improper use of abbreviations 

· Punctuation issues 

· Overall Formatting

Eliminating Inconsistent Usage of US and UK English

One good way to eliminate the inconsistent use of US and UK English is by ensuring the setting of your document language is set to the correct English version. You can then start with a quick spell check with the help of a spell check tool. Understand that there are some spelling that you may think are right as per US English, but if you have to work on the dissertation in the UK language, then you need to be sure if the spelling is correct. In addition, you need to pay extra attention throughout your paper to look for any inconsistencies you may have missed.

Rules Should be Reviewed Well

For this part of proofreading, you must make a few settings before you even start writing your dissertation. This means you have to make sure that you thoroughly go through all the guidelines set by your university on how the dissertation should be written. Your dissertation may follow a specific style that your institution has already set. Confirm whether your dissertation needs to be written per Chicago/Turabian style, Modern Language Association (MLA) style, or American Psychological Association (APA) and start writing accordingly. While reviewing the styles, watch out if you have included all the elements in your dissertation very well and then only go ahead with the next step.

Proofread Systematically

You, indeed, have yet to write your dissertation overnight, so you must understand that proofreading on the go is also impossible. That is why; you must create a systematic way to cover your proofreading part in a manageable amount of time. Instead of proofreading the whole document once the last page is over, consider printing every section you write at the exact moment and then proofreading it the next day with a fresh mind. This way, before the final submission, you will have significant editing covered up already. In a dissertation, creating an index of your write-up is essential. You can use the same for proofreading too.

Formatting

Check if all the headings and subheadings are styled similarly. Check if the section numbering is done in the correct order. This is basic, but there are chances that a slight numbering mistake can confuse understanding which text section is placed on what page. Figures and table captioning should be checked too. 

 

Use Tools Correctly

There are many tools available online that you can use to identify some of the common errors. These tools are free to be used. But there are a few that may need a subscription for premium access. These tools can be your best online dissertation help you can use as and when you want. For example, they can examine the readability level, give you the score for the overall content you have written, analyse the number of times passive voice has been used, and tell you if your content is written in a user-friendly way.

 

Consistency

One of the finest ways to ensure your content is created consistently is by building a style for the work as you finish. This is one of the easy yet effective ways to note down all the sections you have covered. If there are some areas where Italics were used, check if it is done correctly. This is crucial, especially when working on a medical or technical dissertation. See if the introduction is written in the right tone, as expected, while the conclusion must state your opinion. In the body section, all the crucial information must be presented systematically. Your reader should understand reading the dissertation.

 

Conclusion

It is okay if you need some time for dissertation proofreading but make sure you plan accordingly. First, you must cross-check the whole text at least two to three times and see if the style, grammar, flow and structure of everything are okay. Then, look for a good and quiet place to proofread and stay focused. Be it an empty lecture hall or a library. Do not risk this process; you will see how your hard work will pay off eventually with good grades.