Thesis Proofreading will enhance your work and allow the integrity and learning value to remain yours.

Thesis proofreading is becoming quite common in Australia. This does not mean that the student’s understanding of grammar is undermined. It more reflects the higher standards and professionalism of academic qualifications.

Thesis proofreading standards

Professional thesis proofreading for students comes under The Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd) guidelines.

Academic advisors are expected to support students of research and higher degrees with advice on substance, structure, language and they may assist with copyediting and proofreading if they wish.

Professional proofreading intervention for thesis proofreading is limited to copyediting and proofreading. This means that the student can receive feedback on:

• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Spelling
• Formatting
• Completeness of document
• Consistency throughout the document in terms of style, terminology, illustrations and referencing
• Clarity of expression
• Appropriate style and tone
• Lists of contents, illustrations and tables match their in-text documentation.

The professional proofreader can draw the student’s attention to errors in text but should not provide options for alternative phrasing or sentence structure in their proofreading.

Advantages of using professional thesis proofreading services

Most students find when they utilise the service of professional proofreading that their marks improve. This probably relates to a more professional display of their work as their content and document integrity should be unchanged. Writing skills are considered vital to a University graduate and paramount to a professional in whatever field he/she will be working.

Using a professional proofreader for your thesis does not guarantee you top marks, as the integrity and content of the document is of most importance and this responsibility rests with the student.

Students’ responsibilities for thesis proofreading

Your University will provide you with a style guide on writing and referencing. You are expected to review and understand these guidelines.

If the thesis or research is submitted to the professional proofreader in electronic copy, the student should discuss with the editor how they would check each suggested change on track changes before they accept or dismiss. The professional proofreader has the option to return the document to the student in PDF and is required to keep the edited copy on file.

The student is required to add the editor’s name and a brief description of the professional proofreading service provided at the front of their document. Some professional proofreaders will provide a certificate stating what work they have done and this should be included in the theses.

Students should discuss with their academic advisor that they wish to employ a freelance proofreading service and ask for their permission. Your advisor may have access to editors and professional proofreading services approved by the institution but it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the copyeditor they choose has the appropriate professional proofreading qualifications and experience.

It is also the student’s responsibility to provide the copyeditor with any guidelines, style guides, manuals or referencing systems.

Please note

Editors and proofreaders in Australia will not write student’s assignments. It is expected that students at whatever level of education, write the document themselves. To do otherwise, is considered unethical and against the rules of your University and IPEd.

Thesis Proofreading: Your Research Deserves The Very Best

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