Are you done writing your dissertation? Is it time to edit your final draft? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Relax! You are not alone. Even though the major part of the dissertation is done which was writing it in the first place. Nevertheless, editing is also very crucial as well as a challenging step in the dissertation journey. But don’t worry, with the right knowledge and tricks you can easily complete this stage as well. You can also get the best dissertation editing services in the UK. Otherwise, this guest article will help you in editing your dissertation in stages and let you know what matters the most while editing a dissertation.
A foolproof editing process for your dissertation
Editing a dissertation is no joke, it takes a lot of time and energy to complete editing a dissertation. Nevertheless, you can get assistance from professional editors otherwise this guide will also help you in the journey of dissertation editing. Let’s delve into the key strategies which can help you edit your draft.
Plan ahead
Creating a plan will help students in editing like a professional. Without a proper plan starting to edit the whole dissertation will make things difficult for you. Divide your dissertation into manageable parts so that you do not feel anxious and frustrated while editing. It takes years to complete a dissertation, there editing must also be given time adequately.
- Prepare a list of questions which you ask yourself while editing such as
- What is the purpose of this chapter?
- Have I properly answered the research question?
- Is the content flowing logically?
- Have I used the existing literature properly to justify my research?
- Is my dissertation using the transitions flawlessly?
You can have your list before starting to edit. Check off the list of questions which are properly embedded in your dissertation and improve the ones which are missing. Get British dissertation help if you feel stuck anywhere during the editing session.
Don’t do it at once
While you think of editing your dissertation, it is important to do it in manageable chunks. If you try to edit all the chapters at once, it will be quite overwhelming and tiresome. Take breaks and start editing with a fresh mindset. A tired brain will only make things difficult so never stress yourself. Doing so will help you polish your writing skills as well because, with a fresh mind, you can focus on the things which you can miss with a stressful mind.
Complete writing first
It is a big mistake to edit while you write. Never even try to edit while you are still writing because initiating dissertation editing requires dissertation completion first. It might be tempting for some students to go back and check every paragraph but avoid that. Once you are done writing the whole chapter, only then sit to edit your draft. It will be easier for you and help you find the mistakes much more quickly than otherwise.
Avoid proofreading while editing
Editing and proofreading must be avoided simultaneously. Editing requires a big picture while proofreading is for minor details. Proofread the document when you are done writing and editing the draft. You can also hire a professional certified proofreader once you are done writing your dissertation as proofreading requires a lot of focus on every minor detail as well unless you are good at detailing.
Follow a logical editing process
Start editing the way you started writing. One logical way of editing a dissertation is to focus on one chapter at a time. For instance, if you started editing your introduction then avoid editing the research methodology chapter simultaneously. It will divert your mind and eventually, you will miss details. In addition, focus on one issue at a time. If you are editing structural errors then do not check for research purposes in the same editing session. Following this logical and manageable flow will help you pinpoint the mistakes more clearly
Avoid distractions while editing
It is extremely important to find a relaxed and distraction-free place to edit your draft. If you have your smartphone with you and you check it on every notification, chances are the editing session will not be effective. Choose a place where there is no noise pollution and you have no distractions like TV, food, social media etc. One study investigated that students who choose the same place for studying where they eat or nap, the quality of learning outcomes drops significantly for them. Therefore, avoid doing that
Get professional help
Writing a dissertation is quite overwhelming and editing it even more challenging. Finding out your own mistakes is something quite difficult because you often miss the details. To avoid this, hire a professional certified editor for your dissertation. Nowadays, there are several online platforms in the UK which provide exceptionally good quality services at a reasonable cost. The writers and editors are well-versed and expert in their field of study. So hire them as per your field and get professional editing services for your dissertation
Final checks
Once you are done editing, make sure to do the final checks. It will help you identify the mistakes which you missed during editing sessions. Use AI tools and plagiarism checks to ensure that your dissertation is free of errors. Use Grammarly and formatting tools to check for grammatical and formatting errors respectively. Moreover, double-check that the dissertation is complying with all the institutional guidelines such as citations, referencing style, submission guidelines and requirements.
Conclusion
Editing a dissertation is a comprehensive process which you will have to complete in stages. To increase the effectiveness of editing, it is crucial to do it in multiple sessions. In the editing process, students must follow the guidelines of their university before submitting the dissertation. Make sure you are complying with all the requirements set by the institute. Moreover, keep one thing in mind while editing it is not merely pinpointing the errors it is about improving the overall quality of work. Therefore, try to enhance coherence, conciseness as well as clarity while editing the final draft.