It may seem that coming to writing Ph.D. you would know how to write without mistakes and make your paper polished from the very beginning. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work this way. Even if you are interested in the English language as a subject and study it more than an average student, you still can make some silly mistakes. Famous writers never publish their manuscripts without editing and correcting them with the help of a specialist, so you should not be too harsh on yourself if coming close to achieving your Ph.D. degree you still can let some errors crawl into your paper. In this brief article written by an expert writer from SmartWritingService where you can buy dissertations online, we just want to remind you about the most common mistakes you should take into account when writing your Ph.D. dissertation.
Plural vs. Single: Don’t Be Lazy to Check-in Dictionary
There are tricky words like government and media, which can make you look like an amateur if you misuse them in terms of “plural or singular” quest. It is not a secret that in the US and UK English languages some terms are written differently, and you should check on that as well. When it comes to complex words and terms, and you are not sure how to use them in a particular sentence, it is better to look at the dictionary and at Contexto — to see the usage on practice. The problem is, even looking at a dictionary you still can forget how to write this or that term, so it is better to make a brief doc on your PC where you will put the most confusing words and explanations to them and their usage. Great way to save time when writing a dissertation.
Those Horrible Conditionals: It’s Time to Learn How to Use Them
If it rains, if you were, if he could have, and so on. Conditionals can simply make you cry, even if you don’t have problems with other grammar structures. The simplest way here is to write some examples for each case (there are only three, don’t panic) and when you need to use a conditional, just look at that list, choose the closest form and pick it for your sentence. However, this way is not very good in terms of switching between writing-editing modes. The best way is to check the conditional chapter after chapter. Use search to look for “If” in your text and check the sentences with it using your cheat-sheet.
Its, It’s, You, Your, You’re and Other Tiny Monsters
There is no way to stop making mistakes with all those they’re, their, etc. It is the simplest grammar structure, but you make these mistakes not because you are stupid, but because we think faster than we write. Automatic mistakes, technical omissions. You can’t avoid them, so just make sure to proofread your paper using some quality editing software.
Jumping Between Tenses in One Paragraph
Technically, it is not a mistake, but it kills the style of your text, it makes your reader confused. Make sure that you use just basic tenses, they are logically connected between one paragraph and the key “action” is happening within one tense.
Not Finished Comparisons and Comparisons Used “For Fun”
It is better to use A-c controller. Better than what? There are lots of not finished comparisons in papers and they really reduce the quality of writing significantly. Don’t use comparisons without things to compare, just for “fun.” Try not to divide sentences where compared items or ideas are described for the first time.
Overused Passive Voice
Previously, academic writing was all about Passive Voice. You couldn’t walk away from it, you should have used it to make your Ph.D. sound professional and, well, academic. Nowadays the role and significance of this structure in paper vanish for good, so don’t get used to it.
Wordiness: Make It Clear!
It is much harder to write less than to write more. Editing is a complex process, often much more challenging than creative thinking. Cut sentences till they shine, read your paper aloud to find too long phrases. One sentence should take less than one breath. If you cut on the usage of passive voice, your sentences will immediately become shorter and more clear.
