Writing a thesis is usually daunting because the process is a long and stressful one requiring thorough research. Having to go back several times to make corrections in a thesis can be quite frustrating, but knowing formatting errors to avoid can make your work much easier.
The top ten formatting errors to avoid in your thesis
1. Errors in preliminary pages
Usually, each institution has a thesis structure format. What should be in your preliminary pages and how they should be arranged will be stipulated in the thesis requirements of the institution. By the time you are writing your thesis, you should have been conversant with the acceptable thesis format in your institution.
2. Errors in topic
The generally accepted topic length of a thesis is twenty-three words. However, this is subject to the thesis structure format given by your institution.
Nevertheless, there are other generally accepted rules. Make your topic as clear as possible. A good topic will give a hint about what the thesis focuses on. The topic of the thesis will usually tell how knowledgeable the researcher is about the subject matter.
3. Font errors
For most theses, the approved font style is Times New Roman and double line spacing. It is, however, necessary to refer to your institution’s guidelines on how to format a thesis. You will also need to find the acceptable thesis paper layout to set your margin spaces correctly.
4. Thesis paging
In some institutions, pages are numbered at the top, some at the bottom, and so on. Getting a thesis format sample will help you decide how to page your thesis properly.
5. Table of content issues
Sometimes, a thesis could be rejected because the subtopics on the body of the thesis and the table of content do not correlate. It is pivotal to ensure that your table of content reflects all your subtopics in the order in which they appear. It would help if you also accounted for all appendices, figures, and tables in your table of content. To do this properly, you may need to refer to a thesis format sample.
6. Capitalisation issues
Knowing what to capitalise on and what not to capitalise on will depend on your institution’s thesis format. It would be best if you gave your work to someone to proofread to avoid errors. The style adopted will usually determine whether all first words in a subtopic should be capitalised or not. Generally, proper nouns and pronouns are capitalised, and other types of nouns and pronouns are not.
7. Errors in abstract
An abstract usually should consist of four major things: the introduction, theoretical framework, methodology, and findings. These could be in four paragraphs or a single paragraph. The thesis requirement of your institution should guide you on what your abstract should look like. Your abstract should never exceed one page
8. Imbalance in content
A good thesis must give adequate attention to its different parts. It is necessary to ensure that you give adequate content to all the parts of the thesis. The literature review should not carry more weight at the expense of methodology, analysis, etc. The requirements for each section should be covered.
9. Poor structuring
No matter how good it is, your thesis will lose its effect if it is not properly structured. There must be a clear link among the paragraphs and sections in work. To achieve this, you must use subtopics that clearly show what you intend to do in each section.
10. Language errors
Like every other field, research has its language. It is necessary to ensure that you avoid language not academically approved in your thesis.
Also, you will likely make grammatical and spelling errors while writing such a lengthy essay. Passing your work through a professional editor will ensure that your thesis is as error-free as possible. The editor will take care of grammar and spelling errors, and they will also fix language errors.
Conclusion
The best way to avoid going back and forth when working on your thesis is by getting a thesis format sample from your institution. You also must diligently go through the thesis requirements to avoid unnecessary mistakes. You may also need to do some findings on how to format a thesis to make your thesis journey smoother. A professional editor’s help can make your thesis writing process less of a nightmare.
