Avoid these five mistakes when writing your bachelor, master, or doctoral thesis. From experience, students keep making these mistakes. They are not difficult to avoid. Staying clear of these common pitfalls will give your work a professional touch. So the reader is able focus on the scientific content.
Skipping the acknowledgments
Do not skip the acknowledgment section. Write at least one abstract. Better yet, write half a page of acknowledgements or more.
No matter how fed up you are with your supervisor, colleagues, or co-workers. No matter what happened before, during, or after you write it.
Never skip the acknowledgments. It is basic courtesy. If you are unsure how to write this, read here how to write an appropriate acknowledgement.
Using brand names
These days, we use brand names or derivatives of brand names in your day-to-day life without even noticing. Do not use them in your thesis. It may sound strange when the much-used phrase Eppi becomes the 1.5-ml reaction tube.
Make an effort to avoid brand names unless specific brands are the subject of your research. The only place where they might be appropriate may be the materials and methods section.
Not explaining abbreviations
Do not use abbreviations without explaining them. This seems trivial. Yet, people keep doing it. Students are so engulfed in their area of research that they think everybody knows the relevant abbreviations. Do not make this mistake.
Write out every abbreviations at least once. You can use a list of abbreviations where you collect and explain all of them. Alternatively, you can write them out at first use (and put the abbreviation in brackets).
Using subjective phrases
Do not use subjective phrases when writing about your research. Avoid writing I believe…, we think… or similar phrases. Replace them with more objective wordings such as the data indicates…, the results show… etc.
If you need some inspiration on how to write about your results in your thesis, check out the academic phrase banks I review in this blog post.
Using colloquial language
Do not use colloquial language. Phrases such as isn’t, don’t, ain’t, or I’m should not be used in your thesis or any scientific writing. Use the proper long form instead.
It may sound silly to pay attention to such details. And, of course, such language inanities should not take away from your scientific accomplishments. But the truth is, only a professional language enables your scientific work to shine.