Thesis editing is different
Australian universities have strict ethical guidelines governing the assistance professional editors may provide to students. The role of the editor is to improve the clarity and consistency of your writing while ensuring that your research, ideas and conclusions remain entirely your own.
As an Australian Accredited Editor (AE), I follow the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) Guidelines for Editing Theses.
What I can help with
-
Grammar, spelling and punctuation
-
Improving clarity, readability and flow of text
-
Consistency of style and terminology
-
Consistency in the presentation of graphic material
-
Conformity of references and ciations to the specified style
-
Help with formatting according to the instructed style
What I cannot do
-
Make correction to the content, substance or structure of the thesis (may alert the student to issues)
-
Check facts, references to others' work or plagiarism (may alert student to seek advice)
-
Interpret your research or findings
-
Check the accuracy of your research
-
Add or remove content
-
Write or rewrite any part of your thesis
Supervisors remain responsible for advice on content, structure and academic argument.
Professional editors are limited to copyediting and proofreading within the ethical guidelines.
English is not your first language?
-
Grammar and sentence structure
-
Clarity and readability
-
Academic tone and natural English
-
Consistency of terminology and expression
The same ethical guidelines apply to every thesis. Your ideas, arguments and conclusions must always remain your own.
Many postgraduate students write in English as a second language. Edting can help improve:
Is your thesis
ready for editing?
Your thesis is ready for editing when:
-
You have completed your research
-
Your supervisor is satisfied with the content
-
You want to improve the clarity and presentation of your writing
-
You need help to express your ideas with clarity
Your thesis is NOT ready for editing if:
-
You need to rewrite chapters
-
You need help to develop your argument
-
You need help to interpret your results
-
You are still substantially revising your thesis
Before requesting
a quote
To provide a quote, you should have the following information available:
-
Your university and faculty
-
Thesis title or subject area
-
Total word count
-
A sample chapter
-
An idea of the extent of references
-
Expected completion date (must be submitted to editor at least one month before this date)
-
Final submission deadline
-
Any university-specific requirements
Students should obtain approval from their principal supervisor to use a professional editor.
Thesis editing servcies are provided in accordance with the IPEd Guidelines for Editing Theses (July 2025) and the IPEd Code of Ethics.