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Q: How can I proofread my thesis for journal submission?
Hello. I am a graduate student in my third year of master’s program. I am preparing to graduate and submit my thesis to an overseas academic journal, but I am having difficulties with English editing, so I wrote this post to seek advice. Currently, my advisor is quite busy and has a different research field from me. I think there are some limitations to borrowing my advisor’s strength. Therefore, I would like to ask other people how they do English proofreading because I think I should do it on my own, but there are limitations to using GPT.
Hello there and thank you for writing in to us. Many researchers have difficulties with writing research papers in English, and you are not alone! And it is true that one cannot always depend on their advisor for language and editing advice. Here are the options you can explore:
Help from your peers: Reach out to your fellow graduate students or colleagues who are familiar with academic writing conventions and your subject matter. You can share drafts with them, and they can provide valuable feedback on the language, grammar, and academic tone. They might even offer useful tips.
Professional editing services: There are numerous professional editing services available that cater specifically to academic writing like Editage. These services employ experienced editors with expertise in various fields and can provide comprehensive editing, proofreading, and formatting assistance.
Online editing tools: Finally, while not a substitute for human editing, online tools such as ChatGPT can be useful for catching basic grammar, spelling, and style errors. These tools can be helpful for initial drafts before seeking more comprehensive editing assistance. As you mentioned, ChatGPT-like options have their limitations. They should be used carefully and in conjunction with human editing and review.
For high-quality academic writing at the Master’s level, it is generally recommended to seek assistance from professional editors or experienced peers, who can provide more comprehensive and context-specific feedback. Thus, the first two options among those listed above will be more useful for you. Meanwhile, throughout your research journey, you can hone your own writing and editing skills by reading relevant resources and attending academic writing workshops a
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