You’ve been working on your master’s or PhD for years, you’ve been writing and revising, and you’re nearly done, but…
Your thesis deadline is just around the corner — and your supervisor has asked you do to another read through for typos and grammar before you submit your research.
But you’ve already read your thesis over and over (and your supervisor probably has too).
You can’t see the typos any more and you’re sick of fiddling around with commas, citations, and passive sentences.
You just need that final sense check so you can submit your thesis. I get it.
Here’s how I can help…
Let me take care of the details so you can concentrate on what you do best: presenting your research
I can…
- untangle wordy and overly complex sentences
- sort out fiddly grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- format headings, tables, images, and citations
So you can…
- stop worrying about whether your arguments are clear and coherent
- submit your research with confidence
Thesis editing
What you get:
1. Copy edited thesis
I’ll take care of these as I edit your thesis:
- checking spelling, grammar, and punctuation
- untangling wordy, ambiguous, or unclear sentences
- checking for appropriate use of idiom, style, and tone
- checking for consistency in how numbers, symbols, abbreviations, capitalisation, and italics are presented
- formatting tables, images, and captions to your chosen style.
I’ll mark up your thesis using Word’s track changes feature and comment bubbles so you’re always in control of your text.
2. Style sheet personalised to your thesis
Using your style guide as the foundation, I will build a style sheet (i.e., cheat sheet) that details:
- how numbers are presented
- how headings are presented
- which type of English is used (UK/NZ English or US English)
- how tables and figures are laid out
- how sources are cited
- how discipline-specific words and abbreviations are spelled.
You can refer to this as you make changes, so your spelling, capitalisation, and formatting is consistent throughout your thesis.
Need your references checked?
I can do that too.
Reference Checking
I quote reference checking separately to copyediting because it is fiddly work, even if you’ve used citation software like EndNote.
Reference checking involves checking that:
- in-text citations or footnoted citations are included in the reference list
- each entry matches the required style (e.g., APA 7, MLA, CMOS 18)
- each entry contains the correct details (author, title, journal and issue number, page ranges, year, URLs, DOIs, etc.).
PRICE: NZ$1.50 per reference
Here’s how it works
| STEP ONE | STEP TWO | STEP THREE | STEP FOUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill out my enquiry form to receive a free sample edit and quote. | Secure your slot by signing our agreement and paying a deposit. | Send me your thesis by our agreed date. Relax for a few weeks while I get stuck into the editing. | Review your edited thesis, accept/reject changes, and finalise your thesis. |
Top tip: Give yourself as much time as possible between receiving my edits back and submitting your thesis. Going through the tracked changes can take more time than you think.
The Details
How much does it cost?
The cost depends on how long the thesis is, how much editing is needed, and how much formatting needs to be done. I work out the price based on my sample edit.
As a guide:
- approximately 60,000 words: from NZ$4,000
- approximately 100,000 words: from NZ$6,000
How long does it take?
I require about five working days per 20,000 words.
- 60,000 words will take around three weeks
- 100,000 words will take around five weeks
Give yourself as much time as possible between receiving my edits back and submitting your thesis. Going through the tracked changes can take more time than you think.
Do you use AI?
I don’t use generative AI in my editing, and I don’t input any of your text or research into any AI bots.
Read my full AI and digital tools policy.
When should I seek an editor?
Talk to your supervisor and see what they think. Editing can happen at different stages, such as
- before sending the thesis to your supervisor for their review
- after your supervisor has reviewed your thesis and you have worked in their suggestions
- before you submit your thesis to your university.
What disciplines do you edit?
I edit most disciplines, as long as the content is not too maths heavy! Examples of disciplines I edit:
- Humanities: art history, classics, English, gender and women’s studies, geography, history, law, linguistics, philosophy, social sciences, theology.
- Sciences: biochemistry, biology, computing, dentistry, food science, human nutrition, nursing, physiotherapy, preventative and social medicine, psychology, science communication.
- Business: accounting and finance, economics, management, marketing, tourism.
What I don’t do
My commitment to academic integrity means I cannot write or rewrite your thesis, or provide advice on the structure or order of your thesis.
I follow the Institute of Professional Editors’ thesis editing guidelines and any guidelines set out by your university.
“I enjoyed the friendly and open communication throughout the editing process. My thesis is now almost ready for submission, and I have saved lots of time on fixing tricky errors I may not have noticed myself. Working with you really helped me feel certain I will be ready to submit, and especially that my references will be correct.”
– Jodie Worthington, master’s thesis