When you write a Thesis, it is very important to check if it follows the standard format, there are no spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes and so on. But a more important part is fleshing out your thesis to effectively bring out your defense of the thesis statement. When you edit your thesis, it’s important to take care that it is absolutely flawless and free from any errors. This is where the importance of thesis editing comes in. It is always better to have your thesis edited by someone else rather than doing it yourself. Now the real question is: where do you send your thesis for editing? To your overworked professor or a professional editing and proofreading company that you have only heard reviews of? Let’s square it down for you.

How will you choose between your professor and a thesis editing service?

To decide who you will rely on for editing your thesis, consider these factors:

Efficacy of a thesis editor

The hallmark of good thesis editing is non-interference. This means that the person tasked can proofread for errors and maintain technical accuracy. Remember that word. An editor’s job is to maintain (or increase) the quality of your thesis, but not to change the quality itself.

So, in the choice between a professional and your advisor, you are also making the choice of a person with technical expertise in academic conventions vs. expertise in the content matter (broadly put). Each choice has its advantages and does not necessarily mean that each of them lacks the other skill.

Your professor knows what you are writing about, and has been with you and your project since day 1. This has the obvious advantage of your professor knowing exactly what needs improvement. On the flip side, though, your advisor is too close to the project.

A professional editing service may not know your subject matter as well but is well-versed in the standardization and technical accuracy that your thesis needs. But what happens when the technical aspects of your thesis are dependent on the way it is presented? What happens when you are paired up with a sub-par editor who returns your paper worse than it was when you sent it to them?

All of these considerations will be answered when you do your research about which editing and proofreading service you are thrusting this task upon.

Affordability

This is a relatively easier point of decision. Check your finances. If you are opting for a professional service, see if it comes in and under your budget. Do you have to pay from your own pocket or can you use your stipend? Is the chosen thesis editing service worth the quote? Or can you achieve the same amount of quality on your own/through somebody else’s help?

If you pit prices alone, your professor is the obvious choice… but will they be as efficient as a professional?

Turnaround period

If you’re a final year student frantically writing a thesis “in partial fulfillment of” your to-be-degree, the chances of you being exhausted are quite high. 

You’ve probably not left enough time for yourself to sit down and methodically because that’s going to take time. (We’re not the sort to usually say “told you so”, but we told you so.) 

If the time remaining between you writing and submitting your thesis is not that long, it limits your options for who can edit it. You could shoot a panicked e-mail to your advisor for help, but that’s a risky option because your professor is probably caught up with helping out the rest of their students.  

If you’re the student who’s left editing to the last minute, you will be in a fix. Thesis editing is a time-consuming process, and it’s unrealistic for a 60,000 word thesis to be competently edited in a day or two.

But that’s just you and your professor. It’s a piece of cake for a professional editor. A professional can accommodate a relatively short turnaround, and won’t charge you extra for it. Other providers are more rigid in their approach and will charge extra for a tight return date.

If you give your thesis to a professional service, they are contractually bound to return your manuscript to you in a stipulated time. That kind of legalese, while cumbersome, will work well in your favour. 

Thesis editing firms vs. freelancers: who to pick? 

If you’re choosing to send your thesis to a third party for editing, you also have the option of going to a freelance editor. You could either look for freelancers directly through Google searches, or you look for somebody through forums such as Fiverr and Upwork. Working with a freelancer allows you the flexibility to make an informed decision about who is best suited to edit/proofread your work. (You can use the same parameters as above to vet a freelance editor.)

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