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Top 10 tips to writing up your PhD

October 9, 2017
 - Tim Hardman

Writing your PhD thesis can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute to your field, relate to your peers with similar interests, and challenge your understanding. While the process is incredibly rewarding, it is best to be appropriately prepared. So we’ve put together a handy guide – so you know exactly what to expect [1]. Writing up your PhD thesis is a challenging but crucial part of your doctoral journey. It’s not just about compiling research but also about presenting it in a clear, coherent, and compelling way. Here are the top 10 tips to help you navigate this process effectively:

Start writing early

  • Tip: Don’t wait until the end of your research to begin writing. Start drafting sections or chapters as soon as you have enough material. Even if they aren’t perfect, early drafts help you think through your work and will save you time later.
  • Why it works: Writing early allows you to identify gaps, clarify ideas, and avoid the last-minute rush, which can affect the quality of your thesis.

Create a writing plan

  • Tip: Break down your thesis into manageable sections and set deadlines for each. This could be chapters, sub-chapters, or even specific objectives for the day.
  • Why it works: Having a clear plan helps you stay focused, motivated, and accountable. It also helps you manage time and track progress, avoiding the overwhelming feeling of tackling the entire thesis at once.

Know your audience

  • Tip: Keep in mind that your examiners may not be experts in every specific area of your research. Write in a way that someone outside your niche can follow.
  • Why it works: Writing with clarity ensures that your argument is accessible and persuasive. A PhD thesis needs to communicate ideas clearly and succinctly to a broad academic audience.

Follow a structured template

  • Tip: Stick to the typical structure of a PhD thesis—introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion—and adapt it to suit your project.
  • Why it works: A clear, logical structure not only makes your thesis easier to write but also easier for examiners to follow. It ensures that each chapter has a defined purpose.

Write regularly, even in small chunks

  • Tip: Make writing a daily habit. Even writing for 30 minutes a day will add up over time and prevent the buildup of pressure to write large amounts at once.
  • Why it works: Regular writing reduces procrastination and keeps your momentum going. Consistent progress, even if slow, is more sustainable and less stressful than writing in bursts.

Edit and revise as you go

  • Tip: Don’t wait until the very end to start revising. Review your work regularly to refine arguments, correct mistakes, and improve readability.
  • Why it works: Continuous editing ensures that each section is polished and saves time later. It also helps to maintain the coherence of your thesis as new sections are added.

Seek feedback early and often

  • Tip: Share drafts with your supervisor and peers regularly to get feedback. Be open to constructive criticism and make necessary revisions.
  • Why it works: Feedback helps you catch problems early, refine your arguments, and improve the quality of your work. It’s better to address issues throughout the process than at the last minute.

Balance writing with other tasks

  • Tip: Don’t get bogged down with just writing. Mix it up by balancing tasks like reading, analyzing data, or revising sections. This variety can keep your mind fresh.
  • Why it works: Switching between tasks can improve productivity and keep you engaged. It also prevents burnout from focusing too heavily on one part of the PhD process.

Use tools for organization

  • Tip: Leverage tools like reference managers (e.g., Zotero, EndNote), outlining software, and project management apps (e.g., Trello, Scrivener) to stay organized.
  • Why it works: These tools help you manage citations, keep track of drafts, and ensure your thesis is organized logically and consistently. They can save time and reduce the stress of manual referencing and organizing.

Don’t strive for perfection in the first draft

  • Tip: Accept that your first draft won’t be perfect. Focus on getting your ideas down, and worry about refining them in later drafts.
  • Why it works: Perfectionism can paralyze you, making it hard to move forward. By giving yourself permission to write imperfectly at first, you create momentum, which can be refined in subsequent drafts.

In our (humble) opinions, perseverance and finishing the job are the two most important traits and qualities you need to write up your thesis (almost as important as getting some results). Yes the writing process is hard work. Yes it takes time. But, with the completion of each chapter you are another milestone closer to your future. Stay healthy, writing up a PhD can be mentally and physically exhausting. Make sure to take care of yourself by getting enough rest, exercising, and maintaining a balanced diet. Setting small, achievable goals can help you maintain progress and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of writing a thesis. By applying these tips, you’ll be better equipped to manage your time, structure your writing, and produce a high-quality PhD thesis that showcases your hard work and research contributions.

If things get too dark you can cheer yourself up by visiting the PhD comic website which documents almost every eventuality you might experience during your study. You may however find it too close for comfort.

References

  1. Top 10 tips to writing up your PhD: An Insider’s Insight. Niche Science & Technology Ltd., 2017

About the author

Tim Hardman
Managing Director
View profile
Dr Tim Hardman is Managing Director of Niche Science & Technology Ltd., a bespoke services CRO based in the UK. He also serves as Managing Director at Thromboserin Ltd., an early-stage biotechnology company. Dr Hardman is a keen scientist and an occasional commentator on all aspects of medicine, business and the process of drug development.

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