Guideline: Higher Degree by Research: Editing of Theses
Purpose
To provide guidelines for editors, whether they are formal supervisors, informal mentors, family or friends or professionals, regarding the extent and nature of help they offer in the editing of research candidates' theses and dissertations.
Background
- The Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd) have collaboratively developed an agreed set of guidelines based on the Australian standards for editing practice that provide guidance to candidates, supervisors and professional editors in how much assistance they should provide to candidates who have requested help in writing their theses.
Proof-Reading and Editing of Research Theses and Dissertations
- Academic supervisors of higher degree by research candidates provide editorial advice to their candidates on:
- Matters of content, substance and structure;
- Interpretation of the research literature and data;
- use of illustrations and tables;
- use of language (including clarity, voice and tone, grammar, spelling and punctuation);
- use of technical and specialised terminology. (IPEd 2019).
- Supervisors may also provide copy editing and proofreading. The Australian standards for editing practice outline the differences between editorial advice on content, substance and structure (Part C), copy editing (Part D) and proofreading (Part E).
Standard |
Advice |
Standard C: Substance and Structure |
Appraisal |
Structural devices |
|
Standard D: Language and Illustration |
Clarity of expression |
Voice and tone |
|
Grammar and usage |
|
Spelling and punctuation |
|
Specialised materials |
|
Illustrations |
|
Standard E: Completeness and Consistency |
Integrity |
Textual elements |
|
Illustration |
|
Format layout and production |
- Candidates may use third parties (professional or otherwise) to assist in preparing their thesis for submission, provided they discuss this with their supervisor and provide the editor with a copy of this guideline and the Australian Standards for editing practice guideline before they commence work.
- Third party editorial intervention is restricted to:
- Standard D
- Standard E
- Where a third party provides advice on matters of structure (Standard C), only examples should be given, not detailed sets of changes.
- Feedback as a result of professional editing or proofreading is provided in a format that encourages consideration of the recommendations of the editor rather than simply acceptance of those recommendations.
- Where editorial advice is given, it is acknowledged as per the Higher degree by research - submission and examination of theses procedure.
Editorial Services
- Available editorial services include:
- A directory of editors from the Canberra Society of Editors;
- A searchable database from the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd).
- Before commissioning an editor, the following checklist should be used to determine the scope of work in line with these guidelines: http://www.editorscanberra.org/wp-content/uploads/checklist.pdf.
Information |
Printable version (PDF) |
| Title | Higher Degree by Research: Editing of Theses |
| Document Type | Guideline |
| Document Number | ANUP_000407 |
| Version | |
| Purpose | To provide guidelines for editors, whether they are formal supervisors, informal mentors, family or friends or professionals, regarding the extent and nature of help they offer in the editing of research students' theses and dissertations. |
| Audience | Staff-Academic-Research, Students-Graduate-Research |
| Category | Academic |
| Topic/ SubTopic | Students |
| Effective Date | 9 Apr 2021 |
| Next Review Date | 9 Apr 2024 |
| Responsible Officer: | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate Research) |
| Approved By: | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) |
| Contact Area | Graduate Research Office |
| Authority: | Research Awards Rule 2021 |
| Delegations | 0 |
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