Page 2 | Mistakes in Thesis! Stressed.

Kamr1234 · 2025-01-17T07:37:05+00:00

I have been working on my doctoral thesis p/t while working full time, and raising a family. I have supervisor and he is great. However, after submitting my thesis, and preparing for my viva, I realised that I made so many mistakes. I am seeing hundreds of typos, incomplete explanations and simply a whole barrage of things I could have rewritten. I have read and re-read my thesis so many times, and yet, there they are. I am devastated that I sent this to be reviewed (supervisor said it's okay, but could be better). I am at my wits end. I am making a list of all the issues I have found to discuss with my supervisor, and I am now worried that I may not even pass the doctorate and will be awarded an MPhil. I believe it is so poorly written with too many mistakes, not befitting of a doctorate at all. The mistakes do not change the outcome of the results, but things that I know will call for a rewrite of some sections. I don't know what will happen, just that I am now in a place were I am completely devastated, and in my pragmatic way, under no illusion it will be marked for major corrections or revise and resubmit - at the very best. I love my thesis and so enjoyed doing the work. It was a complete labour of love. Nonetheless, I am going to be stressed from now until the viva. Any words of encouragement will be greatly received.

Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 16:47

usethedata · 17/01/2025 07:53

If the process is the same as it was 20 years ago, much will depend on your viva. Then you will most likely either pass with minor corrections, or have major corrections which they would want you to resubmit before passing you, or they would say essentially "not ready yet" in which case you resubmit and re-viva. All is not lost if this is the answer it has happened to many people I know.

Thank you @use the data! 🙂

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 16:48

LCM001a · 17/01/2025 07:57

It will be fine, you will most likely get minor corrections if fundamentally the premise of the thesis is correct but some things need clarifying/tidying up etc. most PhD thesis get minor corrections, it’s the norm. Try not to panic, prepare for the viva and just know you will be a Dr very soon.

Thank you @ LCM001a! 🙂

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 16:52

Rocknrollstar · 17/01/2025 08:04

Your examiners will simply highlight the typos. When I re - read mine to prepare for the viva , I realised that chapters 2 and 3 should have been in reverse order . Although you are meant to defend your thesis , when they mentioned this I agreed with them. Also, I discovered that one page of diagrams simply hadn’t printed and they had a blank page. It didn’’t matter. Along as the main body of your work is sound you will be ok.

Thank you @Rocknrollstar !🙂
It is hard to re-read the thesis, as every page has a typo or something that I should have picked up. And a few things I should have elaborated on to make the point more clearer. Nonetheless, yes, the main body of work is good but as my supervisor said, could be better (which does not help).

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 16:56

LoserWinner · 17/01/2025 08:13

When I had my viva, my examiners identified about half of the typos that I’d spotted, and I was awarded my PhD with a month to correct them. In fact, I corrected all the errors I’d found before I resubmitted. I was supervisor later in my career, and it was extremely rare for someone to go the course and then only be awarded an MPhil. Most had to do substantial rewriting, rejigging of chapters etc.

Thank you @ LoserWinner! 🙂
That is good to know about the MPhil being rare.
To be honest, I would accept the major corrections and substantial rewriting, as I can see what needs to be done and could correct them. But yes, that MPhil is like my biggest fear.

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 17:01

IndigoSkye · 17/01/2025 08:18

I did the same thing. I was appalled by the number of errors in the first section alone! My contents page had gone weird half way through which I hadn't noticed and the formatting was off in places. I made lots of notes in my copy so I could show them I was aware and ready to correct them but they weren't mentioned really, it was just at the end they had a list of errors for me to correct. They were more interested in the content and what I had done and thought than what I had actually written. I would try not to worry too much but maybe at some point say you are aware of the errors and you are happy to correct them. You'll be fine. Good luck with your viva.

Thank you @IndigoSkye for sharing your experience and the positive outcome. 🙂
I can imagine how stressed you must have been at the time, so it gives me hope it may be possible to achieve it.

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 17:08

erinaceus · 17/01/2025 08:20

I was taught that in this situation the thing to do was to prepare a list of all the typos and amendments you are aware of and take it into the viva with you. When errors are pointed out you have evidence you are aware of them already and prepared to amend them before your doctorate is awarded.

If the main argument of your thesis still holds then I agree that a fail is unlikely; it is the contribution to the field that is being assessed not your skills in avoiding typos. It is a long document prepared under pressure, it is likely going to have imperfections.

Being stressed before the viva is normal, it is a culmination of a lot of work. But if your results are unaffected by the changes you want to make, and your supervisor supported you submitting, a fail is unlikely. Have you read many PhD theses? The quality is surprisingly variable.

Thank you @erinaceus! 🙂
I have started compiling a long list of typos and things that could have been written more succinctly and clearer.
I did read quite a few theses from our university, and online submissions, and yes you are absolutely correct, there are some that I thought, needed more work. Thank you for reminding me of that variability in the submissions.

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 17:15

PokerFriedDips · 17/01/2025 08:29

It's going to be ok.

If the main point of the thesis is basically sound you won't fail. If there are massive holes in your argument that may end up changing all yoir conclusions once properly addressed then the outcome would be that you are told to make major revisions and have a new viva, which is fine but will obviously take a while. If it's more about spelling and grammar errors and incomplete sentences where you got distracted half way through a thought then you'll just be told to make the corrections and submit a corrected version with no 2nd viva. If the examiners aren't sure which side of this line it falls they will be using the viva to decide. Therefote what you are doing now, re-examining it and finding the flaws, is perfect preparation for the viva.

Make a list of the mistakes and take it to the viva. Be prepared to talk about them - not apologetically but demonstrating your understanding of the importance of clarity where it's missing. This is a process where current members of academia are deciding whether to give you the status of a peer who doesn't need supervisory oversight any more but that doesn't mean you are supposed to be perfect and never make mistakes. When an academic writes journal papers for publication they go through the same level of peer scrutiny (obviously without a viva!) because we all make mistakes. What's important is that you engage in the process.

Thank you @PokerFriedDips for your advice and guidance. Especially about when responding to the mistakes to do so, 'not apologetically but demonstrating your understanding of the importance of clarity where it's missing.' This is a stronger more academic stance to take. Thank you.🙂

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 17:29

Throughthebluebells · 17/01/2025 08:31

I'm surprised that so many people have had spelling or similar errors in their thesis when submitted. Mine was completely clear of silly errors because my two supervisors did their job properly and effectively proof-read the whole thing for me.

Unfortunately, my thesis needed re-submitting, basically because the examiner didn't approve of my methods. For personal reasons, I took a long time to re-submit and in that time they changed the external examiner. The new examiner was very happy with a few tweaks and more elaboration and arguments in favour of my methodology so went through on second attempt.

Don't be to down on yourself, mistakes happen and I'm sure it will all be good in the end.

Thank you for sharing your experience @Throughthebluebells 🙂
It must have been frustrating to know that it was personal and nothing to do with your submission. Glad you got an opportunity to resubmit, and I will be happy for the outcome to be a resubmission and not MPhil, though I am reading on the comments that it is very rare to be awarded the MPhil.

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 17:41

GreenSmithing · 17/01/2025 09:03

It's normal to find flaws after submission and it's normal to spend the period between submission and viva stressed. Hopefully the viva is quite soon so it's not hanging over you too long.

I suggest focussing now on having the incomplete explanations nailed down so you can explain them fully in the viva.

Do you have any mock vivas planned? It's worth having a couple, even if it's only asking fellow PGRs to read a chapter each and ask questions. The viva is an oral exam (assuming you're in the uk) so you need to have your explanations fluent, not just on paper but also when you discuss them. It's a good idea to read your examiners' work too so you know how they approach and use these concepts, so your understandings match.

At this stage be prepared that the meeting with your supervisor might not be that helpful. Firstly, because it's with the examiners now and that's out of their hands. Ultimately all they can say is what we're saying, which is to identify the gaps and have a plan about how to address them. Secondly, because, like you, they are familiar with the work and so, like you, that means it's not always easy for them to spot the gaps because you already know the context.

Hope the prep goes well. I found that the post submission period when I could think about the thesis as a whole was the point when I got to grips with what it meant to be a researcher - which includes reflection on the flaws of your work.

Thank you for your response @GreenSmithing !🙂
I have two mock vivas planned with my supervisor and yes, you are correct in saying that it is out of his hands. He has said the same thing which is to go my thesis and list any concerns I find. My viva is not until the third week in February, so still a month away. Have been reading the work of the examiners and they do overlap with the work that I am currently doing, so I suspect they will have lots of questions where those lines meet.
Yes, reflection on the flaws in my work as an academic, is a good way to approach it. Thank you!

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 17:48

EsotericMnemonic · 17/01/2025 09:06

This is really common, don’t panic.
I went into my viva with a (several pages long) list of all the typos I’d found after submitting to reassure my examiners that I had spotted them too.
As it happened, they told me it was a very ‘clean’ thesis and they hadn’t found many typos! Obviously I surreptitiously hid those sheets of paper…
Even if you pass with no corrections there’ll be the opportunity to address any minor typos/ referencing errors before your thesis is uploaded to the repository.
Good luck with the viva!

Thank you @EsotericMnemonic ! This made me laugh about hiding the sheets of paper.😀
If I pass with no corrections it will be a miracle, but I am going to keep moving forward, keep practicing the questions (viva questions), and preparing the best that I can. And right now I can see that I have to own it, address it, and prepare for the necessary corrections.

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Throughthebluebells · 17/01/2025 17:52

Sorry @Kamr1234 I think you have misread my post! The personal reasons were why I took so long, not to do with the first examiner.

The reason he didn't like my methods were that I used a fairly new method that required a good understanding of calculus to prove its validity. Given that my thesis was in social sciences, I don't really think he fully grasped the maths! By the time I resubmitted I think the method had been used more in my field so was better accepted anyway. I also probably did a better job of explaining and justifying it the second time as I knew it was an issue.

Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 18:02

Zuve · 17/01/2025 09:09

You are fab. I failed my thesis due to family life and work

So sorry to read this @Zuve, and I thank you for sharing. 🙂
I have experienced the impact of family and work on the journey to being where I am today, and when you have responsibilities and working full time, it can be a challenging combination.

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 18:18

Gardenlover121 · 17/01/2025 09:17

I’m a very experienced PhD examiner. Most submitted theses have several typos, bits needing rewriting etc. Do as PPs say, make a list and just acknowledge errors if the examiners bring it up. I usually just summarise this by saying it needs a thorough proof read in the comments section of my report. The examiners should concentrate on the substance of your thesis.

Thank you for this @Gardenlover121
I will do like you and others have suggested, and list the errors and acknowledge them when they arise.🙂

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Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 18:19

QueenRefusenik · 17/01/2025 11:53

I had to refer back to my thesis the other day - I submitted it 20 years ago ago and it passed without corrections. Found three typos in one chapter alone and cringed at some of the writing. You will probably be fine! As previous posters have said, identify any structural weaknesses you spot in case they come up in the viva and have a response for what you would/will do to correct and it is unlikely to be a major issue. Congratulations on submitting, good luck for the viva!

Thank you @QueenRefusenik! 🙂

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blackpear · 17/01/2025 18:24

Proofreading is not a supervisor’s responsibility. That being said I do note errors for my students where I see them.
And, if it makes you feel better, OP, I had an error in the v first line of my thesis!

Original poster

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 18:25

Justkeepingplatesspinning · 17/01/2025 12:33

Editing errors and misses in proof-reading happen to all of us. I had a page where I ended up with an extra paragraph and none of us spotted it. I finally spotted it 2 years later when I was looking at it to show my own PhD student!
Make a list of proof-reading errors that you spot and take it to your viva in the back of your notes. If they give you minor corrections then you can say 'and I'd like to get these corrected too'.

Thank you @Justkeepingplatesspinning! 🙂
I am seeing a majority of comments are advocating for preparing a list of errors and addressing them when they arise. I like that you wrote, 'and I'd like to get these corrected too' if minor corrections do come it. It shows academic integrity.

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BeAzureAnt · 17/01/2025 21:46

Kamr1234 · 17/01/2025 16:56

Thank you @ LoserWinner! 🙂
That is good to know about the MPhil being rare.
To be honest, I would accept the major corrections and substantial rewriting, as I can see what needs to be done and could correct them. But yes, that MPhil is like my biggest fear.

Show quote history

The thesis has to be really dire for an MPhil, and most supervisors would not allow the student to progress to a viva if the thesis was that poor. It will be fine for you. Worry not.

Original poster

Kamr1234 · 18/01/2025 06:57

blackpear · 17/01/2025 18:24

Proofreading is not a supervisor’s responsibility. That being said I do note errors for my students where I see them.
And, if it makes you feel better, OP, I had an error in the v first line of my thesis!

Thank you @blackpear ! 🙂

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LittleBigHead · 18/01/2025 11:37

Just to reiterate: it is normal to be given a list of typos etc. I recently did a viva where, at the beginning of the viva, the candidate gave us a list of errata they'd noticed.

Don't stress about this. Focus on thinking through and reflecting on your argument, your evidence, your methodology, and what the thesis as a whole offers your field.

And I agree: your supervisor is not your proof reader.

Original poster

Kamr1234 · 18/01/2025 12:02

LittleBigHead · 18/01/2025 11:37

Just to reiterate: it is normal to be given a list of typos etc. I recently did a viva where, at the beginning of the viva, the candidate gave us a list of errata they'd noticed.

Don't stress about this. Focus on thinking through and reflecting on your argument, your evidence, your methodology, and what the thesis as a whole offers your field.

And I agree: your supervisor is not your proof reader.

Edited

Thank you @LittleBigHead!
That is greatly appreciated. 🙂

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Ramblethroughthebrambles · 18/01/2025 12:37

As an experienced PhD supervisor and examiner, the only time I've seen a thesis downgraded to MPhil straight away, without a chance to rewrite, was when it was unsalvageable due to lack of data. There are few examiners who relish removing someone's opportunity for a doctorate. Most would want to offer the opportunity to correct problems, even if they had serious doubts about the work. Whilst I can see the value of presenting. a sheet of errata, I wouldn't focus too much on this before the viva. Make sure you go in there with a clear idea of the contribution your work makes to prior knowledge and we'll prepped to talk about this. Good luck.

LittleBigHead · 18/01/2025 16:24

I once failed a PhD as an External examiner as there was precious little research, and the candidate could not give an account of the detailed research they claimed to have done on a specific body of materials; couldn't talk about how they located the sources or what the sources encompassed that wasn't in the thesis. It seemed to me that someone else had written a whole slab of the thesis.

We offered resubmission as MPhil, but it was pretty clear there was malpractice. That's part of the "test" of the viva - to make sure it's your own work @Kamr1234 And there's no doubt about that!

Original poster

Kamr1234 · 18/01/2025 16:26

Ramblethroughthebrambles · 18/01/2025 12:37

As an experienced PhD supervisor and examiner, the only time I've seen a thesis downgraded to MPhil straight away, without a chance to rewrite, was when it was unsalvageable due to lack of data. There are few examiners who relish removing someone's opportunity for a doctorate. Most would want to offer the opportunity to correct problems, even if they had serious doubts about the work. Whilst I can see the value of presenting. a sheet of errata, I wouldn't focus too much on this before the viva. Make sure you go in there with a clear idea of the contribution your work makes to prior knowledge and we'll prepped to talk about this. Good luck.

Thank you for sharing this with me @Ramblethroughthebrambles. This has been very well received and has helped considerably.🙂

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Gingerwarthog · 02/02/2025 17:07

Good luck
@Kamr1234
My viva is the second week of Feb and like you I work full time, have a family and am doing this part time.
Just wanted to say you are not alone.
I am also preparing and kicking myself for not noticing errors.
Did you have a mock viva?
I did and it gave me a lot of confidence.

Original poster

Kamr1234 · 08/02/2025 13:41

Thank you for sharing @Gingerwarthog !
I have compiled an excel spreadsheet of all my errors and there are a significant amount. Which I don't know if it's just me looking for every possible error.
I have gone through the top 40 questions, written key points and have a mock viva in a week.
Wishing you all the best for your viva!❤❤❤

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