By Dr Lonny Ness
Have you been in this situation, where your dissertation chair/advisor/supervisor/committee tells you that you need to hire an editor (and will not approve your paper until you do), but you are already low on funds, or in debt due to your academic and/or living expenses? There are options, and hope!
To be clear, editors are worth their weight in gold and are by far worth the investment - whether you are told you need an editor, or not. However, editors can be expensive and may be beyond the budget for many doctoral and higher education students living on a shoestring.
What services can you expect from an editor?
- Word-by-Word review grammar, spelling, and formatting (e.g., APA)
- High-level reviews with recommendation for revision
- Grammar, spelling, and formatting corrections
What should not be expected from an editor is to create content, such as ghost-writing, as this is not appropriate and should be avoided. However, when an editor is mandatory for dissertation/thesis approval, then find an editor that offers a variety of service and pricing options. For instance, at Dissertation Prep, we offer full (word-by-word) as well as high-level (major errors). In addition, we can serve as your writing coach throughout the remainder of your degree. Contact Us FOr Information!
If you are in need of editing (almost everyone is), but low on funds to hire a qualified editor, here are a few resources that may help:
- Grammarly Free Checker
- Citation Machine
- Hemingway App
- Ginger Software (Grammar Checker)
- Article Checker (Essay and Plagiarism Checker)
- Stylewriter (low cost, not free)
- Purdue OWL Website (Writing, APA, MLA, Chicago Style, and more!)
- Microsoft Word (has extensive grammar and spell-checking features)
- University Writing Centers - Many available to the public at no charge! A good example is the Walden University Writing Center
- https://www.englishcentral.com/ (learn English)
- https://oatd.org/ (Open Access Theses and Dissertations)
- https://writer.com/ (Writer)
What are other sources that you have found? Send us your comment, with a link, and I will update this blog post as new resources are found.
In conclusion, although these (and other) free writing resources exist, doctoral students should be cautious about over-reliance on these resources as the idiom “you get what you pay for” often applies. As mentioned earlier, the work and role of an editor is invaluable in achieving one’s doctorate. Regardless, students must take responsibility for their own work and success; therefore, early planning and budgeting should factor in the cost of an editor at various stages of the doctoral journey. What are your experiences?
If you still need an editor, contact us for more information.
Best Doctoral Success,
Dissertation Prep
Dr. Lonny Ness, originally from Los Angeles and now residing in Nashville, TN, is a seasoned professional with a rich background in business administration and IT management. Following a successful 27-year corporate career, he transitioned to academia in 2007. His academic journey includes earning an MBA and a PhD in Business Administration, with the latter obtained from Northcentral University (NCU) in 2005. Dr. Lonny has served in various roles in the academic world, including as an online adjunct professor, lead school dissertation reviewer, and doctoral program curriculum developer.
In addition to his extensive corporate and academic experience, Dr. Lonny has providing guidance and support for doctoral students. He has chaired and served on dissertation committees for over 85 graduates, and his dedication to teaching has earned him the title of Instructor of the Year. Dr. Lonny continues to explore entrepreneurial opportunities and research activities, eagerly embracing the transformative power of change and new possibilities.