Ten Topics

for
Thesis Composition

Capitalization

Be consistent!!

Headings. In chapter headings, and table and figure labels, you cannot capitalize some
nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and not others. If you decide to capitalize some
prepositions, capitalize all prepositions.

Either of these may be used:

Flight Aerodynamics in the Gunnell Wind Tunnel

Flight aerodynamics in the Gunnell wind tunnel

Proper nouns. Writers have gotten slack about capitalization in the text proper, wanting
to capitalize common nouns. Be consistent!! Use capitalization for proper nouns, for
example

Benzedrine (amphetamine sulfate)
Demerol (meperidine)
Pyrex (heat-resistant glass)
Xerox (copying machine)



Lists

Use parentheses in pairs.

After an error message you have several options: (1) type help!; (2) type x or X; or (3) type
e or E.

Ideal list format.

**Note use of commas and ending period.

The system operates in four separate modes:
a. Operation Cycle,
b. Self Cycle,
c. Make-up Cycle, and


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d. Aircraft Cycle.
If the above were written in a sentence style, you would not capitalize the items.

The system operates in four separate modes: (1) operation cycle, (2) self cycle....

If the items in the list are sentences themselves, punctuate each.

....consisting of three parts:
1. Methods and materials will be listed.
2. Procedures will be followed according to specification.
3. Test results will be completely reports.


Spelling

You are responsible for using contemporary, American spelling. Please, when in doubt check.
Expressions that may have started out as two words, may then have become hyphenated, and
now may be one word with no hyphenation. Scientific English evolves. Use a dictionary.


Acronyms

If you are going to use a fair number, provide a list at the beginning of the thesis. Then, in the
course of the thesis, introduce the reader to the expression and the acronym. Thereafter, unless it
sounds odd, use the acronym.

The technique most used is computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).


Numbers (in general)

Express units of measurement as numerals

7 meters
10 amperes

Express others as words if less than 10

three years
15 tests





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Voice

Active: J ohn hit J im (The doer of the sentence is the subject)
Passive: J im was hit by J ohn. (The recipient of the action in the sentence is the subject)

Active voice is less wordy and may be preferred. Use passive when you want to give emphasis
to the action rather than the agent of the action. Let your ear guide you when to use the passive
voice.

USE: Streptomycin, the first effective cure for tuberculosis, was discovered by Selman
Waksman. (Passive)

NOT: Selman Waksman discovered streptomycin, the first effective cure for tuberculosis.
(Active)


Person

The main reason to avoid passive voice is not, however, wordiness. Active voice makes it clear
who did what.

BAD: It was shown that substance A affected agent B.

GOOD: I proved that substance A affected agent B.
GOOD: Substance A affected agent B.


However, do not use we unless there are two names associated with the thesis research. Either
use active voice and I or use the passive.


Tense

Normally, use either present or past, as appropriate. Past tense is preferred when
discussing your specific work. The future tense can be used when you want to discuss further
research options.

Avoid the perfect tenses. When you must, have is used for present perfect and had
for past perfect.

Researchers have used this common procedure for a variety of tests. (Procedure is still in use)



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Researchers had used this common procedure for a variety of tests. (Procedure is no longer in
use)


Use present tense for established knowledge or previously published work.

The Earth is round.

The first quinone to be reduced is tightly bound (Jones, 1989).


Knowledge that has not been established (like your thesis) or published is better in past
tense.

The subclones containing the D-helix substitutions were reassembled into plasmid P112924.

Table 4 shows that the L- and M-subunit were separately subcloned into M13 derivatives.
[Note that the present tense shows is used since the data are available to the reader but
were is used to present the unpublished results.]


Exception to the established knowledge rule: When attributing work to a scientist, use past tense.

Jones (1989) showed that the first quinone to be reduced is tightly bound.


Subject/predicate agreement.

Within the sentence, the subject and its verb must agree in number. You know, like he is and
they are.

Collective nouns can cause problems.

The number of calculations is extraordinary. Here number is thought of as one entity.

A number of calculations were made. Here number is used as a plural entity.

Special note: data is the plural of datum







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Split infinitive.

Avoid using the split infinitive (inserting an adverb in the middle of an infinitive).

To correctly build the solar home, you need this manual.

The sentence is clearer as

To build the solar home correctly, you need this manual.

He wanted to quickly see the end of the project. Becomes He wanted to see the end of the
project quickly.