Blog · January 30, 2026 · 7 min read
Writing a dissertation in English as a second language: a survival guide
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Writing a 25,000-word dissertation in your second language is a real undertaking. The right workflow makes it manageable.
Drafting strategy
Write in English from the start — don't translate from your first language. Translation tends to import sentence structures that don't work in academic English.
Read three high-quality dissertations in your field before you start. Internalise the rhythm.
When to bring in an editor
After your supervisor's feedback on the final draft, before submission. Build a fortnight into your timeline.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Grammarly?
For typos, yes. For academic register, no — it flattens nuance and misses hedging.
Will an editor preserve my arguments?
Yes. Our ESL editors are explicitly trained to preserve authorship and voice.
Polished English, your argument intact
Our ESL dissertation editors are matched to your discipline and writing level.
ESL proofreading for non-native authors →Continue reading
- Academic English tips for ESL researchers and students
Twelve high-leverage academic English habits for non-native authors writing for UK universities and international journals.
- Twenty academic English mistakes ESL writers make most often
The twenty recurring academic English mistakes our ESL editors fix most often — articles, tense, register, hedging and more.
- How to proofread a dissertation, step by step
A practical, supervisor-approved walkthrough of how to proofread your own dissertation — chapter by chapter, with the checks examiners actually run.