my thesis was entitled

Entitled vs. titled

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When they are synonymous with named  or  called , there is no substantive difference between entitled and titled . Some people object to this use  entitled , but the objection is baseless. The use of entitled to mean named goes back centuries, and entitled was in fact the preferred term until recently. Google Books uncovers only 23 instances of the phrase “book titled” in works published in the 19th century, against some 31,000 instances of “book entitled.” ( Titled in those days was much more often used to mean having a noble title .) This ngram , which graphs occurrence of the two phrases in English-language texts published from 1800 to 2000, shows that “book titled” did not gain significant ground until the second half of the 20th century:

The trend in this century goes against tradition. Google News searches covering the last few years show that titled now prevails by an approximately three-to-one margin. This is probably due to the growing use of entitled to mean having a right or claim to something .

Here are a few examples, spanning the last two centuries, of entitled used to mean named :

Mr Miller of Lincoln’s Inn has just published a book, entitled, “An Inquiry into the Present State of the Civil Law of England.” [ Blackwood’s Magazine (1825) ] A clever article entitled “Why Progress is in Leaps” might better have been entitled “A Review of the World’s Scientific Progress. [ Michigan Law Journal (1896) ] Both  the foregoing series by Hiroshige and Hiroshige II have been copied, practically line for line, by Hasegawa Sadanobu in a quarter-plate set entitled Shokoku Meisho Hyak’kei . [ A Guide to Japanese Prints and their Subject Matter , Basil Stewart (1922) ] So certain were the Brazilians of victory that they had already written and recorded a victory samba entitled “Brazil the Victora.” [ The Guardian (1950) ] The Rev. Donald Cozzens, author of a new and challenging book entitled ”The Changing Face of the Priesthood” will be the featured speaker. [ Boston Globe (2002) ]

Most examples of the use of titled from before the last few decades are like these (re-create our Google Books search here ):

The titled Aristocracy being the choosers, we may in practice reject the two last Classes of Eligibles, as they would scarcely ever be resorted to. [ Pamphlets for the People (1835) ] With such triumphs of aerial architecture did Mrs Nickleby occupy the whole evening after her accidental introduction to Ralph’s titled friends. [ The Life and Times of Nicholas Nickleby , Charles Dickens (1839) ] Returning with her to the principal room, where a titled lady sat ensconced in the corner of a sofa, he rudely pushed her aside with the words: “Get out of the way, fat cow.” [ Art and Life (1918) ]

Titled here means bearing a noble title .  

In current news publications, however, titled is very often used in place of entitled —for example:

Six years ago, The Times’ editorial board wrote a piece titled “The Math of the Market,” which argued that there was something special about having at least four companies competing in every segment. [ Los Angeles Times ] The talent hunt, titled Scene Stealers, asked amateur film-makers to borrow from Film 4 productions over the years. [ Guardian ] In a new e-book, titled  How to Survive in a Recession , Mr. Thug (née Stayve Jerome Thomas) doles out forthright financial advice. [ Globe and Mail ] Titled Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), the original was painted in oil in 1910 directly onto a column in the Iglesia del Santuario de Misericordia church in Borja, northeastern Spain.[ News.com.au ]

Examples of entitled used to mean named are still out there, but they are buried under thousands of instances of entitled used in its other sense.

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Entitled vs. Titled: What’s the Difference?

Home » Entitled vs. Titled: What’s the Difference?

There is a lot of information floating around about these two words. Are they both the same? Is one wrong to use? Is one more preferred than the other? There’s no need to worry, however. Once you know the functions of each word, using entitled vs. titled is easy.

What is the Difference Between Entitled and Titled?

Today I want to talk about the difference between these two words, how they should be used in a sentence, and summarize the most popular and authoritative usage guides’ opinions on them.

After reading this post, you should have a clear understanding on how to use both of these words, and you can decide how to use them in your future writings.

When to Use Entitled

• As an employee here, you are entitled to two weeks of vacation.
• She worked the hardest; she is entitled to the promotion.
• You are entitled to your opinion, but I think you are wrong.

The second sense of entitled is “to give a name or title to.” For example,

• She wrote a book entitled To Kill a Mockingbird .
• Today I read an article entitled “Why No One Reads,” and it was eye opening.

When to Use Titled

Titled is the past tense of the transitive verb title . It is defined as “to give a name or title to.” For example,

• What are you going to title your book?
• After much thought, the author titled her book.

Can I Use Entitled and Titled Interchangeably?

Some people emphatically say that you cannot use entitled in this sense, and that it should be restricted in its use to the first sense seen above, “to give a legal right or just claim to something.”

The problem with this claim, however, is that the use of entitled in sense two from above is very well established, dating back to the 14th century, and it actually predates the use of sense one.

The AP Stylebook and several other newspaper guides reserve entitled to the first sense. Other usage guides, such as Fowler’s Modern English Usage , say that both uses are acceptable.

Still, other guides say that entitled can be used in both senses but must be done so within limits.

Garner’s Modern American Usage states that in best usage entitled should be reserved to functioning as a past-participle adjective. For example,

• I read a book entitled Huckleberry Finn . (CORRECT)
• The article entitled “America’s Moving Habits” was a good read. (CORRECT)
• What did you entitle your book? (WRONG)

It goes on to say that as a transitive verb, title is preferred. For example,

• What did you title your book? (CORRECT)

I think Garner’s suggestion makes the most sense. Given the history of the two words, clearly entitled can be used in both senses, and it’s also clear why title would be a preferred choice in certain circumstances.

It’s a general rule in writing that simpler is better, and since titled is simpler than entitled , we can see why it may be preferred.

Of course, as my college English professor used to say, “A good writer knows when to break the rules.”

Despite what some people say, titled vs. entitled can both be used to indicate book titles, but in certain circumstances, as outlined above, one may be preferable to another.

Titled vs. Entitled: Which Is Correct?

⚡ quick summary.

Both titled and entitled are used as past tense verbs to mean “to be called by a particular title.” In modern usage, titled is the more commonly used word in this sense. The word entitled is more commonly used as an adjective to mean “assuming one has a right or claim to a special privilege.” 

Let’s say that your favorite movie is The Godfather. If you held a copy of it in your hand, would you use the word titled or entitled to say what the name of the movie is? Which word is correct? Are they both correct?

In this article, we will break down the difference between titled and entitled , explain how they are typically used, and give example sentences that show how we use both words. 

When to use titled or entitled

The word titled is almost always used as the past tense and past participle form of the verb title , which means “to give a distinguishing name (title) to.” If someone says that a movie is titled Jurassic Park , for example, they are saying that the name of the movie is Jurassic Park . While titled can also be used as an adjective to mean “having a distinctive or honorary name (title),” this usage is uncommon. 

The word entitled has several meanings. As an adjective, it’s most often used to mean “assuming one has the right to do something or has a claim to a special privilege.” As an adjective, entitled can also mean “called by the given distinguishing name (title)” or “having a legitimate right to something.” 

Here are examples of these senses:

• The older generations often accuse millennials of acting entitled. 
• My favorite Star Wars movie is entitled Rogue One: A Star Wars Story .
• According to the will, the billionaire’s daughter, not his son, is legally entitled to the family fortune. 

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Entitled is also the past tense and past participle form of the verb entitle . In this sense it means “to call by a particular title or name,” making it a synonym for the past tense verb titled . 

For example:

• There is a lot of speculation as to why the song is entitled “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” 

Until the 2000s, the word entitled was much more commonly used to refer to the title of things. Today in casual usage, both titled and entitled are used to refer to the titles of things, but titled is more commonly used. However, modern style guides often differ on whether both titled and entitled can or should be used to refer to the titles of things. For example, AP Stylebook states that only titled can refer to actual titles, while The Chicago Manual of Style allows for both words but seems to prefer titled .

Titles of works can convey specific meanings and raise questions—like in Prince Harry's memoir.

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How To Write An Effective Declaration Page For Your Thesis – Template

Published by Alvin Nicolas at March 13th, 2024 , Revised On April 5, 2024

A declaration page stands as a testament to the integrity and authenticity of a thesis. It is a succinct section at the beginning of the document and outlines key information and affirmations regarding the authorship and originality of the work. 

Essentially, it serves as a formal declaration of the author’s adherence to ethical standards and their acknowledgement of the contributions made towards the completion of the thesis. 

A declaration page acts as a cornerstone of academic integrity and helps reinforce the credibility of the research presented within the thesis or dissertation . 

By explicitly stating that the work is original and free from plagiarism, the author not only upholds the principles of honesty but also demonstrates their commitment to scholarly standards. 

Let’s explore this further. 

What Is A Thesis Declaration Page

The declaration page within a thesis serves as a foundational element, providing essential information and affirmations crucial for academic integrity. 

The declaration page, often positioned at the beginning of a thesis, is a formal section dedicated to asserting the authenticity, originality, and ethical adherence of the work presented within the document. It serves as a declaration of the author’s commitment to scholarly integrity and honesty.

This declaration is typically mandated by academic institutions as a requisite component of thesis submission, aimed at upholding rigorous standards of academic conduct.

Purpose Of A Dissertation Declaration

The primary purpose of the declaration page is twofold: to affirm the originality of the research and to acknowledge the contributions of individuals or sources that have assisted in the thesis’s completion. 

By formally declaring the work’s authenticity and adherence to ethical standards, the author establishes credibility and trustworthiness, essential qualities in academic discourse.

Moreover, the declaration page functions as a transparent record of the author’s involvement in the research process , delineating their contributions and attributions. 

It serves as a testament to the author’s accountability and responsibility for the content presented within the thesis, thus safeguarding against plagiarism and intellectual dishonesty.

Key Components To Include

Here are some of the key components to include in your declaration guide. 

Title Of The Thesis

The declaration page typically begins with the title of the thesis , serving as a concise identifier of the research topic or subject matter. The title should accurately reflect the scope and focus of the thesis, providing readers with a clear understanding of its contents.

Name Of The Author

Following the title, the declaration page includes the name of the author, affirming their authorship and responsibility for the research presented within the thesis.

The author’s name serves as a key identifier, linking them directly to the work and asserting their ownership of intellectual contributions.

Declaration Of Originality

Central to the declaration page is the declaration of originality, wherein the author asserts that the work presented within the thesis is their own original creation.

This declaration typically includes statements affirming that the research has not been plagiarised and that any sources or references utilised have been properly cited.

Statement Of Contributions

The statement of contributions provides an opportunity for the author to acknowledge the individuals or entities that have contributed to the completion of the thesis. This may include supervisors , advisors, collaborators, or funding agencies, among others. 

The statement should clearly delineate the specific contributions made by each party, highlighting their roles in the research process.

Acknowledgements (If Applicable)

In some cases, the declaration page may include a section for acknowledgements, wherein the author expresses gratitude to individuals or organisations who have provided support, guidance, or inspiration during the course of the research. 

Acknowledgements may include mentors, peers, family members, or institutions that have facilitated the author’s academic pursuits.

Date Of Submission

Finally, the declaration page concludes with the date of submission, indicating the date on which the thesis was formally submitted for evaluation or examination. 

The inclusion of the submission date serves as a record of the thesis’s completion and submission timeline, ensuring compliance with academic deadlines and requirements.

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How To Write A Declaration Page

Creating a declaration page that is both impactful and professional requires attention to detail and adherence to certain principles. 

Clear & Concise Language

One of the cardinal rules of crafting an effective declaration page is to use clear and concise language. Avoid ambiguity or verbosity, and strive for clarity in expressing your affirmations and acknowledgements. 

The declaration should be easily understandable to readers, conveying your commitment to academic integrity without unnecessary embellishment.

Formatting & Presentation Tips

Formatting plays a crucial role in the presentation of the declaration page. Ensure that the page layout is clean and organised, with consistent font styles and sizes. 

Use headings and subheadings to delineate different sections of the declaration, making it easier for readers to navigate. Additionally, pay attention to spacing and alignment to maintain a polished appearance.

Honesty & Integrity

Honesty and integrity are paramount when crafting a declaration page. It is essential to uphold the highest ethical standards and truthfully affirm the originality of your work. 

Avoid any misleading statements or exaggerations, as they can undermine the credibility of your thesis. Demonstrating integrity in your declaration not only reflects positively on your character but also reinforces the trustworthiness of your research.

Institutional Guidelines & Requirements

Every academic institution may have its own specific guidelines and requirements for declaration pages. Before crafting your declaration, familiarise yourself with these guidelines to ensure compliance. 

Pay attention to formatting specifications, word limits, and any specific language or statements that may be required. Adhering to institutional guidelines demonstrates your attention to detail and respect for academic conventions.

Writing The Declaration Of Originality

The declaration of originality is a crucial component of the declaration page, affirming the authenticity and uniqueness of your work. 

What Constitutes Original Work

Original work refers to content that is created by the author and has not been previously published or plagiarised from other sources. When writing the declaration of originality, it is important to understand what constitutes original work within the context of your field of study. 

This may include original research findings, innovative ideas, or creative interpretations of existing knowledge.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious offence in academia and must be strictly avoided. When writing the declaration of originality, explicitly state that the work presented in your thesis is your own and properly acknowledge any sources or references used. 

Take care to cite all sources accurately and follow citation conventions prescribed by your institution. By demonstrating a commitment to academic honesty, you uphold the integrity of your research.

Declaration Template

I, [Your Name], hereby declare that this thesis entitled “[Title of Your Thesis]” is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at any university or equivalent institution.

I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project’s design and conception or in style, presentation, and linguistic expression is acknowledged. Where applicable, any part of this thesis containing materials prepared jointly with others has been explicitly identified.

Any views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of [University Name] or any other institution.

Signed: ____________________

Date: [Date]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of a declaration in a thesis.

An example of a declaration in a thesis might state: “I hereby declare that this thesis is my original work, conducted under the supervision of [supervisor’s name], and all sources used have been properly cited and acknowledged.”

Where does the declaration go in a thesis?

The declaration typically appears as a preliminary page in a thesis, preceding the abstract and acknowledgements. It is usually located after the title page and before the table of contents, providing a formal statement from the author regarding the originality and integrity of their work.

What is an example of a declaration statement?

An example of a declaration statement in a thesis could be: “I solemnly declare that this thesis is the result of my own research endeavours, conducted under the guidance of [supervisor’s name]. All sources used have been duly acknowledged and referenced according to the conventions of academic integrity and citation.”

What is the declaration format for Phd thesis?

The declaration format for a PhD thesis typically includes a statement asserting the author’s originality of work, acknowledgement of sources, compliance with ethical standards, and declaration of any assistance received. It’s usually structured in a formal, concise manner and is placed at the beginning of the thesis document.

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Thesis Title: Examples and Suggestions from a PhD Grad

When you’re faced with writing up a thesis, choosing a title can often fall to the bottom of the priority list. After all, it’s only a few words. How hard can it be?!

In the grand scheme of things I agree that picking your thesis title shouldn’t warrant that much thought, however my own choice is one of the few regrets I have from my PhD . I therefore think there is value in spending some time considering the options available.

In this post I’ll guide you through how to write your own thesis title and share real-world examples. Although my focus is on the PhD thesis, I’ve also included plenty of thesis title examples for bachelor’s and master’s research projects too.

Hopefully by the end of the post you’ll feel ready to start crafting your own!

Why your thesis title is at least somewhat important

It sounds obvious but your thesis title is the first, and often only, interaction people will have with your thesis. For instance, hiring managers for jobs that you may wish to apply for in the future. Therefore you want to give a good sense of what your research involved from the title.

Many people will list the title of their thesis on their CV, at least for a while after graduating. All of the example titles I’ve shared below came from my repository of academic CVs . I’d say roughly 30% of all the academics on that page list their thesis title, which includes academics all the way up to full professor.

Your thesis title could therefore feature on your CV for your whole career, so it is probably worth a bit of thought!

My suggestions for choosing a good thesis title

• Make it descriptive of the research so it’s immediately obvious what it is about! Most universities will publish student theses online ( here’s mine! ) and they’re indexed so can be found via Google Scholar etc. Therefore give your thesis a descriptive title so that interested researchers can find it in the future.
• Don’t get lost in the detail . You want a descriptive title but avoid overly lengthy descriptions of experiments. Unless a certain analytical technique etc was central to your research, I’d suggest by default* to avoid having it in your title. Including certain techniques will make your title, and therefore research, look overly dated, which isn’t ideal for potential job applications after you graduate.
• The title should tie together the chapters of your thesis. A well-phrased title can do a good job of summarising the overall story of your thesis. Think about each of your research chapters and ensure that the title makes sense for each of them.
• Be strategic . Certain parts of your work you want to emphasise? Consider making them more prominent in your title. For instance, if you know you want to pivot to a slightly different research area or career path after your PhD, there may be alternative phrasings which describe your work just as well but could be better understood by those in the field you’re moving into. I utilised this a bit in my own title which we’ll come onto shortly.
• Do your own thing. Having just laid out some suggestions, do make sure you’re personally happy with the title. You get a lot of freedom to choose your title, so use it however you fancy. For example, I’ve known people to use puns in their title, so if that’s what you’re into don’t feel overly constrained.

*This doesn’t always hold true and certainly don’t take my advice if 1) listing something in your title could be a strategic move 2) you love the technique so much that you’re desperate to include it!

Thesis title examples

To help give you some ideas, here are some example thesis titles from Bachelors, Masters and PhD graduates. These all came from the academic CVs listed in my repository here .

Bachelor’s thesis title examples

Hysteresis and Avalanches Paul Jager , 2014 – Medical Imaging – DKFZ Head of ML Research Group –  direct link to Paul’s machine learning academic CV

The bioenergetics of a marine ciliate, Mesodinium rubrum Holly Moeller , 2008 – Ecology & Marine Biology – UC Santa Barbara Assistant Professor –  direct link to Holly’s marine biology academic CV

Functional syntactic analysis of prepositional and causal constructions for a grammatical parser of Russian Ekaterina Kochmar , 2008 – Computer Science – University of Bath Lecturer Assistant Prof –  direct link to Ekaterina’s computer science academic CV

Master’s thesis title examples

Creation of an autonomous impulse response measurement system for rooms and transducers with different methods Guy-Bart Stan , 2000 – Bioengineering – Imperial Professor –  direct link to Guy-Bart’s bioengineering academic CV

Segmentation of Nerve Bundles and Ganglia in Spine MRI using Particle Filters Adrian Vasile Dalca , 2012 – Machine Learning for healthcare – Harvard Assistant Professor & MIT Research Scientist –  direct link to Adrian’s machine learning academic CV

The detection of oil under ice by remote mode conversion of ultrasound Eric Yeatman , 1986 – Electronics – Imperial Professor and Head of Department –  direct link to Eric’s electronics academic CV

Ensemble-Based Learning for Morphological Analysis of German Ekaterina Kochmar , 2010 – Computer Science – University of Bath Lecturer Assistant Prof –  direct link to Ekaterina’s computer science academic CV

VARiD: A Variation Detection Framework for Color-Space and Letter-Space Platforms Adrian Vasile Dalca , 2010 – Machine Learning for healthcare – Harvard Assistant Professor & MIT Research Scientist –  direct link to Adrian’s machine learning academic CV

Identification of a Writer’s Native Language by Error Analysis Ekaterina Kochmar , 2011 – Computer Science – University of Bath Lecturer Assistant Prof –  direct link to Ekaterina’s computer science academic CV

On the economic optimality of marine reserves when fishing damages habitat Holly Moeller , 2010 – Ecology & Marine Biology – UC Santa Barbara Assistant Professor –  direct link to Holly’s marine biology academic CV

Sensitivity Studies for the Time-Dependent CP Violation Measurement in B 0 → K S K S K S at the Belle II-Experiment Paul Jager , 2016 – Medical Imaging – DKFZ Head of ML Research Group –  direct link to Paul’s machine learning academic CV

PhD thesis title examples

Spatio-temporal analysis of three-dimensional real-time ultrasound for quantification of ventricular function Esla Angelini  – Medicine – Imperial Senior Data Scientist –  direct link to Elsa’s medicine academic CV

The role and maintenance of diversity in a multi-partner mutualism: Trees and Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Holly Moeller , 2015 – Ecology & Marine Biology – UC Santa Barbara Assistant Professor –  direct link to Holly’s marine biology academic CV

Bayesian Gaussian processes for sequential prediction, optimisation and quadrature Michael Osborne , 2010 – Machine Learning – Oxford Full Professor –  direct link to Michael’s machine learning academic CV

Global analysis and synthesis of oscillations: a dissipativity approach Guy-Bart Stan , 2005 – Bioengineering – Imperial Professor –  direct link to Guy-Bart’s bioengineering academic CV

Coarse-grained modelling of DNA and DNA self-assembly Thomas Ouldridge , 2011– Bioengineering – Imperial College London Senior Lecturer / Associate Prof –  direct link to Thomas’ bioengineering academic CV

4D tomographic image reconstruction and parametric maps estimation: a model-based strategy for algorithm design using Bayesian inference in Probabilistic Graphical Models (PGM) Michele Scipioni , 2018– Biomedical Engineer – Harvard Postdoctoral Research Fellow –  direct link to Michele’s biomedical engineer academic CV

Error Detection in Content Word Combinations Ekaterina Kochmar , 2016 – Computer Science – University of Bath Lecturer Assistant Prof –  direct link to Ekaterina’s computer science academic CV

Genetic, Clinical and Population Priors for Brain Images Adrian Vasile Dalca , 2016 – Machine Learning for healthcare – Harvard Assistant Professor & MIT Research Scientist –  direct link to Adrian’s machine learning academic CV

Challenges and Opportunities of End-to-End Learning in Medical Image Classification Paul Jager , 2020 – Medical Imaging – DKFZ Head of ML Research Group –  direct link to Paul’s machine learning academic CV

K 2 NiF 4  materials as cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells Ainara Aguadero , 2006 – Materials Science – Imperial Reader –  direct link to Ainara’s materials science academic CV

Applications of surface plasmons – microscopy and spatial light modulation Eric Yeatman , 1989 – Electronics – Imperial Professor and Head of Department –  direct link to Eric’s electronics academic CV

Geometric Algorithms for Objects in Motion Sorelle Friedler , 2010 – Computer science – Haverford College Associate Professor –  direct link to Sorelle’s computer science academic CV .

Geometrical models, constraints design, information extraction for pathological and healthy medical image Esla Angelini  – Medicine – Imperial Senior Data Scientist –  direct link to Elsa’s medicine academic CV

Why I regret my own choice of PhD thesis title

I should say from the outset that I assembled my thesis in quite a short space of time compared to most people. So I didn’t really spend particularly long on any one section, including the title.

However, my main supervisor even spelled out for me that once the title was submitted to the university it would be permanent. In other words: think wisely about your title.

What I started with

Initially I drafted the title as something like: Three dimensional correlative imaging for cartilage regeneration . Which I thought was nice, catchy and descriptive.

I decided to go for “correlative imaging” because, not only did it describe the experiments well, but it also sounded kind of technical and fitting of a potential pivot into AI. I’m pleased with that bit of the title.

What I ended up with

Before submitting the title to the university (required ahead of the viva), I asked my supervisors for their thoughts.

One of my well intentioned supervisors suggested that, given that my project didn’t involve verifying regenerative quality, I probably shouldn’t state cartilage regeneration . Instead, they suggested, I should state what I was experimenting on (the materials) rather than the overall goal of the research (aid cartilage regeneration efforts).

With this advice I dialled back my choice of wording and the thesis title I went with was:

Three dimensional correlative imaging for measurement of strain in cartilage and cartilage replacement materials

Reading it back now I’m reminder about how less I like it than my initial idea!

I put up basically no resistance to the supervisor’s choice, even though the title sounds so much more boring in my opinion. I just didn’t think much of it at the time. Furthermore, most of my PhD was actually in a technique which is four dimensional (looking at a series of 3D scans over time, hence 4D) which would have sounded way more sciency and fitting of a PhD.

What I wish I’d gone with

If I had the choice again, I’d have gone with:

Four-dimensional correlative imaging for cartilage regeneration

Which, would you believe it, is exactly what it states on my CV…

Does the thesis title really matter?

In all honesty, your choice of thesis title isn’t that important. If you come to regret it, as I do, it’s not the end of the world. There are much more important things in life to worry about.

If you decide at a later stage that you don’t like it you can always describe it in a way that you prefer. For instance, in my CV I describe my PhD as I’d have liked the title to be. I make no claim that it’s actually the title so consider it a bit of creative license.

Given that as your career progresses you may not even refer back to your thesis much, it’s really not worth stressing over. However, if you’re yet to finalise your thesis title I do still think it is worth a bit of thought and hopefully this article has provided some insights into how to choose a good thesis title.

My advice for developing a thesis title

• Draft the title early. Drafting it early can help give clarity for the overall message of your research. For instance, while you’re assembling the rest of your thesis you can check that the title encompasses the research chapters you’re included, and likewise that the research experiments you’re including fall within what the title describes. Drafting it early also gives more time you to think it over. As with everything: having a first draft is really important to iterate on.
• Look at some example titles . Such as those featured above!
• If you’re not sure about your title, ask a few other people what they think . But remember that you have the final say!

I hope this post has been useful for those of you are finalising your thesis and need to decide on a thesis title. If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to hear about future content (and gain access to my free resource library!) you can subscribe for free here:

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Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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6 Email Templates to Ask Someone to be on Your Thesis Committee

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Professional Etiquette

Writing a thesis is one of the most challenging parts of being an undergraduate or graduate student. You need to know how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee, especially if you are looking for a mentor to guide you through the writing process.

If you are currently starting the dissertation process, these unique email templates will help show you how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee.

How to ask someone to be on your thesis committee: When asking senior students

  These email templates will help you figure out how to ask a senior student to be on your thesis committee.   Senior students are perfect for helping you through the writing process. You can ask a student with whom you get along and share similar ideas.  

When asking professors to be on your thesis committee

  Your professor would be an invaluable addition to your thesis committee, especially since they could provide you with unique insight and constructive criticism.   Here is how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee if the person is your professor.  

You May Also Like:

30 Great Words to Describe a Teacher

How to ask someone to be on your thesis committee: When asking professionals in your field

  Professionals can offer diverse and useful expertise if they choose to join your thesis committee. Here is how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee if you’re asking professionals in your field.  

  These are unique email templates that you can use when trying to figure out how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee.   Whether it is your professor, a senior student in your faculty, or a professional in your field, these templates will help you get that positive response that you are seeking.   If you are currently working on your thesis and wondering how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee, these templates will surely help you get some ideas.  

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"thesis entitled" vs "thesis titled"

Last Updated: April 14, 2024

• thesis entitled

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thesis titled

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Inbox on the thesis, and later lessons.

I skated through Princeton. The ice was always thin, and it wasn’t until the senior thesis that it broke and I tumbled through. My grade — a six — meant I would not graduate with the rest of my class. Failure writ large. Princeton was kind to me and in the following year gave me another chance. The next year I got the degree: box checked and off to a life in business and publishing.

I was an ordinary undergraduate for those days — entitled white boy from the suburbs. I wasn’t an ordinary alumnus. I didn’t buy the blazer, go to football games, come to Reunions. If I thought about Princeton in those years after graduation it was a “been there, done that” sort of thing. And probably a little “how could they do this to me?”

In the middle of life, I became involved with Princeton again. My work in publishing brought me to the University Press, where I served on the board for 20 years. This experience put me in touch with a Princeton that was new for me a place of intellectual excitement and curiosity.

It wasn’t new of course. That Princeton had existed all along and I was simply late to recognize it. One of my most vivid memories of Princeton was Professor James Ward Smith’s final Philosophy 101 lecture. As he wound it down, Smith turned his back to the lecture hall. He was quiet for a moment. Then, suddenly he turned and delivered his final thought, “Be amazed!” he cried and stalked out of the room. 

That spark never died; it is a debt I owe to Princeton. Now, in my 80s, I have come to realize another debt to Princeton. It has to do with the uses of failure. Samuel Beckett put it best I think: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail better.” The undergraduates I have encountered at Reunions and elsewhere fill me with admiration. I would never get into today’s Princeton and that’s fine. But I — as I suppose it is with all us old alums — would love to have another go.

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