Introduction
Thesis writing is often described as the most demanding part of a PhD — and for good reason. In India, where many doctoral scholars pursue research alongside jobs, family responsibilities, or institutional limitations, this phase is not just academically challenging but emotionally exhausting. The writing stage demands not only intellectual clarity but also sustained patience, regular feedback, and self-discipline. And yet, many scholars begin this process without proper guidance or exposure to good academic writing practices.
The title of this blog — common mistakes scholars make during thesis writing and how to avoid them — reflects a reality that is often discussed only after things have gone wrong. Many doctoral students realise midway through the process that their structure is weak, their arguments unclear, or their chapters disconnected. These are not personal shortcomings. They’re usually the result of an uneven research environment, inconsistent supervision, and lack of access to writing mentorship. But with the right awareness, these issues can be identified and addressed before they escalate.
When Writing Turns Into a Struggle
For many Indian PhD scholars, especially in private universities, the early writing phase begins without a clear roadmap. While coursework and proposal submission offer some direction, the transition to actual thesis chapters can be confusing. Some students think they need to write everything in one go. Others spend months perfecting the first chapter without realising that later sections may need that content revised. As a result, momentum is lost, confidence dips, and deadlines start to feel impossible.
One of the most common mistakes is treating thesis writing as an act of summarising — especially in the literature review chapter. Instead of analysing what others have written and how their work connects to your own, many students simply list sources. This happens not because they lack insight, but because academic writing is rarely taught in a structured way. Scholars come from diverse backgrounds — engineering, social work, business, humanities — and many have never written long-form academic prose before. Without proper models or guidance, the result is often a patchwork of references with no clear voice.
Another issue is inconsistent language or formatting. Some chapters read like a report, others like an essay. Referencing styles may change from chapter to chapter, and arguments may appear without citations. This inconsistency is often ignored until the final submission — at which point, correcting it becomes a major task. Scholars in part-time PhD programmes, or those with gaps in supervision, are particularly vulnerable to this. They work in isolation, without a regular reader to point out these issues early.
There is also a tendency to delay writing until all data is collected and analysed. While this may seem logical, it often leads to burnout. Writing and research need to happen side by side. When scholars wait for “everything to be ready,” they miss the opportunity to refine their thinking along the way. By the time they start writing, they are overwhelmed by the volume of information and unsure how to organise it into chapters.
How to Avoid Getting Stuck Midway
Most thesis writing issues can be avoided if the process is treated as iterative, not linear. The best writers among Indian PhD scholars are not those who wait for the perfect draft — but those who start with rough versions and improve gradually. Even a weak first draft of a chapter is better than no draft at all. It gives both the student and the guide something to work with. In institutions where the guide does not provide detailed feedback, early drafts can also help scholars seek support from peers, writing groups, or even professional editors if needed.
Time management is also underrated. Many students assume they’ll “find time” on weekends or after work. But writing 50,000 to 80,000 words is not something that fits into leftover hours. Scholars who build a weekly schedule — even modest ones like 500 words a day — often complete their work more smoothly than those who wait for long writing stretches. This is especially true for working professionals enrolled in private universities, where the PhD is pursued in parallel with a full-time job.
Another way to avoid mistakes is to treat feedback seriously — but not personally. Sometimes a supervisor will ask for major changes. Instead of feeling disheartened, it’s more productive to understand what the comment means. Is the argument unclear? Is the structure weak? Does the evidence not support the conclusion? These are academic problems, not personal criticisms. Many Indian scholars, especially first-generation researchers, carry emotional weight into academic feedback — and that slows them down. Developing a habit of revision and reflection can turn that around.
It also helps to regularly revisit your research objectives and research questions. Many students write their proposal at the beginning of the PhD and then forget to check if their chapters are still aligned with it. Over time, the work drifts. The analysis no longer answers the questions originally framed. This is not uncommon, but it becomes a problem if it’s not noticed early. Regularly matching chapters against objectives can help scholars stay on track — and avoid last-minute restructuring just before submission.
Conclusion
Writing a PhD thesis is not a test of intelligence — it’s a test of process. In India, where the research ecosystem can be uneven and mentorship inconsistent, scholars must take ownership of their writing journey. That means starting early, writing regularly, and staying open to revision. Mistakes will happen — but they can be managed, even turned into opportunities for clarity.
The goal is not to produce a perfect thesis in one go. The goal is to build something solid, structured, and meaningful over time — one chapter, one page, one paragraph at a time.