Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Dissertation Writing

Writing a dissertation is one of the most challenging—and rewarding—academic milestones. It showcases your ability to conduct independent research, critically analyze information, and contribute original ideas to your field. But many students face obstacles that can affect their final grade.

At Ilmi Study, we’ve helped countless students across Qatar and beyond complete high-quality dissertations. To save you time, stress, and potential rewriting, here are the top 10 common mistakes to avoid in your dissertation writing.

1. Choosing a Topic That’s Too Broad or Too Narrow

Mistake: Selecting a vague or overly complex topic without enough focus.

Solution: Choose a researchable topic with clear boundaries. Make sure it’s specific enough to be explored in detail but broad enough to find sufficient resources.

2. Lack of Clear Research Objectives

Mistake: Writing without well-defined goals or research questions.

Solution: Clearly state your aims, objectives, and research questions at the beginning. This gives your dissertation structure and direction.

3. Poor Time Management

Mistake: Leaving everything until the last minute or misjudging how long each section takes.

Solution: Create a detailed timeline with milestones for research, writing, editing, and feedback. Stick to your schedule as closely as possible.

4. Weak Literature Review

Mistake: Only summarizing sources without analyzing them or showing connections.

Solution: Critically evaluate existing research, highlight gaps, and explain how your work fits into the academic conversation.

5. Inconsistent or Inappropriate Referencing

Mistake: Using different referencing styles or forgetting to cite sources.

Solution: Use the referencing style required by your university (APA, Harvard, MLA, etc.) and stay consistent. Keep track of your references from the start.

6. Not Backing Up Claims with Evidence

Mistake: Making statements without supporting them with data, citations, or analysis.

Solution: Every claim you make should be supported by evidence—whether it’s data, research findings, or expert opinions.

7. Poor Structure and Flow

Mistake: Jumping between ideas or writing disjointed paragraphs.

Solution: Follow a logical structure: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Use clear transitions to connect sections.

8. Neglecting the Methodology Section

Mistake: Being vague or unclear about how you conducted your research.

Solution: Describe your research design, data collection methods, sampling strategy, and analysis techniques in detail to ensure transparency and validity.

9. Skipping the Editing and Proofreading Phase

Mistake: Submitting the first draft without revisions.

Solution: Always edit for structure, clarity, and grammar. Then proofread carefully or use professional editing services—like those offered at Ilmi Study—for a polished final draft.

10. Ignoring Feedback

Mistake: Not applying supervisor or peer feedback or taking it personally.

Solution: Treat feedback as a valuable tool to improve your work. Address comments objectively and revise accordingly.

Need Dissertation Support? Ilmi Study Is Here to Help

Whether you’re struggling to choose a topic, structure your chapters, or polish your final draft, Ilmi Study provides expert guidance at every stage of the dissertation process.

✅ Custom Topic Selection
✅ Research Proposal Writing
✅ Literature Review Help
✅ Full Dissertation Writing
✅ Editing & Plagiarism Checking