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\begin{document}
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\title{The pros and cons of thesis writing}



\author[1]{Josh Nicholson}%
\author[1]{Alberto Pepe}%
\affil[1]{Authorea}%


\vspace{-1em}



  
  \date{April 25, 2026}


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\section*{Writing a thesis is a laborious process that takes
months.~}

{\label{554718}}

Thesis writing marks the culmination of years of work for many students
and is a process that can be both exciting and terrifying. Whether you
are an undergraduate, a masters, or a doctoral student, writing your
thesis or dissertation means work, \emph{and lots of it}. Get ready and
try to make the most out of the experience. While arduous, it can also
be gratifying.

\par\null

\section*{How long is a thesis?}

{\label{207752}}

The average length of a thesis varies depending upon discipline and the
degree you are pursuing. However, most doctoral theses and dissertations
are dozens, if not hundreds, of pages long (see Fig
{\ref{382478}}). On average, the longest theses are
found in history and anthropology (300 pages long) whereas the shortest
ones are in mathematics and biostatistics (100 pages or less).

\par\null

~\selectlanguage{english}
\begin{figure}[h!]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=1.00\columnwidth]{figures/pop-box2/pop-box2}
\caption{{Median dissertation lengths from 2,536 students at The University of
Minnesota that completed their dissertations between 2007 and 2013. Data
and image from
\href{https://beckmw.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/how-long-is-the-average-dissertation/}{Marcus
Beck}.
{\label{382478}}%
}}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

\section*{What is the best way to write a
thesis?}

{\label{821578}}

First, depending upon your institution and discipline, writing and
formatting your thesis will vary. Thus, we advise that the first step
should be for you to understand how your thesis will have to be written
and submitted: the file format, the format of the references, chapters,
table of content, and images. If you choose to write your thesis using
\href{https://authorea.com}{Authorea}, you have a clear advantage: you
can start writing immediately and focus on the content and you can worry
about the formatting later!
(\href{https://intercom.help/authorea/publish/export/exporting-a-document}{Authorea
formats documents in one click})

\par\null

\subsection*{Getting started}

{\label{818458}}

Arguably one of the hardest parts of thesis writing is the mental hurdle
of simply starting to write. You know how long it is going to be and how
hard it will be. This can be intimidating and may be a hurdle in itself.
Start writing and you can come clean up the document/chapters later.
Also, seek feedback! Authorea makes collaboration on theses easy so that
\href{https://intercom.help/authorea/collaborate/commenting/commenting-on-documents}{you
can seek comments and feedback}early and often from colleagues and your
advisor.

\par\null

\subsection*{Should I use LaTeX, Markdown, or Rich Text for thesis
writing?}

{\label{788471}}

Depending upon your skill set and field of research you may choose to
write your thesis differently. Physicists, mathematicians, and others
from the hard sciences might prefer LaTeX, which has many benefits for
thesis writing, like professional typesetting. Alternatively, learning
LaTeX might be too difficult for a researcher and thus may make the
overall process even more difficult. ~Authorea allows you to mix and
match these formats and write in a truly format-neutral environment.
Yes, it is both
for~\href{https://www.authorea.com/users/8850/articles/164546-bringing-the-power-of-latex-and-git-to-all-researchers}{those
that have no experience} with LaTeX and those
that~\href{https://www.authorea.com/users/5713/articles/28015-how-to-write-latex-for-power-users}{exclusively
write in LaTeX}.

\par\null

\section*{Further reading}

{\label{517226}}

Preparing yourself for a Master or PhD thesis is a challenging yet
rewarding intellectual, physical and emotional adventure. We highly
recommend reading Umberto Eco's
\href{https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/how-write-thesis}{How to Write a
Thesis}~by MIT Press and start writing on Authorea.

\par\null

\section*{\texorpdfstring{\href{https://www.authorea.com/start_writing_now}{Start
writing your thesis
now}~?}{Start writing your thesis now~?}}

{\label{634785}}\par\null\par\null

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