An acknowledgements section is usually not mandatory, but it is often one of the most-read pages of your dissertation. Think about it: when people get their hands on a dissertation, they almost always turn directly to the acknowledgements looking for familiar names. Some read it primarily because they expect to be mentioned themselves. Others are simply curious about the personal side of the research. What if you forget to mention someone? How personal should or can you be? You do not want to offend anyone, but you also do not want to remain too formal. In this article, you will find 6 practical tips to help you write a sincere and balanced acknowledgements section.
we will discuss:
- Use the right tone and form
- Thank the most important people first
- Thank various institutions and organisations
- Mention other contributors
- Conclude with personal thanks
- What do you do if you do not want to thank someone?
1.Use the right tone
The acknowledgements section is a balance between friendly and formal. You write more personally than in the rest of your dissertation, but you maintain a professional tone. Avoid overly informal language or inside jokes that only you and your immediate colleagues understand. Remember that your acknowledgements will be read by many people, from colleagues in your field to family members who know little about your area of expertise.
Examples of appropriate formulations:
✦ I would like to thank …
✦ I am grateful for …
✦ My research would have been impossible without the help and support of …
✦ … was invaluable in …
✦ My sincere thanks to …
✦ I would like to express my appreciation for …
Choose formulations that suit you and vary them to avoid repetition. It may be personal, but remain respectful.
2. Thank the most important people
Begin with the people who were directly involved in your research. Think of your supervisors, co-supervisors, advisors, colleagues, fellow students, fellow PhD candidates, and any respondents or participants in your research.
Why this order?
These people have made a direct contribution to the completion of your dissertation. They expect to be mentioned and deserve that recognition. Be specific where possible: mention, for example, a supervisor who helped you achieve a breakthrough in your research, or a colleague who always made time for a discussion.
3. Thank various institutions and organisations
After the individuals, acknowledge the institutions or parties that made your research possible. Think of financial support, facilities, or other forms of assistance.
Examples:
✦ A research institute or university
✦ A grant provider or foundation
✦ Your employer or research group
✦ A laboratory or research facility
These acknowledgements are often shorter and more formal, but no less important. Especially if contractual agreements have been made, it is wise to mention these parties explicitly.
4. Mention other contributors
There are always people who contribute in the background but are not directly involved in your research. Think of an administrative staff member who helped you with practical matters, an IT staff member who saved you when your laptop crashed, or the printer who guided you well in printing your dissertation.
You might also consider:
✦ An author whose dissertation you used as an example
✦ A librarian who helped you find sources
✦ A linguist who proofread your text
These acknowledgements do not need to be long, but they do show that you appreciate all the help you have received.
5. Conclude with personal thanks
The final part of your acknowledgements is often the most personal. Here you thank your family, friends, partner, housemates, or other loved ones who helped you through the PhD trajectory. Not with substantive knowledge, but with mental support, distraction, patience, or simply a listening ear.
Examples:
✦ Your partner who supported you during late evenings and weekends of work
✦ Your parents who always believed in you
✦ Your children who were patient when you were working on your laptop again
✦ Friends who provided relaxation and distraction
This part may be somewhat more informal and emotional. It is your space to sincerely show your gratitude to the people who helped you through difficult moments.
6. What to do if you do not want to thank someone?
This is perhaps the most difficult question: what do you do if you are not at all satisfied with the contribution of, for example, one of your supervisors? Or if an advisor created obstacles instead of helping?
The answer: mention everyone, but only thank where thanks are due.
After all, it is your acknowledgements section. Leaving someone out is not an option, because you never know when you will encounter that person again. Moreover, it is noticeable if an important contributor is missing.
An example:
Suppose a co-supervisor did not share the knowledge you needed at the beginning of your PhD. Towards the end of your research, however, he put on the brakes because he felt that precisely that knowledge was still missing. Very frustrating, but leaving him out is not an option.
Solution:
Thank him in a neutral or positive way, without saying anything that is not true. For example: “I thank [name] for his critical eye, which elevated the dissertation to a higher level, even when I thought I was already finished.”
In this way, you give a positive spin to the situation without being insincere. You do not thank that person for something for which you do not owe them thanks, but you do acknowledge their role.
Ready to print your thesis?
Have you written your acknowledgements and is your dissertation ready? Then it is time for the next step: thesis printing. At Gildeprint, we guide you from A to Z. From advice on paper type and finishing to providing the perfect printing and binding. So you can defend your dissertation with peace of mind.
