is there plural for thesis

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Word Tools Finders & Helpers Apps More Synonyms Copyright WordHippo © 2024 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 References 1.5 Further reading 1.6 Anagrams 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Pronunciation 3.1 Etymology 3.2 Pronunciation 3.3.1 Declension 3.3.2 Descendants 3.4 References From Late Middle English thesis ( “ lowering of the voice ” ) [ 1 ] and also borrowed directly from its etymon Latin thesis ( “ proposition, thesis; lowering of the voice ” ) , from Ancient Greek θέσῐς ( thésis , “ arrangement, placement, setting; conclusion, position, thesis; lowering of the voice ” ) , from τῐ́θημῐ ( títhēmi , “ to place, put, set; to put down in writing; to consider as, regard ” ) [ 2 ] [ 3 ] (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- ( “ to do; to place, put ” ) ) + -σῐς ( -sis , suffix forming abstract nouns or nouns of action, process, or result ) . The English word is a doublet of deed . Sense 1.1 (“proposition or statement supported by arguments”) is adopted from antithesis . [ 2 ] Sense 1.4 (“initial stage of reasoning”) was first used by the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762–1814), and later applied to the dialectical method of his countryman, the philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831). The plural form theses is borrowed from Latin thesēs , from Ancient Greek θέσεις ( théseis ) . Pronunciation ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈθiːsɪs/ , ( archaic ) /ˈθɛsɪs/ Audio ( ): ( ) ( General American ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈθisɪs/ Rhymes: -iːsɪs Hyphenation: the‧sis ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈθiːsiːz/ ( General American ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈθisiz/ Rhymes: -iːsiːz Hyphenation: the‧ses thesis ( plural theses ) ( rhetoric ) A proposition or statement supported by arguments . 1766 , [ Oliver Goldsmith ], “The Conclusion”, in The Vicar of Wakefield:   [ … ] , volume II, Salisbury, Wiltshire: [ … ] B. Collins, for F [ rancis ] Newbery ,   [ … ] , →OCLC , pages 218–219 : I told them of the grave, becoming, and ſublime deportment they ſhould aſſume upon this myſtical occaſion, and read them two homilies and a theſis of my own compoſing, in order to prepare them. ( mathematics , computer science ) A conjecture , especially one too vague to be formally stated or verified but useful as a working convention. ( logic ) An affirmation , or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis . ( philosophy ) In the dialectical method of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel : the initial stage of reasoning where a formal statement of a point is developed ; this is followed by antithesis and synthesis . ( music , prosody , originally ) The action of lowering the hand or bringing down the foot when indicating a rhythm ; hence, an accented part of a measure of music or verse indicated by this action; an ictus , a stress . Antonym: arsis ( music , prosody , with a reversal of meaning ) A depression of the voice when pronouncing a syllables of a word ; hence, the unstressed part of the metrical foot of a verse upon which such a depression falls , or an unaccented musical note . Derived terms all but thesis bachelor's thesis Church-Turing thesis conflict thesis doctoral thesis graduate thesis Habakkuk thesis master's thesis Merton thesis private language thesis thesis defense thesis statement Related terms Translations.   (tʻez)   ,   (tézis),   (palažénnje),   (téza)     (téza),     (tézis)     ／ (leon dim ), ／ (leon tai ) ／   (lùndiǎn), ／   (lùntí)       ,             ,             (tezisi)       (thésis)       ,       (tēze),   (ろんだい, rondai),   (しゅちょう, shuchō),   (ていりつ, teiritsu) (teje), (nonje), (ronje) (North Korea)     (teza)                 (tɛ́zis),     (položénije)                   ,   ,   ,   ,     (téza),   (tézys),   (polóžennja)     (ʔuṭrūḥa)   (atenaxosutʻyun),   (disertacʻia), (diplomayin ašxatankʻ)     (dysjertácyja),   (dysertácyja),   (dyplómnaja rabóta)     (disertácija)     ,     ／ (leon man ) ／   (lùnwén)     ,       ,     ,       ,   ;   ;           ,   (diserṭacia)     ,     ,     ,     ,     ,     (only a doctoral thesis) (mahāśodh nibandh)     (téza)   ,   (postgraduate),           (ろんぶん, ronbun) (dissertasiä), (diplomdyq jūmys)   (nɨkkheepaʼbɑt)   (nonmun),   (ronmun) (North Korea) (dissertatsiya)   (wi tha nyā ni phon)         (disertacija)   or     , (pâyân-nâme),       ,           ,         (dissertácija),   (diplómnaja rabóta)         ,     ,         ,     (dissertatsiya)   (wít-tá-yaa-ní-pon),   (bpà-rin-yaa-ní-pon),   (ní-pon)   , ,   (dysertácija),   (dyplómna robóta)   , ,     (thésis)   ^ “ thē̆sis, n. ”, in MED Online , Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan , 2007 . ^ “ thesis, n. ”, in Lexico , Dictionary.com ; Oxford University Press , 2019–2022 . Further reading “ thesis ”, in The Century Dictionary   [ … ] , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co. , 1911 , →OCLC . “ thesis ”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary , Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam , 1913 , →OCLC . Heists , Sethis , heists , shiest , shites , sithes , thises From Latin thesis , from Ancient Greek θέσις ( thésis , “ a proposition, a statement, a thing laid down, thesis in rhetoric, thesis in prosody ” ) . Audio: ( ) thesis   f ( plural theses or thesissen , diminutive thesisje   n ) Dated form of these . Synonyms: dissertatie , proefschrift , scriptie From Ancient Greek θέσις ( thésis , “ a proposition, a statement, a thing laid down, thesis in rhetoric, thesis in prosody ” ) . ( Classical Latin ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈtʰe.sis/ , [ˈt̪ʰɛs̠ɪs̠] ( modern Italianate Ecclesiastical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈte.sis/ , [ˈt̪ɛːs̬is] thesis   f ( genitive thesis ) ; third declension Case Singular Plural Descendants → Dutch: thesis → Armenian: թեզ ( tʻez ) → Dutch: these → Persian: تز ( tez ) → Romanian: teză → Turkish: tez Galician: tese Italian: tesi English: thesis Portuguese: tese Spanish: tesis “ thesis ”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short ( 1879 ) A Latin Dictionary , Oxford: Clarendon Press thesis in Gaffiot, Félix ( 1934 ) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français , Hachette. English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁- English terms inherited from Middle English English terms derived from Middle English English terms borrowed from Latin English terms derived from Latin English terms derived from Ancient Greek English doublets English 2-syllable words English terms with IPA pronunciation English terms with audio links Rhymes:English/iːsɪs Rhymes:English/iːsɪs/2 syllables Rhymes:English/iːsiːz Rhymes:English/iːsiːz/2 syllables English lemmas English nouns English countable nouns English nouns with irregular plurals en:Rhetoric English terms with quotations en:Mathematics en:Computer science en:Philosophy English contranyms Dutch terms derived from Latin Dutch terms derived from Ancient Greek Dutch terms with audio links Dutch lemmas Dutch nouns Dutch nouns with Latin plurals Dutch nouns with plural in -en Dutch feminine nouns Dutch dated forms Latin terms derived from Proto-Indo-European Latin terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁- Latin terms borrowed from Ancient Greek Latin terms derived from Ancient Greek Latin 2-syllable words Latin terms with IPA pronunciation Latin lemmas Latin nouns Latin third declension nouns Latin feminine nouns in the third declension Latin feminine nouns Word of the day archive English entries with language name categories using raw markup Pages with 3 entries Terms with Armenian translations Terms with Asturian translations Terms with Azerbaijani translations Terms with Belarusian translations Terms with Bulgarian translations Terms with Catalan translations Terms with Cantonese translations Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations Terms with Mandarin translations Terms with Czech translations Terms with Danish translations Terms with Dutch translations Terms with Esperanto translations Terms with Estonian translations Terms with Finnish translations Terms with French translations Terms with Galician translations Terms with Georgian translations Terms with German translations Terms with Ancient Greek translations Terms with Hungarian translations Terms with Italian translations Terms with Japanese translations Terms with Korean translations Terms with Latin translations Terms with Macedonian translations Terms with Malay translations Terms with Maori translations Terms with Norwegian Bokmål translations Terms with Persian translations Terms with Polish translations Terms with Portuguese translations Russian terms with non-redundant manual transliterations Terms with Russian translations Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations Terms with Slovak translations Terms with Slovene translations Terms with Spanish translations Terms with Swedish translations Terms with Tagalog translations Terms with Turkish translations Terms with Ukrainian translations Terms with Vietnamese translations Terms with Arabic translations Terms with Gujarati translations Terms with Hebrew translations Terms with Indonesian translations Terms with Kazakh translations Terms with Khmer translations Terms with Kyrgyz translations Terms with Lao translations Terms with Latvian translations Terms with Lithuanian translations Terms with Norwegian Nynorsk translations Terms with Romanian translations Terms with Tajik translations Terms with Thai translations Terms with Uzbek translations Terms with Middle English translations Navigation menu English Teacher Site Whats the Plural of Thesis: Understanding Singular and Plural Forms The plural of “thesis” adheres to the Greek-rooted pattern, changing the singular -is to a plural -es. Accurate use of “thesis” and “theses” reflects scholarly precision in both written and oral communication. Awareness of correct pluralization extends to other similar nouns ending in -sis, emphasizing the importance of understanding language origins. It is crucial to use the word correctly in both singular and plural contexts to maintain the integrity of written and spoken communication. In the realm of academics, precision in language reflects the rigor of one’s research and argumentation. As such, understanding the transformation from “thesis” to its plural counterpart is more than a trivial detail; it reflects a deeper appreciation for the structure and history of the English language. Table of Contents What’s the Plural of Thesis? The proper plural of thesis is “theses.” This transformation is part of a broader pattern in the English language where certain nouns change their ending to reflect a plural state. Below, a comparison is made to illustrate the standard singular to plural transformation for nouns ending in -is: Singular Plural thesis theses crisis crises oasis oases Key Points about the pluralization of “thesis”: The plural follows a specific rule of changing the ‘-is’ ending to ‘-es’. This pattern is consistent with other Greek-derived words. The pronunciation changes with the plural form, ending in “-eez.” To clarify usage, consider these examples: Singular: The student’s thesis was commended for its clarity. Plural: The professor read all the submitted theses before the conference. Singular Form of Thesis The singular form of ‘thesis’ is of notable interest due to its origins and distinct pluralization. Origination and Definition: Etymology : Derived from the ancient Greek word τίθημι (tithēmi), which means “to put” or “to place.” Meaning : It is a statement or theory put forward to be maintained or proved. Usage in Academia: A significant piece of writing prepared by a student to obtain a university degree or diploma. Often involves original research and substantiates a particular view or argument. Table 1: Notable Features of ‘Thesis’ Features Description Pronunciation /ˈθiːsɪs/ Syllable Structure Two Grammatical Number Singular Table 2: Contextual Examples Context Example Sentence In a Proposal “Her proposal was accepted by the advisory committee.” During Defense “He defended his rigorously to earn his master’s degree.” In Academic Writing “The central of the book is well-supported with evidence.” Definition of Thesis A thesis is a substantial piece of scholarly writing that is typically required to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree. It represents the author’s research and findings in their chosen field of study. A thesis serves as evidence that the student has acquired the knowledge necessary to be considered a scholar in the field. Here, two key aspects of a thesis will be described through tables: Purpose and Composition of a Thesis: To present original research Introduction To showcase the author’s understanding and proficiency Literature Review To contribute to the academic community Methodology To fulfill a requirement for a graduate degree Results/Discussion   Conclusion Characteristics of a Thesis: Focused : It should have a clear, concise premise or central argument. Researched : Employs rigorous methodologies to gather and analyze data. Structured : Contains defined sections that present information logically. Cited : Includes proper citations of sources that support or contrast the thesis. Reviewed : Undergoes scrutiny by academic peers or supervisors. Other Irregular Plural Nouns Ending in -sis/ses Below you will find two tables categorized by common and less common irregular plurals that follow this pattern. Common Irregular Plurals: Singular Plural analysis analyses hypothesis hypotheses parenthesis parentheses thesis theses This pattern is often observed with words that have Greek origins. Less Common Irregular Plurals: Singular Plural basis bases crisis crises oasis oases It is important to recognize these forms to maintain grammatical accuracy in writing and speech. Below is a list of examples used in sentences: When multiple scientific hypotheses are tested, the results can lead to important discoveries. During the editing process, Jane had to review all the parentheses to ensure clarity in her writing. Geographers study multiple oases in the desert to understand these unique ecosystems. His thesis on renewable energy was well-received, and many theses on the subject reference his work. Examples of Thesis (Singular) in Sentences Here are examples that demonstrate its usage in various sentences. In Academic Context Subject Area Sentence Literature His thesis explores the symbolism in Victorian poetry. Science The thesis provides a groundbreaking approach to climate change mitigation. In Everyday Discourse Informal setting : During the debate, his thesis was that space exploration is no longer just a dream but a necessity. Discussing beliefs : Her thesis is that all public spaces should offer free Wi-Fi. Opinion : They argued the thesis that high taxes discourage spending. Examples of Theses (Plural) in Sentences Here are some examples of how “theses” can be used in sentences: The library’s collection includes theses from graduates over the decades. Indicates possession of multiple papers by the library. She compared multiple theses to ensure her research was comprehensive. Shows the act of reviewing several papers. The committee requested summaries of the proposed theses before approval. Used as the subject of the committee’s requests. Theses covering revolutionary medical findings were presented at the conference. Theses acting as the main topic at a professional event. Education Setting : Graduate students often struggle to find unique topics for their theses as most ideas have been extensively explored. Evaluating the structure and arguments of different theses can help one build a stronger dissertation. Origin of the Word Thesis The term thesis originates from the ancient Greek word θέσις (thésis), which means “a proposition” . Historically, this term has played a crucial role in both rhetorical and academic contexts. It denotes a statement that a writer intends to support and prove. In academic circles, thesis often refers to a document that presents the author’s research and findings and is submitted in support of candidature for a degree or professional qualification. Etymological Background The journey of the word from its Greek roots to the modern English language reflects the changing dynamics of educational and scholarly practices over the centuries. Greek Origin Modern English Equivalent θέσις (thésis) Thesis As a carryover from Greek to Latin, the word made its way into English, maintaining its original Greek plural form: Singular Plural Thesis Theses Usage in Academia In academia, the word has been used since the late Middle Ages to denote a scholarly work written by students aiming to obtain a university degree. Over time, the use of thesis expanded from merely referring to a proposition to a lengthy document providing evidence of comprehensive research. Historical Evolution: Middle Ages : Referred to propositions for a degree. Renaissance : Emphasized individual research. Modern Usage : Extensive research documents for higher education degrees. Areas of Impact: Rhetoric : Considered as a premise to be argued. Academic Research : Reflects comprehensive study in a field. My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students. Similar Posts What’s the Plural of Belief? Understanding Singular and Plural Nouns The singular noun “belief” denotes a conviction or acceptance that something exists or is true, especially without proof. Expanding the term to its plural form, “beliefs,” refers to multiple such convictions or accepted notions. It is crucial to use the plural form accurately, especially when discussing various individual tenets or when referencing a set of… What Are Common Nouns vs Proper Nouns: Understanding the Basics Correctly using common and proper nouns is essential for clear communication in English. When writing, one must capitalize proper nouns to signal their importance and distinguish them from common nouns. Conversely, common nouns are only capitalized if they start a sentence or are part of a title. Being able to identify and use these types… What’s the Plural of Synthesis: Understanding Singular and Plural Forms in English It’s fascinating to observe how certain nouns transform from singular to plural. The word “synthesis” is an intriguing case. It originates from the Greek “synthesis,” which means “to put together,” reflecting the action of combining different elements to create a cohesive whole. In the world of chemistry, synthesis refers to the process of creating complex… What are Plural Only Nouns: Understanding Unpaired English Nouns Distinguishing these nouns from their singular-only counterparts is not just a matter of semantics but a reflection of their inherent characteristics or cultural usage patterns. While plural-only nouns often denote objects with pairs or sets, singular-only nouns represent concepts that are intrinsically indivisible or abstract, such as information or advice. Navigating these subtleties helps in… What’s the Plural of Bureau? Understanding Correct Usage in English Grammar The English language is full of nuances that can sometimes stump even the most proficient speakers. One such example is the word “bureau,” which carries different meanings and has origins that trace back to French. In its singular form, “bureau” can refer to an agency or organization, as well as a piece of furniture. But… What’s the Plural of Virus: Understanding Singular and Plural Forms The standard plural of the noun “virus” is “viruses,” a construction that aligns with the typical English practice of adding an -es to words ending in -us. Scientific and medical texts prefer this form for its clarity and simplicity. Despite the word’s Latin roots, which might lead some to believe that the plural should follow… Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. Dictionaries home American English Collocations German-English Grammar home Practical English Usage Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta) Word Lists home My Word Lists Recent additions Resources home Text Checker Definition of thesis noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary Students must submit a thesis on an agreed subject within four years. He presented this thesis for his PhD. a thesis for a master's degree He's doing a doctoral thesis on the early works of Shostakovich. Many departments require their students to do a thesis defense. She completed an MSc by thesis. her thesis adviser at MIT in a/​the thesis thesis about Definitions on the go Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
1750	1.6
1760	1.8
1770	2.6
1780	1.9
1790	1.7
1800	1.9
1810	1.4
1820	1.3
1830	1.3
1840	1.8
1850	2.0
1860	1.8
1870	2.6
1880	2.9
1890	3.7
1900	4.2
1910	5.7
1920	8.2
1930	13
1940	15
1950	19
1960	24
1970	27
1980	27
1990	25
2000	23
2010	23

How is the noun thesis pronounced?

British english, u.s. english, where does the noun thesis come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun thesis is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for thesis is from before 1398, in a translation by John Trevisa, translator.

thesis is a borrowing from Greek.

Etymons: Greek θέσις .

Nearby entries

• thesaurus, n. 1823–
• thesaury, n. a1639–1708
• these, n. a1600–48
• these, pron. & adj. Old English–
• Thesean, adj. 1815–
• Theseid, n. 1725–
• Theseium, n. 1819–
• these-like, adj. 1644–
• thesial, adj. 1654
• thesicle, n. 1863–
• thesis, n. a1398–
• thesis-novel, n. 1934–
• thesis-play, n. 1902–
• thesmophilist, n. 1644–
• Thesmophorian, adj. 1891–
• Thesmophoric, adj. 1788–
• thesmothete, n. 1603–
• thesocyte, n. 1887–
• thesp, n. 1962–
• Thespian, adj. & n. 1675–
• Thespianism, n. 1914–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for thesis, n..

thesis, n. was first published in 1912; not yet revised.

thesis, n. was last modified in December 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into thesis, n. in December 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1912)

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Bachelor thesis or Bachelor's thesis

During my final year at university, I wrote what I thought was a "bachelor thesis". Right before printing it I stumbled upon several documents stating the name "bachelor's thesis". (Here we do not call it a dissertation just yet, so this question is only about the possessive bachelor's vs. bachelor .) A couple of Google search queries later, I had not found out which of these terms is correct. Which should I use?

• word-choice
• differences

• 2 It's a master's thesis and a doctoral thesis. Going by these, it should be a bachelor's thesis or a bacheloral thesis . Except bacheloral isn't a word. What is the adjective form for bachelor? Oh, it's bachelor. So by analogy, it's either a bachelor's thesis or a bachelor thesis . I think both should be fine. –  Peter Shor Commented Jul 19, 2012 at 16:06

4 Answers 4

First off, I would mimic the term that your university uses. Does that give you a satisfactory resolution? (Or are they inconsistent in their use?)

If not, do you use the full term "Bachelor of Arts" or "Bachelor of Science" in your thesis title? If so, you don't need the apostrophe s (and you should capitalize the words as indicated). However, if you are referring to the degree program more informally, then I think you should use "bachelor's thesis." ( See this Wikipedia entry in which bachelor's is used throughout.)

Also, the Associated Press Styleguide has these guidelines for Academic Degrees:

• Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree, a master’s, etc.
• There is no apostrophe in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science.

I think that would apply to bachelor's thesis as well.

• Inconsistency is the problem. I have seen both versions come up, so it's not about being correct with respect to the university, it's more a question of my curiosity. As BA/BSc is concerned, we do not distinguish between them, we're simply bachelors. I read through some style guides, but none of them address theses specifically, so I was not sure about its application based on "bachelor's degree" and other uses. So your implication may or may not be correct. Still it's the closest I got to a backed answer. –  Ondrej Commented May 10, 2012 at 10:25

In some countries/universities, the word "thesis" or a cognate is used as part of a bachelor's or master's course, while "dissertation" is normally applied to a doctorate, while in others, the reverse is true.

In USA and Canada,

• Research-based papers presented as the final empirical study of a bachelor with honours (honors) degree are normally called bachelor thesis or honours thesis (in USA, "thesis" is in more commonly use).
• Major papers presented as the final project for a master's degree are normally called thesis .
• Major papers presenting the student's research towards a doctoral degree are called theses or dissertations .

In Germany,

• A bachelor's thesis is often 40–60 pages long, other theses are usually even longer.
• The required submission for the doctorate is called a Dissertation or Doktorarbeit.

• 4 1) This does not address my issue at all. As I said, it's not about thesis/dissertation, regional specifics, ..., it's only about the first word of the term. 2) The whole answer is only a compilation of excerpts from the "Thesis" Wikipedia entry. Don't worry, read that already. –  Ondrej Commented May 10, 2012 at 10:19
• Ahem... I double-checked Mac's Oxford dictionaries and they confirm that "thesis" is singular and "theses" is plural; your answer suggests a semantic difference. I've suggested a minimal edit to make the answer consistent with this. –  Blaisorblade Commented Jun 26, 2016 at 15:07

As I understand it, you are the bachelor (or at least the bachelor candidate) by virtue of being on the course, and the thesis is yours, so bachelor's thesis is the correct way to go.

On the thesis/dissertation thing, a thesis is your argument or proposition, and a dissertation is the discourse you defend it with.

At the college I attended, we used the terms Senior Paper or Senior Thesis to describe that it occurs in the final year of schooling. There are no post-graduate programs at the college in question, which avoided confusion with doctoral or master's level work.

Nomenclature of this final year thesis will vary depending on the institution.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged word-choice differences or ask your own question .

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Meaning of thesis in English

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• I wrote my thesis on literacy strategies for boys .
• Her main thesis is that children need a lot of verbal stimulation .
• boilerplate
• composition
• corresponding author
• dissertation
• essay question
• peer review

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

thesis | Intermediate English

Examples of thesis, collocations with thesis.

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Translations of thesis

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Thesis Plural, What is the Plural of Thesis?

Meaning: a statement that is put forward as premise

Singular and Plural of Thesis

Thesis as a Singular Noun in Example Sentences:

• She spent months researching and writing her thesis .
• The student defended her thesis in front of a panel of professors.
• The thesis presented a novel approach to the problem.
• The professor guided the student in developing a strong thesis
• The researcher’s thesis contributed to the field’s understanding of the topic.
• The graduate student received funding to conduct experiments for her thesis .
• The thesis required extensive data analysis and interpretation.
• The academic journal published an article based on the researcher’s thesis .
• The conference featured presentations on diverse thesis
• The defense committee praised the clarity and depth of the student’s thesis .

Thesis as a Plural Noun in Example Sentences:

• The university library stores an extensive collection of doctoral theses .
• The scholars debated different approaches proposed in their respective theses .
• The conference showcased the groundbreaking research presented in the participants’ theses .
• The professors provided valuable feedback on the students’ draft theses .
• The candidates diligently prepared their final theses for submission.
• The graduate students shared their findings during a panel discussion on their theses .
• The scholars engaged in lively discussions about the implications of their theses .
• The research symposium featured presentations on a wide range of topics from various theses .
• The library offers online access to digitized versions of historic theses .
• The academic journal published an issue dedicated to exceptional doctoral theses .

Singular Possessive of Thesis

The singular possessive form of “Thesis” is “Thesis’s”.

Examples of Singular Possessive Form of Thesis:

• We analyzed Thesis’s research methodology.
• Thesis’s findings provided valuable insights.
• The committee reviewed Thesis’s abstract and conclusion.
• We discussed the implications of Thesis’s hypothesis.
• Thesis’s literature review presented a comprehensive analysis.
• The professor praised Thesis’s organization and structure.
• We examined Thesis’s data collection process.
• Thesis’s bibliography included relevant sources.
• The defense highlighted the significance of Thesis’s contribution.
• The advisor provided feedback on Thesis’s methodology.

Plural Possessive of Thesis

The plural possessive form of “Thesis” is “Theses'”.

Examples of Plural Possessive Form of Thesis:

• We analyzed multiple theses’ research methodologies.
• Theses’ findings provided valuable insights.
• The committee reviewed theses’ abstracts and conclusions.
• We discussed the implications of theses’ hypotheses.
• Theses’ literature reviews presented comprehensive analyses.
• The professors praised theses’ organization and structure.
• We examined theses’ data collection processes.
• Theses’ bibliographies included relevant sources.
• The defenses highlighted the significance of theses’ contributions.
• The advisors provided feedback on theses’ methodologies.

Explore Related Nouns:

• Complete List of Singular Plurals

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First person plural or singular pronouns for thesis presentation

I am going to do an oral presentation for my thesis. Normally, when presenting a paper, as the paper is a collaboration work, I always use the pronoun "we".

The thesis is written based on the papers. However, when presenting (for example, when talking about the contributions of the thesis), I feel using "we" a bit odd.

Should I use "we" or "I"? Many thanks.

• presentation

• 4 Do not use the Royal one ! :-p –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Nov 13, 2020 at 12:36
• 3 This is also worth checking out. –  mustaccio Commented Nov 13, 2020 at 21:03

4 Answers 4

Use "we" when referring to something you did as a team, and use "I" when referring to something that you did by yourself. That is what these words are for.

Using "we" and "I" consistently in this way helps to make clear what your contributions were, and this is often exactly what the jury wants to find out during your presentation. If you choose to not go with the above option you should make it clear in some other way what you did and what others did.

Of course, if there is a clear preference in the culture where you are presenting it is best to follow that preference, but you would probably not be asking the question if that were the case.

• 7 +1 for calling out that it's very important in this context to differentiate your own personal contribution from collaborative (or others') work. I would be very careful to us "I", "we" and "they" very precisely. –  CCTO Commented Nov 13, 2020 at 19:50
• That's also what I thought actually. –  lenhhoxung Commented Nov 17, 2020 at 15:16

That's a matter of opinion. If it's your official thesis defense presentation, you're representing your work, so it would be fine to use "I". But others may prefer to stick with the common "we".

There is no 'correct' answer here. You should do what you feel comfortable with.

• Took the words right out of my mouth. Er... hands. Anyway, spot on. –  Buffy Commented Nov 13, 2020 at 12:22
• Seconded here. In my experience, even papers that are authored by a single author typically use "we" (in math at least), presumably to acknowledge the contributions of others they bounced ideas off of, chatted with, etc. even if not formally acknowledged. I would say a thesis presentation (or similar) is basically the only time "I" is commonly used, and even there, people often use "we" simply out of habit. That being said -- I don't think anything bad will happen if you use the wrong pronoun. I think people will be focused on the content, not the implicit attribution! –  Richard Rast Commented Nov 14, 2020 at 15:09
• 8 Math papers are a little bit special. They are written in the present tense, and I interpret the "we" as the author and the reader making their way together through the material. –  Mark Foskey Commented Nov 14, 2020 at 20:08

There is no rule you have to pick one exclusively. I would not bat an eye at someone using "we" for the collaborative sections and "I" at their sections.

Especially for a thesis presentation, everyone knows you and who your group is.

• 5 Indeed, something like "Here we were interested in XYZ, so I made samples and analyzed them with..." is perfectly acceptable. "We" for big picture stuff, "I" for stuff you personally did. –  Jon Custer Commented Nov 13, 2020 at 15:27

I agree with the options the other answers present, and that in the end it is up to you to decide what to do, keeping your audience in mind. However, the other answers do not say much about which of those options to choose, so I'd like to cover that in more detail.

Those words you're using, what do they mean?

First, let's take a step back and look at what the words mean. "we" refers to a group of more than person including the author/speaker* (unless you want to be patronizing or indicate that you're important than your audience , but I recommend against such arrogance). "I" refers to exactly one person, the author/speaker.

With these definitions of the meaning of "we", we(!) can rephrase your question as follows:

During an oral presentation for my thesis, should I attribute the contributions to myself only, or also to my coauthors?

Your options

And that is a good question! I see 3 workable options 1 here:

Attribute all contributions to the group consisting of you and your coauthors, and use "we" exclusively when talking about contributions. Note that this is about contributions only, never say something like "we thank our wife for her support during the writing of this thesis" 2 . Additionally, when "the group of you and your coauthors" is only a single person (i.e. you 3 ), you should use "I", of course. This is (usually) the case with your thesis, for example.

Attribute all results to yourself and use "I" exclusively when talking about contributions. If you do so, I recommend you at least briefly aknowledge the support of your coauthors at the start of your presentation. They would almost certainly feel ignored otherwise. (and they may still feel so if you only acknowledge them at the start! But that is a risk inherent to this option)

Decide in advance which contributions belong to you only, which contributions belong to all of you, and use both "I" and "we" accordingly.

As you can see, these options are distinguished in how you choose to assign the attribution of your work in cases where ownership is not obvious for the audience. This means that the difference between the options can be minor in practice, in particular when the ownership of most of your work is very clear.

I think there are pros and cons to all of these options. Which one to choose would mostly depend on what your audience expects of your presentation and what your goals are.

Pros and cons

The main advantage of options 1 and 2 is that you do not have to decide (or negotiate!) which contributions are really "yours" 3 . This makes it easier to prepare for your presentation, and harder to make mistakes. Whether you can afford option 1 or 2 would depend on the context. If, for example, your defense is mainly ceremonial (yes, this is possible. Academia varies more than you think ), then it may not be nessecary to assert your personal contribution during your defense and option 1 would be fine. At the least, your co-authors or friends their should not have to feel they are being ignored this way. I personally would not be comfortable with option 2, but there may be communities or cultures where this is acceptable or even the norm.

If you cannot afford or do not like options 1 or 2, then you should go for 3. This is a bit more complicated, as now you will have to decide what your personal contribution is and need to be careful to use the right words during your talk. (while you will probably have to do this sooner or later, a serious defense is likely one of the more confrontational settings to make this assertion) You may need to be careful when your idea of ownership conflicts with the feelings of coauthors present during your defense. Most decent people will not make a big deal about this, but well, not everyone is a decent person. If you suspect that someone might make a big deal about it, it might be a good idea to talk to them about it before your defense.

1. A fourth option would be to avoid both "we" and "I", but the author does not consider this a workable option, as one would have to refer to themselves in the third person when talking about their own (joint) contributions. This would be even more awkward for a speaker than it is for an author. Or at least, this author would imagine so. 2. Paraphrased from How to write mathematics by Paul Halmos, Chapter 13 "The editorial we is not all bad" 3. I mean singular "you" here. This would have been clearer if the English words for 2nd person singular and plural were not homonyms in most forms. (yes, "y'all" exists, but that does not help to indicate the singular, and its possessive form does not appear to be the lesser evil)

• "Y'all" IS the singular. The plural is "all y'all"! (Also: thee, thou, thy, thine.) –  JeffE Commented Nov 16, 2020 at 4:17
• 2 @JeffE I'm not an expert, but that seems to be a matter of debate . Which in itself implies the term does not decrease ambiguity as much as I'd hoped it would. Thanks for the other suggestions, good to know the English language used to have the words I wanted. I might actually use that when I prefer using stereotypical archaic words over making complaints about the English language. –  Discrete lizard Commented Nov 16, 2020 at 7:05

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