Proof-reading advice for PGRs

This guidance is for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) at the University of Leeds.

If you are a taught student, or if your research degree programme includes assessment for any taught modules, you should read and follow the guidance for taught students.

Guidelines for proof-reading

You can use Gen AI tools to proof-read work you have created and written yourself during your studies. For example, to proof-read your thesis before submission for examination or as part of any corrections to the thesis after the viva. Third-party proof-reading (but not AI tools) is permitted at thesis level only.

Consult the PGR Proof-Reading Policy and Guidance (PDF), which clearly outlines the acceptable support that you can receive with third-party proof-reading of your work.

The process for identifying and agreeing support and reasonable adjustments for PGR assessments can be found in the guidance on support and reasonable adjustments for PGR assessments.

Dos and Don'ts

This use of Gen AI tools for the purposes of proof-reading your own work will be within certain limits.

It is not acceptable to use a tool to re-write the original text or write/generate new text or material. This would include tools such as ChatGPT or other tools such as Grammarly, which in addition to its proof-reading functionality also offers AI generative writing assistance. There are a growing number of applications, tools and platforms so these are not the only examples.

It is acceptable to use a tool to help you identify and correct issues with spelling, grammar and punctuation, formatting and presentation, at thesis and transfer stages.

Artificial Intelligence assistance tools would include (but are not limited to) tools such as ChatGPT. The principles outlined here would also apply to other tools such as spellcheck tools offered by Microsoft Word or Grammarly, which in addition to its proof-reading functionality also offers AI generative writing assistance. There are a growing number of applications, tools and platforms and so this is not an exhaustive list of examples. It is expected that you will be using this type of functionality for all written work throughout your candidature, and are not required to declare this in your transfer or thesis submission.

Use of Gen AI tools for the purposes of proof-reading much be declared in any work you submit. If you are in any doubt you should consult with your supervisor or Director of PGR Studies in advance of using any such tools.