a dissertation about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dissertation about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the subject matter or topic of a dissertation in an academic context. Example: "Her dissertation about the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity received high praise from the committee."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

"I could write a dissertation about our disagreements," Mr. Booker said.

The New York Times

I wrote a dissertation about black people in 18th-century Britain.

The Guardian - Film

She received her Ph.D. in 1961 with a dissertation about Renaissance music.

The New York Times

(Ms. Liebert, a Ph.D. candidate in the art history department at Columbia, is working on a dissertation about the selves).

The New York Times - Arts

Tererai has completed her course work and is completing a dissertation about AIDS programs among the poor in Africa.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Every conversation you had with Franco started with a dissertation about Italian politics," said Charles M. Vest, M.I.T.'s president.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

I hadn't gone to my grandmother's funeral; I had been holed up in my apartment in San Francisco, writing a dissertation chapter about Proust — Proust, who wrote so movingly about losing a grandmother!

The New Yorker

In August, the bridegroom, 27, is to begin a Fulbright fellowship in Hanoi, where he will pursue a doctoral dissertation about ca tru, a form of Vietnamese sung poetry.

The New York Times

In a recent dissertation about the N.C.T.C., a former C.I.A. analyst, Bridget Rose Nolan, quoted a colleague who described the process as: "You track 'em, we whack 'em".

The New Yorker

It was organized by Amy Shapiro, a former student who is writing a doctoral dissertation about the Philharmonic through his experiences.

The New York Times

Correction: June 5 , 2001 Tuesday An article in Arts & Ideas on Saturday about a furor over the Sorbonne's acceptance of a Ph.D. dissertation about astrology by Élizabeth Teissier misstated the academic affiliations of two scholars who criticized her adviser.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a dissertation about", ensure the subject matter is clearly defined and relevant to the academic field. Clarity helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid selecting an excessively broad topic for "a dissertation about". A focused and well-defined subject allows for deeper analysis and a more manageable scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dissertation about" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, typically indicating the subject matter or focus of an academic dissertation. Ludwig shows its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

31%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dissertation about" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. While not exceedingly common, it serves the important function of specifying the subject matter of a dissertation. The phrase finds its primary contexts in academic, news, and scientific writing. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "a thesis on" or "research focused on". Remember to choose a focused topic to avoid writing an overly broad dissertation. Ludwig's examples reflect that its register is generally formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a thesis concerning

Replaces "dissertation" with "thesis" and "about" with "concerning", both indicating the subject of academic work.

a doctoral thesis on

Specifies that the thesis is at the doctoral level and uses "on" instead of "about".

a study regarding

Substitutes "dissertation" with "study" and "about" with "regarding", shifting from a formal thesis to a broader research investigation.

research focused on

Replaces "dissertation" with a more general "research" and uses "focused on" to emphasize the topic.

an investigation into

Substitutes "dissertation" with "investigation", indicating a detailed inquiry into a specific subject.

a detailed analysis of

Replaces "dissertation" with "detailed analysis", focusing on the depth of examination of a topic.

a comprehensive examination of

Highlights the thoroughness of the dissertation, replacing it with a more descriptive phrase.

a scholarly work addressing

Emphasizes the academic nature of the dissertation, replacing it with a general "scholarly work".

a paper centered on

Uses "paper" as a synonym for "dissertation", suggesting a formal academic document focused on a topic.

an exploration of

Replaces "dissertation" with "exploration", indicating a journey into a subject.

FAQs

How can I use "a dissertation about" in a sentence?

You can use "a dissertation about" to introduce the topic of a formal academic thesis. For example, "She is writing "a dissertation about" the impact of social media on political campaigns".

What are some alternatives to saying "a dissertation about"?

You can use phrases like "a thesis on", "a study regarding", or "research focused on" as alternatives to "a dissertation about", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a dissertation on" instead of "a dissertation about"?

Yes, "a dissertation on" is grammatically correct and often interchangeable with "a dissertation about". Both phrases indicate the subject of the dissertation.

What makes a good topic for "a dissertation about"?

A good dissertation topic should be original, relevant to the field, researchable with available resources, and narrow enough to allow for in-depth analysis.