Hello everyone,
Just a quick question about PhD acknowledgements. I would really appreciate your thoughts. I have written quite a short (3 paras) acknowledgements section thanking the usual suspects. However, I would really like to dedicate my thesis to my mummy. I call her mummy which I know some people think is dreadful in anyone over ten! But that's her name - if I put mum or mother it wouldn't be her. Is it acceptable to put "For mummy" or 'For my mummy" under the acknowledgements title. Or would you just leave it cos it's naff? Sorry for agonising over something so small - but you all know what the PhD turns you into!!
Thanks in advance!
Lolo

Hi,

the last page of your frontpages (so basically after nomenclature) can be a dedication page. So you can write the dedication there (separately from the acknowledgments).

Most of the time I am bitter and isolated, and my heart is a dark cold place where dreams die. And I wouldn't write "mummy".

Congrats!!!!!!

Hi,

Congrats on finishing your thesis and reaching the acknowledgements stage! This is just my opinion but I wouldn't put 'mummy' - it may not make the best impression on your examiners. What's wrong with 'For my mother'? I guess when you refer to her in formal situations, you probably don't say 'my mummy', and the thesis is a formal document.

'For mummy' sounds better than 'for my mummy'... and personally I think if you want to write it, you should write it. It's your thesis and noone is not going to give you a PhD on the basis that it is dedicated to your mummy.

I'll will definitely be acknowledging my mum in my thesis, although fortunately I call her mum!

Hi Lolo - firstly, congrats for making it to this point!

I dedicated my thesis to my late father - I did it as a new paragraph at the end of my acknowledgements, which I think is more usual for a PhD thesis, but I've also seen separate page 'book-style' dedications in theses before.

I think if I were your examiners I might find a grown person referring to their mother as 'mummy' in a dedication a little weird, but it's your thesis. I agree with AislingB that as the thesis is a formal document, a formal form of address might be more appropriate. I'd consider just putting 'For my mother', but if that doesn't feel right, one alternative might be to give your mother's name and then put 'Mummy' in parentheses, e.g. 'Sarah Smith (Mummy)'. So that way you're still referring to her as 'mummy' but it's presented a little more formally.

Hope this helps!

I would stronly suggest "thanks to ***** ***** (my mother) for all her help." I know how you feel by trust me, you don't want to put "mummy". Even she'll probably tell you not to (I take it you're very close to her).

Consider this. With the advent of electronic respoitories (both University and National - Ethos, Trove, etc.) that are searchable on the internet, PhD theses no longer gather dust and can be quite often access by other researchers and even members of the public.

Your thesis will be remembered, not for it's content or original contribution but possibly for the six foot two muscle bound rugby player who referred to his "mummy" in his thesis. In the days of the internet, such things very easily enter urban legend. :-)

I put the following without a word of a lie, so I can't say very much mind:

"Many thanks must be made also to my parents and friends who had to listen to all my tales of woe whilst I completed the write-up of this thesis. I also wish to pass on my gratitude to Sunderland Association Football Club where I am a season ticket holder; my trips to the Stadium of Light for football matches were at times the only break I had from my doctoral work."

Shame the three wins in a row over Newcastle didn't happen at the time!!! :-)

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

This. It's not just your examiners who will potentially see it.

I'd keep it to just "For Sarah" or if it feels weird to call your mother by her name, "For S. (my mother).

Alternative, if she is only ever "Mummy" in your mind, would be simply "For M." The meaning is there for you and her, but you can skirt around some of the above issues.

Hello,

My two pennies :)
Yeah 'mummy' might not be the best move - but BY ALL MEANS dedicate to your mum - bet she is brimming with pride!
I wrote an acknowledgements page followed by a photo of my Dad who very sadly was killed during my second year and wrote underneath the picture 'Dedicated to the memory of'

What you COULD do is do one copy with your mummy page in for yourself :) and leave it out the ones for your library/supervisor etc.

Either way all the very best to you!

B
x

Hello everyone!
Thanks so much for your replies. Yes I think you are all right. I think I will leave it and go with Bevcha's idea - separate copies for me and the university. Thanks very much for taking the time to reply.
Lolo

I believe Bevcha's idea to be the best.

Please tell me you're not a six foot two rugby player that refers to your mum as 'mummy'? :-)

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

I am of the impression that the acknowledgement is not and never under scrutiny from the examiner. My understanding (which may be incorrect) is that acknowledgement is where you write pretty much anything personal and the author is at liberty to use any words as long as they are appropriate.

Bevcha's idea is great - perfect solution :-)

TheEngineer - I just meant that the examiners and anyone else who reads the thesis will form an impression of the writer from the acknowledgements if they bother to read them. I have read my supervisor's thesis as well as those of other academics whose work I admire. If one of them had put 'for my mummy' in the dedication, I would think just a tiny bit less of them, and I would remember it every time I saw them or read one of their articles. It's a very small thing but I think it matters.

I would like to add a picture of the person to whom I want to dedicate my thesis. She was so dear to my heart and we lost her when I was away pursuing my Ph.D.

Would it look too abnormal, unprofessional or inappropriate if I add her photo to the dedication page?

It would be unusual but I think it's fine. I think you can put whatever you want to in the ack and dedication section.

Thanks, TreeofLife. I decided I would like the photo to be there.