Using ChatGPT can be a powerful tool for assisting with research papers, theses, and general studies if your university’s AI policy allows it. However, it is essential to approach this technology with a critical eye, particularly in an academic setting.
Academic writing comes with a specific, formal style of writing that should be kept steady through all coursework. ChatGPT, while useful, doesn’t always match the high standards needed for academic standards. Outputs from this AI tool might contain issues like:
- Imprecision in responses
- Logic errors
- Informal style in writing
- Repetitive phrasing
- Grammar and accuracy
- Content accuracy
- Lack of originality
Knowing and fixing these issues is key to keeping your writing honest and high-quality. Using services like ours for proofreading and editing helps make your text clear, correct, and suitable for academic rules.
Imprecision in ChatGPT responses
ChatGPT’s responses might include wording that lacks the precision and formality required for academic writing. Even though it’s a powerful tool, it might not always align with the strict standards necessary for scholarly work.
 | I’m composing my bachelor thesis on ‘Innovation as a Key Driver in Business.’ Outline the goal of my study, emphasizing the need for businesses to continually innovate to navigate the ever-changing market and meet evolving consumer demands. |
 | The key focus of this thesis is to illuminate the indispensable role of continual innovation in business. It seeks to deeply analyze the way innovation strengthens business strategies, enabling them to adeptly maneuver through the ceaseless waves of market changes. Special attention will be given to the vital role of businesses needing to continually innovate, ensuring they consistently introduce fresh ideas. This will secure their continual relevance and ability to adeptly adapt to the ever-shifting market demands and the volatile nature of consumer needs. Through exploring multiple dimensions of innovation in business, the thesis aims to reveal how a proactive commitment to continual innovation propels businesses towards enhanced resilience, flexibility, and success amidst market challenges. |
As you can see, ChatGPT uses the term ‘continually innovate,’ which was present in the initial prompt, throughout its output. This phrase, commonly associated with continuous improvement and adaptability, might not be as clear or specific in certain specialized business contexts, possibly leading to confusion or misunderstanding.
To get better and more specific results from this AI tool, make your prompts clear and accurate, ensuring they match the topic you want to talk about.
To get better and more specific results from this AI tool, consider the following tips:
- Remember. The words and phrases used in your ChatGPT prompts are crucial, significantly influencing the quality of the responses received.
- Input quality affects output quality. This concept highlights that unclear or ambiguous instructions are likely to produce less accurate and useful results.
- Clarity and context matter. Preparing prompts that are articulate and contextually relevant will facilitate more precise and insightful responses.
Logic error
ChatGPT outputs sometimes contain logic errors. This may happen when the tool reproduces an error found in the prompt or generates a new error independently.
| I conducted an experiment for my science project where different plants were watered with varying amounts of water to observe their growth. Here’s a brief: Plants A, B, and C were given 20ml, 50ml, and 100ml of water respectively every day. Plants A and B died, but Plant C thrived. |
| In the experiment, three plants were watered with different quantities of water daily. Plant A received 20ml, Plant B received 50ml, and Plant C received 100ml. Consequently, Plants A and B did not survive, while Plant C exhibited significant growth and prosperity. |
The result might seem illogical because it means that more water always leads to better plant growth. However, this is scientifically inaccurate because overwatering can also be harmful to plants. The error here lies in not acknowledging that there might be an optimal water amount helping for healthy plant growth, and variations beyond this range could be harmful.
A more logical conclusion would consider the varied needs of different plants and recognize that there is a suitable water range for each plant that promotes growth.
For example:
- Plant A: Likely died due to insufficient water.
- Plants B and C: Their conditions suggest that one might have received an optimal water amount, while the other might have been overwatered, influencing their individual outcomes.
Informal style in writing
Academic writing requires an objective and formal style. However, ChatGPT outputs can sometimes include words or phrases that are less suitable for scholarly or professional contexts.
| For my marketing research, rewrite the following statement: “Sadly, most companies don’t get how crucial SEO is. |
| Unhappily, a majority of firms lack an understanding of the essential nature of SEO. |
ChatGPT has successfully rephrased the sentence, but it still includes informal and emotional elements. Words like “Unhappily” introduce emotional tones and subjective sentiments, which are generally avoided in academic and professional writing.
A more scholarly revision could be: “Many companies seem to lack a comprehensive understanding of the importance of SEO in contemporary digital marketing strategies.”
This version is objective, precise, and free of emotional bias, making it more suitable for academic or professional use.
Key points to maintain a scholarly style:
- Avoid emotional preference. Remove words that convey personal feelings or subjective opinions.
- Use objective terms. Choose words that uphold a level of objectivity and formality.
- Guarantee precision. Ensure that each statement is accurate, clear, and supported by relevant evidence or examples.
Repetitive phrasing
ChatGPT’s responses, while usually detailed and clear, can sometimes be long-winded and repeat the same ideas, making the main point less effective. For example, when ChatGPT was asked to create a main objective for a research paper:
| I am composing a research paper on the topic: “The influence of urban green spaces on mental health.” Write a concise paragraph stating the key objective of my research. Use the following as a guideline: [Insert example guide] |
| With the backdrop of urban development, the primary focus of this research paper is to scrutinize the explicit effects of urban green spaces on mental health. By meticulously analyzing the influence of green environments in urban settings on psychological well-being, stress levels, and overall mental health, the study intends to unveil substantial findings. Through this in-depth analysis, the research aims to facilitate a broader understanding of the role of natural spaces in mental health enhancement amidst urban lifestyles. |
The repeating parts are clear in the highlighted sections of the ChatGPT output. The beginning and end say almost the same thing, making it repetitive. Removing these repeats makes the writing shorter, stronger, and clearer, improving how the arguments or goals are shown.
Content accuracy
ChatGPT is capable of generating text that sounds convincingly human. However, it lacks the ability to truly understand or verify the accuracy of the information it presents. This means that if there are errors or inaccuracies in the data it has been introduced on, ChatGPT might unknowingly reproduce those inaccuracies.
In a demonstration of this, we’ve put together an example about the Great Wall of China where purposely added three wrong facts.
| The Great Wall of China is a remarkable landmark, stretching across the country’s northern borders. Originally built to protect Chinese states from European invasions, it stands as a symbol of China’s historical strength and perseverance. Construction began during the rule of Queen Elizabeth I and continued across various dynasties, evolving with changing architectural styles and defensive needs. Despite common misconceptions, the wall is visible from the moon with the naked eye. |
See the example below where ChatGPT was given a text with intentionally added errors to summarize.
| I’m writing a research paper on “The Great Wall of China.” Summarize the following text: [Insert text with three errors added] |
| The Great Wall of China is an iconic landmark that spans China’s northern borders. Initially constructed as a defense against European invasions, it serves as a symbol of China’s historical resilience and power. Its construction commenced during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign and evolved over different dynasties, adapting to varying architectural trends and defensive requirements. Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall is indeed visible from the moon without the aid of telescopic instruments. |
In this exercise, it becomes evident that ChatGPT replicated the three incorrect pieces of information within its summary.
For clarity, here are the rectified versions of the errors present in the initial text:
| The Great Wall of China is a remarkable landmark, stretching across the country’s northern borders. Originally built to protect Chinese states from nomadic invasions, it stands as a symbol of China’s historical strength and perseverance. Construction began during the rule of the Qin Dynasty and continued across various dynasties, evolving with changing architectural styles and defensive needs. Contrary to popular belief, it’s a myth that the wall is visible from the moon with the naked eye. |
Making these changes shows how important it is to be exact in your academic writing. Having wrong or mixed-up facts, like the examples shown, can make your work seem less trustworthy. When using ChatGPT, make sure to check that the information it gives matches up with reliable and true sources. This helps keep your work strong, believable, and respected in your studies.
Grammar and accuracy
ChatGPT is proficient at creating detailed and interesting texts, but it’s not protected from making mistakes. The texts generated may sometimes include grammatical errors.
Using ChatGPT only for grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks is not advisable because it’s not specifically designed for accurate proofreading and might miss some errors.
Tips for ensuring grammatical accuracy:
- Review and edit. Always thoroughly review and manually edit the text produced by ChatGPT.
- Improve your text with precision. Use advanced grammar and spell-checking services for flawless and error-free writing. Sign up for our platform to ensure your work stands out with its perfection and clarity.
- Cross-verify. Cross-verify the content with other resources or tools to improve the accuracy and correctness of the text.
Lack of originality
ChatGPT works by guessing and creating text based on user questions, using information from a huge collection of already existing texts. However, it isn’t designed to create entirely new and unique content.
Before using ChatGPT’s output, it’s crucial to understand its limitations and the necessary safeguards to maintain the integrity of the work produced:
- Dependence on pre-existing texts. ChatGPT’s responses are heavily influenced by the texts it was trained on, limiting the uniqueness of its output.
- Limitation in academic contexts. ChatGPT may face challenges in scholarly contexts that require original content, as it doesn’t possess human-like creativity and innovation.
- Risk of plagiarism. Be careful when using ChatGPT, and make sure not to present its generated content as your own original idea. Using a plagiarism checker can help keep the work honest and make sure it doesn’t copy existing content. Consider trying our plagiarism checker platform to help ensure your work’s originality and integrity.
Remember these points when using ChatGPT to make sure your work stays true and high-quality. Always check the text carefully and use tools like a plagiarism checker to keep everything on the right track. This way, you can use ChatGPT’s help while making sure your work is still your own and properly done.
Conclusion
| Using ChatGPT can be beneficial for academic purposes, improving research and writing processes when used mindfully within university guidelines. However, it’s essential to approach its outputs critically, ensuring they meet academic standards of accuracy, formality, and originality. Double-checking information for accuracy and ensuring it’s not copied from somewhere else are crucial steps in keeping your work trustworthy and original. In essence, while ChatGPT is a useful tool, always make sure to review its output thoroughly to ensure it meets the necessary standards of accuracy and originality. |
