What Is a Glossary?

As you work on your dissertation or thesis, you may use a significant amount of specialized terminology or industry-specific jargon. Incorporating a well-crafted glossary can be an invaluable aid for your readers, ensuring they understand the key concepts and language used throughout your academic work.

What is a Glossary?

A glossary is an alphabetized compilation of crucial terms and their respective definitions. Positioned after your academic work, it functions as a specialized language reference to aid readers in comprehending field-specific terminology. Glossary templates in academic writing commonly present terms followed by their definitions, often arranged in a tabular format.

Term	Definition
Term here	A brief explanation of the term as used in your text.

Examples of glossary entries clarify the language and terminology used throughout your text, ensuring that all readers have a common understanding of the key concepts.

Example Glossary

| Abductive Reasoning | A form of logical inference that commences with an observation and then seeks the simplest and most plausible explanation.

This concise and lucid explanation aids readers in comprehending intricate phrases within your research.

Citing Sources for Your Glossary

If the definitions in your glossary are not your original work, properly cite the source materials you consulted. This helps maintain academic integrity and provides your readers with the appropriate attribution.

You can incorporate source citations in a few different ways:

• Include the reference at the end of each glossary definition.
• Use a numbered superscript format corresponding to a reference list at the end of the glossary.
• Provide a separate reference list specifically for the glossary sources.

Consult your university’s style guide (e.g., APA, MLA) to determine the preferred citation method.

Additional Lists to Include

Along with your glossary, you may also want to consider incorporating the following supplementary lists into your dissertation:

• List of Abbreviations: An alphabetized compilation of all abbreviations and acronyms used.
• List of Figures: Enumerating all figures, including titles and page numbers.
• List of Tables: Itemize all tables with titles and corresponding page numbers.

These ancillary indexes enhance your academic work’s overall organization and navigability, making it easier for your readers to locate and reference key elements.