Two Pet Peeves From the World of Grants

Two pet peeves from the world of grants:

A grant proposal must not contain the phrase “I need to,” as in “for my revisions of the manuscript I need to pay closer attention to feminist critiques and read more deeply in the women’s studies literature.”  This type of language is the ultimate in grad student-insecurity-speak (You can just hear the conversation in some advisor’s office), and has no place in an effective proposal.  Any plan of work in a grant proposal will simply describe in factual and general terms the work itself, without insecure justifications or references to real or imagined gaps and/or failures and/or weaknesses that “need to be” (according to some unspecified authority) addressed.

Do NOT end a grant proposal with “thank you for your consideration.”  A proposal requires formal, descriptive language throughout that covers the project and its significance, the proposed research and timeline (and budget if required), and a conclusion,  following principles that are described in the post, The Foolproof Grant Template.  It does not, ever, end with an interjection.  It’s not a letter, for heaven’s sake.

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