Different people are telling me different things
Map the disagreement, find what each person is worried about, and get to a decision everyone can live with.
In short
Start here, today. Make a table with a row for each person. In the first column, write what they said, in their words, and where. Leave the second column empty and title it “What are they worried about?” This takes about 15 minutes.
After that, work through these steps. Choose one to jump to it.
Step by step
Tick each step as you finish it. Open a step for the how.
0 of 5 steps done
Map the disagreement
Write down exactly what each person said and where they said it. Check whether they really disagree, or are commenting on different sections or at different levels of detail. Sometimes a conflict disappears once the comments sit side by side.
Find the underlying concern
For each piece of advice, ask what problem it is trying to solve. “Cut the history section” might really mean “get to your contribution sooner”. “Add more history” might mean “show why this case matters”. A shorter, sharper history placed later in the chapter could answer both.
Propose a resolution to everyone
Write a short proposal that names the shared concern and your suggested change, and send it to everyone involved at the same time. Proposing works better than asking “what should I do?”, because it gives people something concrete to agree with and shows you've understood each view.
Let your main supervisor arbitrate
If the proposal doesn't settle it, ask your main supervisor to make the call or to speak directly with the other person. In most programs, that is part of the main supervisor's role. Avoid carrying messages back and forth between two senior people yourself.
Log the decision
Record the outcome in the Decision Log with the date, the reason and who agreed. If the question comes up again, including at your defence or viva, you can explain that it was discussed and why this direction was chosen. Examiners generally respond well to a decision that was clearly thought through.
Words you can use
Is this you? Signs to look for
- Your supervisor wants the chapter shorter and a committee member wants a new section added.
- You've rewritten the same part twice, once for each person.
- You've started sending drafts to some readers and not others to avoid an argument.
- You don't know whose advice wins, or whether you're allowed to ask.
Why this happens
Your readers look at your work from different places. A methods specialist sees the gaps in the method. A theorist sees the framing. An external member reads it the way an examiner will. Each of them is often right about the problem they've noticed, even when their solutions clash.
That is why trying to do both rarely works. You end up with a text that satisfies nobody, and the same disagreement surfaces again at your defence. The way through is to look past the advice to the concern behind it. Two instructions that can't both be followed often share a worry that one change can address.
It is also not your job to settle a disagreement between senior academics by guessing. Your job is to make the disagreement visible, propose a way forward and get a decision on record.
Worth a look (3)
- Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)Free guides on every part of academic writing, from structuring a paragraph to citing sources. A good first stop when you're unsure how something should look.
- Writing Center Tips & ToolsShort, friendly handouts answer almost any writing question, from literature reviews and abstracts to passive voice and conclusions. Reach for them when one particular thing is tripping you up.
- Writing AdviceShort, practical pages walk you through planning, drafting and revising, with advice on literature reviews, lab reports and using sources. They're easy to dip into when you have one question.
When to bring someone in
If committee members keep disagreeing and it's holding up a milestone, ask your supervisor to call a joint meeting so the discussion happens in one room rather than in separate emails. If your supervisor is part of the disagreement and it can't be resolved, your graduate coordinator or program director can help. Some programs have a formal process for this, so check your handbook.
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