5

I’m updating my tabular CV for an application and I’d like to include my master thesis even though it’s not yet finished (soon!) and marked. So I’d like to write that the mark is still outstanding but I fear that if I simply write

Master thesis: ‹topic›
Supervisor: ‹supervisor›
Mark: outstanding

this could be misconstrued to mean that the result is in, and that it’s outstanding (as in: spectacular). What can I say here instead? It should be as salient as possible, single word preferred. I specifically want to avoid writing half a sentence.

Improve this question
2
  • I've been given OUTSTANDING once for a grade that wasn't yet out. Honestly, it depends on the context and your audience. In many English-speaking academic situations outside the US, outstanding would not at all be ambiguous. The same would go for mark. I daresay outstanding would only be considered ambiguous in a context such as Rating: outstanding.
    – Jimi Oke
    Jan 17, 2011 at 18:47
  • In both Canada and the UK, I would say it’s quite ambiguous — I thought of ‘remarkably impressive’ as the main meaning of outstanding before I ever went to the states.
    – PLL
    Jan 17, 2011 at 19:00

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
6

I would go for “pending” (or, longer, “still pending”).

Improve this answer
4

I agree, using outstanding here is quite ambiguous.

I would use Awaiting mark or Pending mark - they are both clear and direct. (You can alternatively substitute mark with grade.)

Improve this answer
3

I think something such as 'Awaiting Results' would be more appropriate.

Improve this answer
2

To be received, or to be decided?

This fits into a pattern of common phrases: to be confirmed, to be announced, to be decided, which are standard enough that in many institutions they are given just as tbc, tba, tbd. To be received is less standard than these, but should be well-understood since it clearly invokes this well-known template.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.