Thesis Tools for Research Students

As it's that time of the year again(big thesis docs time), this is my essential writing tools email.   I recommend using both a reference manager and an automated proofreading tool.  Find one of each that you like and get to know it very well.  Your supervisor might thank me.... 

Every year I fix broken thesis documents that have all kinds of manually created messes.  Spend your time focusing on writing (or procrastination); but don't spend it working on reference lists or looking for typos and poor writing style.  Make your computer do the heavy lifting where it can help.

Reference Managers

Endnote  - http://libguides.scu.edu.au/content.php?pid=455662&sid=3732637 (PC & Mac. The SCU solution and it works) 

Mendeley - http://www.mendeley.com/features/reference-manager/  (Has fans among the phd's )

MS Word Reference Manager - http://libguides.scu.edu.au/content.php?pid=356517&sid=2915399

More Reference Managers

Reference Managers Comparison on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_reference_management_software 

Automated Proofreading tools

StyleWriter - http://www.editorsoftware.com/  (PC. This is the one I have the most experience with and use) 

GingerPage  http://www.gingersoftware.com/  (PC, Android, IOS ... Mac via online service) Grammerly http://www.grammarly.com/  (Web based...??) 

Whitesmoke http://www.whitesmoke.com/  (Web based... ??)

 PerfectIt - http://www.intelligentediting.com/ (Word plugin...?)

More Proofreading tools

http://www.bloggertipstricks.com/online-proofreading-tools.html

Using the tools you already have

Get familiar with the automated tools in MS Word that are there to help. (Anyone working in another editor... you're on your own)

1) Use the Style manager to style your document.

2) Use the cross-reference tool to create in-text references to tables, graphs and figures.

3) Use the "Table of Content" generator to automatically create and update your TOC. Ditto for tables of figures

4) Use the Page break and section break tools to split your sections. 

5) Use the caption tool on all tables, figures, graphs etc. 

6) Use your reference manager to automatically inject and style your Table of references. 

All these tools work together to automate the "grunt" work of producing large documents.  Use them or go crazy.  

Guides for working with Word on large docs
http://libroediting.com/blog/students-small-businesses-word-users/#wrd

More advanced Tools 

Reference Checker - Word macro to verify correctness of a reference.
http://www.goodcitations.com/

APA Style Guides
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/