LaTeX

When I started my master's in linguistics at the University of Utah, I was introduced to LaTeX by a couple of professors. LaTeX is a software system for typesetting documents. LaTeX markup describes the content and layout of the document, as opposed to the formatted text found in WYSIWYG word processors like Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer and Microsoft Word. 

 

It was very useful, especially since linguistics uses a lot of special formatting in subfields like syntax and semantics. I used it to format my master's thesis at the U because there was already a U of Utah thesis package and I only had to worry about the writing instead of the formatting. 

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In fact, I continued to use LaTeX throughout my second master's degree at Bowling Green State University because the documents it makes are just so beautiful, compared to those created by Microsoft Word or Google Docs. There are APA 7th Edition packages (as well as many many others) and utilizing BetterBib with Zotero makes incorporating citations a breeze.

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I use Visual Studio Code (VSCode) in conjunction with MacTeX, MiKTeX, LaTeX Workshop, Zotero, and BetterBib to organize and prepare my manuscripts. While it may seem like there is a steep learning curve, it has absolutely changed my life and has made the process of writing so much more fun! Below I describe a general process for compiling your manuscripts using LaTeX, highlighting my workflow, best practices, as well as providing resources to thrive. If you are planning on writing a thesis or dissertation, I highly recommend learning LaTeX. 

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Use the button below to access the manual I created called, "Typesetting Academic Manuscripts: A Practical Introduction to LaTeX."

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