While Microsoft Word is also compatible with Mac computers, the only default word-processing software offered by Apple is the basic input and layout program, TextEdit.In addition to Microsoft Word, EndNote X2 and later can also work with Apple Pages 09 (iWork) and later versions. Similar to Microsoft-based computers, Apple Macintosh has its own productivity suite, which includes the word-processing program Pages. If so, check out our previous post by Hanna on quick tricks for formatting in Word.Word-processing programs are a staple element of personal computers and are among the most frequently used software. There are a lot of great features to MS Word if you want to (or have to) stick with it for your writing. It’s easy, convenient, familiar, and gets the job done for simple text documents.This makes it a great alternative to some of the writing tools mentioned above. As I embark on the dissertation-writing journey, I have been looking for an alternative to MS Word that is up for the job—something that can handle a large multi-chaptered document with robust formatting options.One of the things I love about the desktop version is that it’s a fairly minimal word processing tool. If you’ve ever spent too many frustrating hours trying to format a Word document with multiple tables and figures (why does my figure keep moving halfway off the page?!), then you will likely agree that it’s not always the best to work with.It’s an online, collaborative word processor. Google Docs is the leading competitor in reach, if not necessarily in quality or features, to Word. Google Docs - Accessible With Your Mac.
![]() It is a powerful and highly customizable typesetting system that, in contrast to MS Word, separates the content and document design. Here are a few non-Word options I have come across in my search for the best dissertation-writing software that seem to be favorites:LaTeX is an open-source document preparation system that was designed for scholarly and technical writing, and is great for handling large documents. Docx to ease sending them to my PI for reviews. So a bonus would be that files could easily be converted to. One barrier to changing software is that my mentor likes using MS Word to edit my documents with the track changes feature. Best video playing software for macOne downside is that LaTeX does not export to. Because it was designed to be used with LaTeX, they integrate perfectly and handle citations and cross-referencing effortlessly. The features I found that really made it worth the effort were its phenomenal job at handling mathematical equations, tables, and figures, and its own powerful reference manager BibTeX. It did take a while to learn, but has a huge amount of document support, and a great online community to answer just about any question you come across. I was first exposed to LaTeX during college and used it to write my undergraduate thesis. Because of this, there is definitely a learning curve when starting out. ![]() Another great feature of Scrivener is its compatibility with multiple file formats, making it easy to export in just about any document type. It has a drag-and-drop interface, so a large document can be easily written in fragments, and provides a personal research database for easy storage of notes, folders, images (and just about anything else) that you collect as sources for your project. It combines the visual appeal and ease-of-use that Macs are known for, and its users swear by it. In addition to standard word processing, Scrivener is great for project management and organization. There are other programs that also provide a graphical editor for LaTeX such as Scientific Workplace or TeXmacs.If you are a veteran GradHacker reader, you’ve likely seen Scrivener mentioned before, like here and here. Other users have found that it doesn’t completely remove the need to understand LaTeX, but reduces the learning curve a bit. A complex document of this size could be edited and formatted forever, so don’t let that be a mode of procrastination! Try the software out, and it you don’t jive with it, stick with what works for you. Check out this ProfHacker article on the values of Scrivener for academic writing.An important note: don’t let the preparation of your dissertation get in the way of writing it. It’s also not great for document layout containing formatted tables and figures. Scrivener lacks integration with reference management software—though users have found ways to handle citations, it doesn’t work seamlessly. Kwhat Is The Best Word Processing System Free Writing SpaceMaybe all you really need is a distraction-free writing space to get the job done.Check out these other helpful resources for finding an alternative to any software and for a detailed comparison of word processors. There isn’t always one perfect option—you may find that integrating multiple writing programs works best for the writing, compiling, and editing stages. Adapt your writing software to meet the needs of your writing project.
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