So contradictions of opinions neither offend nor affect me; they merely arouse and exercise me. We flee from correction; we should face it and go to meet it, especially when it comes in the form of discussion, not ex cathedra. At every opposition we do not consider whether it is just, but, right or wrong, how we can get rid of it. Instead of stretching out our arms to it, we stretch out our claws.
Michel de Montaigne, Essays 3.8
Tools for university students
Content & Citation management
Editing citations is already a pain; editing them by hand is cruel and unusual punishment.
zotero
Working on academic articles becomes much easier when your computer takes care of citation management.
This free open-source software allows you to build a lifelong digital library that plugs into Microsoft Word or LibreOffice. These plugins insert and manage citations in a range of styles, right on your document.
quick-start guides
English | Français | 中文 | Español | فارسی
Mobile applications
iOS – Papership
Android – Zoo for Zotero
Style guides
As you get into academic writing with a view to publication, learn the generic expectations for writing in your discipline.
Paper formatting
A paper’s form is its first impression.
Most of the style guides above have notes on paper formatting.
Grammar guides
Clear prose is essential to academic success, and grammar is the cornerstone to clear prose. Improve your academic writing with these online resources:
- Purdue OWL
- Strunk and White, The Elements of Style
- Oxford English Dictionary (access usually provided through university library)
- Style guides will sometimes have specific grammar and spelling conventions.
READING RECOMMENDATIONS for Foreign-language students
A good writer reads voraciously to improve her or his skill and to take in new styles. Read regularly, and read what you like. Consider also reading periodicals that feature many voices and styles:
