Choosing the Right Software for Writing Essays
When it comes time to sit down and type up an essay assignment, one of the most important decisions a student makes is choosing which word processing program or application to use. Whether you prefer using a basic text editor, a full-featured word processor, or an online tool, having the right software can make a big difference in your productivity and the overall quality of your work.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore several of the top options for typing essays and research papers. For each program, we’ll look at features, pros and cons, cost if any, and whether it works across different devices. By understanding the strengths and limitations of different writing software, you can pick the one best suited to your needs and writing style.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is arguably the most popular word processing program in use today for both personal and professional writing projects. It has been the standard in school and office environments for decades, so there is a good chance your teachers and professors are very familiar with Word documents.
Some key features of Word include:
Styles and templates to help format papers according to different citation styles like APA or MLA. This makes setting up your document structure quick and easy.
References tool for automatically generating bibliographies from citations inserted in the text. It will populate sources from a Bibliography you build on its own.
Comment and Track Changes functions for collaborating with others on your writing or getting feedback from professors.
Extensive spelling and grammar checking using Word’s proofing tools. These can catch small errors that might otherwise be overlooked.
Compatible file format (.docx) that can be opened on any device with Word installed like Windows, Mac, iPad/tablet with the free Office app. Documents also usually load and display properly in other word processors without issue.
On the downside, Word does have a learning curve if you are just starting out. It also requires a paid license, though many students can access it for free through their school. The desktop version of Word is optimized for longer form writing but can be somewhat clunky on a small mobile screen.
Google Docs
Google Docs is a free, web-based word processor offered as part of the popular Google Drive service. It shares many similarities with Microsoft Word and provides a good alternative for basic writing and essay projects without any upfront costs.
Key features of Google Docs include:
Real-time collaboration that allows multiple users to view and edit a document simultaneously. Great for group projects.
Auto-save functionality so you never have to manually save your work. It’s always backing up to your Google Drive in the cloud.
Cross-platform compatibility—docs can be accessed from any web browser or through Google’s mobile apps to work from your phone or tablet.
Citations tool to automatically add and format in-text citations as well as bibliographies in styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago.
Basic spelling and grammar checking that’s not as robust as Word but still catches many common errors.
Templates for academic papers, resumes, letters, and other common documents.
While it may lack some of the advanced features found in paid programs like Word, Docs gets the job done for basic word processing and editing tasks on a budget. Frustration may stem from internet connectivity issues or learning a new interface. Files are also not compatible with .docx format.
Pages (Mac Only)
Pages is Apple’s professional page layout and word processing software included free with all new MacOS devices. It focuses on clean formatting and streamlined editing for creating everything from simple papers and letters to complex books and brochures.
Key benefits of using Pages for essay writing include:
Intuitive and elegant interface that is optimized for Mac systems. Navigation feels very natural.
Built-in templates for academic manuscripts, letters, resumes and more to jumpstart your projects.
Tight integration with other Apple apps for inserting photos, graphics, tables, and chart data from Numbers.
Real-time collaboration over iCloud so files can be shared/edited by other users with the Pages or Keynote apps on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Citation functionality plus over 7,500 styles available through the addition of third-party citation apps.
PDF export function to share final submitted papers without file type conversion issues. PDFs look polished.
Free desktop app for Mac plus free iOS/iPadOS versions available for working between devices.
Pages documents are only compatible with Mac systems and cannot be easily opened/edited in Windows versions of Word without conversion issues. This limits sharing and collaboration with non-Apple platforms.
OpenOffice
OpenOffice is a free, open-source office suite that includes a full-featured word processor called Writer. It serves as a good free Microsoft Word alternative for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.
Benefits of choosing OpenOffice for essay writing include:
Completely free to download and use, with no recurring subscription costs.
Performs basic word processing functions including spell check, styles, templates and more with no watermarks or limitations.
Opens and saves files in the standard OpenDocument (.odt) format as well as legacy .doc format from Word.
Can collaborate on documents in real-time using OpenOffice Online though the interface is more barebones.
Available to use offline so you aren’t dependent on an internet connection.
Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux platforms so documents can be edited universally.
Formatting may not carry over identically when opening .docx files from Word. The interface also lacks some advanced customization features compared to paid programs. Compatibility/collaboration is also more limited than cloud-based solutions.
LibreOffice
Derived from OpenOffice, LibreOffice is another free and open-source office suite with LibreOffice Writer as the default word processor. It works similarly to Writer in OpenOffice but has some added customization and formatting advantages over the previous version.
Benefits of LibreOffice Writer for essays include:
All the cloud collaboration and cross-platform compatibility of OpenOffice at no cost.
Interface is streamlined and easy to navigate for both beginner and power users.
Built-in dictionary and thesaurus for improving writing style and variety of vocabulary used.
Nearly complete compatibility with all Microsoft Office file formats without conversion issues.
Multiple options for fonts, themes, pagination and other professional formatting choices.
Add-ons available to extend functionality like reference managers and formula editing.
Actively maintained through community development so bugs are addressed quickly.
Some advanced styles and templates found in Word or Google Docs may not be available. Online collaboration is also basic compared to paid solutions like Google or Office 365.
Conclusion
The best overall choice for writing essays ultimately depends on your individual needs, skill level, budget constraints and available devices. Popular options like Microsoft Word, Google Docs and the free LibreOffice are great all-around solutions, while Apple’s Pages excels for Mac users. Experimenting with different programs can help you determine which features are most valuable to improving your writing workflow. With practice on any of these quality applications, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle writing assignments with confidence.
Andrew Stroud