Using LaTex
LaTeX is a free and open-source document preparation system and is the “the de facto standard for the communication and publication of scientific documents.”
LaTeX is a method to typeset complex notations in a document. It allows control over formatting and alignment by clearly separating content from the format of a document. If you wish to use LaTeX to compose your publication, it is recommended that you:
- Take the time to learn it – see the Resource section below
- Start with LaTeX from the beginning of your composition – converting it to LaTeX is not very successful
- Consider the intention of the composition – if it is the design of the document, investigate template packages than attempt to create your own.
Disciplines that most benefit in using LaTex
The LaTex project website provides an excellent overview as well as more in-depth documentation. The project website also lists the major LaTex applications available for Linux, Mac OS, and Windows.
There are also a few web-based LaTex editors, including Overleaf and LaTex Base. Overleaf offers a collaborative online environment, similar to Google Docs or Office 365, and also provides extensive training both for its own platform and LaTex itself. Overleaf has also produced a series of helpful guides specifically tailored for scholarly communication and theses and dissertations.