LaTeX is a software system for typesetting documents [1] for scientific and technical writing. It is commonly used in computer science, physics, math, and engineering for published articles, lecture notes, and writing papers. One clear advantage is that “LaTeX allows you to clearly separate the content from the format of your document” [2].
There are online LaTeX editors that are pretty easy to use and offer templates and means for real-time collaboration. This article lists the 12 Best LaTeX Editors You Should Use in 2022 [3].
Personally, I have used Overleaf and found it quite use-friendly (once you get the hang of it). LaTeX editors have lots of templates you can easily use to write theses, reports, presentations, CVs, assignments, conference posters, etc. Here is a really useful introductory tutorial to LaTeX (Learn LaTeX in 30 minutes – Overleaf, Online LaTeX Editor) [4]. It includes how to open a new project in LaTeX and example code, structuring a project, adding content (tables, math, images, etc.). It also has articles such as ‘Overleaf guides’, ‘Fonts’, ‘Mathematics’, ‘Commands’, “Formatting’, ‘Document Structure’, etc. It also makes it simple to add and edit your bibliography and has multilingual packages you can add to write in non-Latin characters, such as Arabic and Greek.
When you edit a document in Overleaf, for example, you can either use the ‘Code Editor’ or ‘Visual Editor’ and split your screen with the PDF version that shows your edits after recompiling. This makes it easy to see how your text, tables, and figures/graphics look alongside your code.
Here are three examples of how coding in LaTeX looks as a PDF:
LaTeX Template Resources: [5,6]
- LaTeX Templates – The Best Source of Free Quality LaTeX Templates
- Templates – Journals, CVs, Presentations, Reports and More – Overleaf, Online LaTeX Editor
Youtube playlist on utilizing LaTeX: [7]
Sources and links:
[2] Why should I use LaTeX? – TeX – LaTeX Stack Exchange
[3] 12 Best LaTeX Editors You Should Use in 2022 | Beebom
[4] Learn LaTeX in 30 minutes – Overleaf, Online LaTeX Editor
[5] https://www.latextemplates.com/
[6] Templates – Journals, CVs, Presentations, Reports and More – Overleaf, Online LaTeX Editor
[7] https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHXZ9OQGMqxcWWkx2DMnQmj5os2X5ZR73&si=0xfBKqLvmVpvWe9q
[8] Giannone, G. N. (2024). Gap analysis in the effectiveness of the current Marine Protected Area network design framework with respect to biodiversity conservation in coastal Norway [Master’s thesis, Norwegian University of Science and Technology]. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k4CK1douQd72DSUOu3PnluyoYzt_E4aT/view?usp=sharing
Other forum opinions and advice:
big list – What professions use TeX/LaTeX besides CS? – TeX – LaTeX Stack Exchange
