14 Helpful Writing Tools for Grad Students

Whether you're working on a dissertation, journal article, or class paper, having the right tools can make the writing and research process more efficient. Below is a curated list of writing-related resources and tools tailored for graduate students, from citation managers to writing aids and productivity boosters. 

Reference and Citation Management  

Manage your sources, streamline citations, and generate bibliographies with these tools: 

  • Zotero: Free, open-source software to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research materials. 

  • Mendeley: A comprehensive reference manager for organizing research, annotating PDFs, and generating citations. 

  • EndNote: Citation management tool for organizing references and inserting them into manuscripts with ease. 

  • RefWorks: A web-based tool to import, manage, and format citations and bibliographies across various platforms. 
     

Notetaking 

Stay organized and streamline your research process with these digital tools: 

  • PowerNotes: A browser-based app to help organize research, track sources, and outline your work. 

  • Notion: All-in-one workspace for notes, project management, and academic planning. 

  • Evernote: A digital notebook for saving notes, creating to-do lists, and attaching files or images. 

  • OneNote: A collaborative, web-based tool for collecting notes, drawings, clips, and audio. 

  • DMPTool: A template-based tool to help create data management plans that meet funder requirements. 
     

Writing Tools 

Write distraction-free and manage complex writing projects with these resources: 

  • FocusWriter: A minimalist word processor designed to eliminate distractions while writing. 

  • Overleaf: A collaborative LaTeX editor ideal for academic and scientific writing. 

  • Scrivener: A writing software that supports every stage of long-form writing, from outlining to final formatting. 
     

Productivity 

Enhance your focus and keep your writing momentum going: 

Writing Assistance 

Get real-time feedback and AI-powered suggestions to improve your writing: 

  • Grammarly: AI-powered writing assistant that provides grammar checks, style suggestions, and clarity improvements.  

Good luck and happy writing!