17Chapter 3
Mechanics of Writing
Given a structure, the next challenge is to actually begin writing. Strategies for
writing are the subject of the next chapter. In this chapter, I take a brief detour and
consider some of the tools of writing and communication.
Writing at a Computer
Most people do all their own typing and word processing—a dramatic change from
just a decade or two ago, and nowadays the old approaches to thesis writing (which
included use of professional typists and a great deal of writing by hand) are almost
forgotten. All students are familiar with the challenges of using a word processor to
produce a well-written short work such as an essay. They are also familiar with the
modes of writing that computers encourage: frequent revision, writing of sections
in any order (or of several sections at the same time), ease of change of style and
layout, and so on. The use of word processing has become universal, profoundly
affecting the way research can be carried out and reported.
However, the task of writing an extended document such as a thesis is a very
different process to that of writing a shorter work. Many students know the elemen-
tary features of word processors that are sufficient for a 3,000-word essay, but not
the more advanced features that help authors to maintain consistency of style and
presentation over 50,000 words or more, a scale on which manual checking can
become painfully laborious and where it is essential to have automatic maintenance
of elements such as section and figure numbers. Likewise, good presentation re-
quires software that automatically maintains bibliographies; mechanisms that cre-
ate indexes and tables of contents; tools for professional-looking illustrations; and
strategies for keeping versions and back-ups.
On the other hand, some students tend to over-rely on some of the functions of
word processors, such as grammar and spelling checkers, which may be designed
for general writing rather than the demands of communication within a specific aca-
demic community. Learning to make effective, appropriate use of a word processor
is a key step towards timely completion of your thesis, and it is a mistake to assume
D. Evans et al., How to Write a Better Thesis, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-04286-2_3,
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014