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If you were writing an article for a scientific journal...

LaTeX is all I use for scientific writing. In fact, I've stopped using Word (or any other word processing application) for anything a long time ago.
 
I use Word.

What are the advantages of LaTeX? Is it acceptable for journals with electronic submissions?
 
OK you use TeX, but what do you use to create the articles? What template do you use?
 
TruthSeeker said:
What are the advantages of LaTeX?
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Mathematical formulas are much easier to write with it. The other advantage is that you don't have to worry about software version differences.

Is it acceptable for journals with electronic submissions?
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Depends on your field. In my field (theoretical computer science/computational logic) all relevant publishers have their own LaTeX templates.
 
Diamond said:
OK you use TeX, but what do you use to create the articles? What template do you use?
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I write the text in Emacs because AucTeX (the Emacs mode for LaTeX) is pretty powerful in itself and I have also extended it with a host of elisp macros that takes care of handling some repetitive tasks. New LaTeX users might want to start with some wysiwyg editor like LyX.

As for teh template file, you use the one provided by the publisher.
 
LW said:
I write the text in Emacs because AucTeX (the Emacs mode for LaTeX) is pretty powerful in itself and I have also extended it with a host of elisp macros that takes care of handling some repetitive tasks. New LaTeX users might want to start with some wysiwyg editor like LyX.

As for teh template file, you use the one provided by the publisher.
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Thanks LW, that helps a lot! :)
 
LW said:
Mathematical formulas are much easier to write with it. The other advantage is that you don't have to worry about software version differences.



Depends on your field. In my field (theoretical computer science/computational logic) all relevant publishers have their own LaTeX templates.
Click to expand...

Thanks...my field (psychosocial oncology/palliative care) doesn't include much in the way of mathematical formulas.
 
As a person whose business is the typesetting and composition of technical books and articles, I'm begging you not to use Word to do anything other than write a letter.

Use LaTeX. Use the publisher's template, as LW said.

I am happy to answer anyone's LaTeX questions. Just PM me. There are many other LaTeX wizards on the forum, too.

~~ Paul
 
As others have said, ensure you use the journal template. This may affect which software you use - the ACS journals accept LaTeX, but provide a Word template only.

I always use the Word template in preference to using LaTeX, as sometimes the template will be formatted to look like how the paper will appear in print - I reckon this may give a slight psychological edge when it goes out to referees, as it already looks (superficially) like a "real" paper.

Some might say that if you're relying on tricks like that, your paper's probably not good enough, but in reply to my imaginary interlocutors, I say use everything you can to your advantage.
 
< Shuffles feet and mumbles>

"What? Speak up, boy!"

'Notepad, sir'.

<All swoon>

"You ******** what, boy?"

' Notepad, sir. 's the only word processor I got, sir.'

"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"
<exeunt omnes >
 
Diamond said:
What would you use software-wise to do it? What template?
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LaTeX.

Most journals have specific templates (.cls files) for their own journal; an advantage of LaTeX over monks busily calligraphing in their cells is that I can write the paper and then find out what the journals requirements are and follow them, typically in less than ten minutes.
 
Drkitten said:
I may take you up on that in the next couple of weeks. If Prentice-Hall doesn't get my final version of the manuscript soon, they've promised me a visit from someone with the middle name "the."
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Are you delivering a manuscript or camera-ready pages for printing?

~~ Paul
 
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