Finally, here is a list of cool tools I use related to writing essays.

If you are in the business of building buildings, making matches, or designing decor you would want to have the associated tools of the trade to do these jobs well. Writing essays is no different. At the time of writing (March 2018) and review (2021), my favourite combination of tools I would recommend to enhance essay writing are as follows:

Google Docs (with the 'Better Word Count' add-on)

I love that Google Docs automatically saves every key stroke, and that each document is automatically saved in my Google Drive. If your device, browser or app crashes, you lose nothing! It is all automatically saved, right up to the last letter you typed. If you accidentally delete the document, even then you can retrieve it from Trash. Priceless!

Google Docs also allows you to add comments to your work. This is where I keep the essay question, broken down. This means nothing is included in the word count other than your essay content (and bibliography).

Google Docs works best in the Google Chrome web browser, and also has a mobile app. You can, therefore, work on your essays for extended periods on a computer or laptop, and also work on essays on the go on your mobile phone or tablet. This can be really handy for adding content when away from your computer or in spare moments, maximising various disconnected times to work on your work.

Enabling 'smart invert' on an iOS device (an Accessibility feature - Google it) allows you to work on your essays in dark mode, which is much easier on the eyes at nighttime, as compared with the white background in standard colour mode.

The Better Word Count add-on for Google Docs provides a live on-screen word count of you entire essay, and if you highlight a section it automatically gives you the word count for just that section. Super quick and super easy!

If you ever need to collaborate on a document with someone else, Google Docs also allows live editing of the same document by multiple parties. This is an incredible feature!

FYI, the same can be achieved in Google Sheets (Google's answer to Microsoft Excel) and Google Sheets (Microsoft PowerPoint equivalent).

Google Docs and the Better Word Count add-on are completely free.

Google Chrome (with a dark theme extension and 'Dark Mode' extension)

Using Google Chrome, with a dark theme extension and the 'Dark Mode' extension enables you to flick a switch on your Google Chrome web browser and convert the white background of the document to a black background, with light grey writing. As with the iOS 'smart invert' feature, mentioned above, this is so much easier on the eyes post-sunset.

This work for Google Docs in Google Chrome, and also for any other websites, including web browsing in Google Chrome, when enabled. It can be turned on and off at the flick of a switch.

Google Chrome and the above-mentioned extensions are all free.

Google Drive (iCloud, Dropbox and OneDrive)

These are 'cloud' services that store your files on a remote server, which means your files are not only stored in one place, such as your computer hard drive, but on the cloud provider's computers. This is important because it means if your computer crashes and burns, or is lost or stolen, all your important files are not lost. Do not store important files in only one place, such as your computers hard drive. This is risky business!

Storing your files in 'the cloud' using one of the above-mentioned services reduces the likelihood of losing your files (eg. essays), and allows you to easily access your files when not at your computer, such as essays in Google Docs on your mobile phone.

The concept of 'the cloud' seems to cause confusion for the technologically illiterate. Using cloud services, however, even if you don't understand exactly how they work, is a quantum leap in keeping your files safe (provided you have good password protection practices) and accessible.

Google Drive gives you 15gb of free storage, which is plenty for most people. It integrates perfectly with Google Docs and is my preferred cloud service for all things academic (bar a few iCloud exceptions).

If you still don't 'get it', get onto it anyway and sign up. Get help if you're not sure how to proceed. This is a relatively simple and easy way to protect yourself from losing valuable work.

Microsoft Word

Once you've finished writing your essay in Google Docs, you can export it to Microsoft Word and polish up any editing, if needed, before submitting. This is not an absolutely necessary step, but if you are familiar with Word, and are particular with how your finished product looks, you might find it easier to get it looking how you want.

(If you do use Microsoft Word as your main document writing app, make sure you enable the 'autosave' feature and set it for 1-3 minutes at the most.)

Grammarly (and Ginger)

These are grammar correction tools that, in the same way, Microsoft Word (and Google Docs) pickup spelling mistakes, these services, which come as a Google Chrome extension and/or stand-alone web services, pickup grammatical error and suggest corrections. There is even an iOS version for on the go corrections.

There are free and paid versions of these services. I just use the free version. If English is your second language or writing essays is not your strength, perhaps consider exploring the benefits of the paid versions - they claim to pick up a lot more grammatical errors and weaknesses than the free versions.

I cannot speak for the paid version of either of these services, but while the free version of Grammarly is not a perfect service, it does pick up mistakes Microsoft Word and Google Docs miss and for that reason I think it is worth running a document through before submitting.

Elucidate (Mac Only)

Elucidate is a Mac only app that allows you to add Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to a PDF document. This makes a PDF highlightable, and readable by an electronic device.

You can, then, quickly and easily highlight PDF documents in any good PDF Reader program/app, and/or get an app (or iOS using the Text to Voice accessibility feature) to read the article to you. In my experience, the text to voice experience works well about 95% of the time.

VoiceDream (iOS)

This is the best iOS app I am aware of for listening to PDFs and Word Documents read aloud to you by your iOS device.

PDF Expert (or GoodReader, GoodNotes)

These are my preferred PDF Reader apps for iOS. PDF Expert is the one I use the most. It is worth mentioning that GoodNotes uniquely allows the rotation of pages in PDFs for when that is required.

Scanner Pro

This great little app allows you to quickly scan books or other paper resources and convert them to PDF. It automatically finds the page edges and allows rapid scanning of pages. It adds the OCR layer as mentioned above, and will automatically save what you scan to your Google Drive, or other cloud services if you want.

There is a scanner in the EBC Ringwood Campus library that also does this.

Many photocopiers, such as the ones at EBC Ringwood Campus in the SfOT and SMT offices, offer this function also (hidden deep in the settings).

OneNote, Evernote and Notability (and Google Keep and Apple Notes)

Any app that allows you to organise your note taking for classes, clip material from web pages and quickly and easily retrieve your notes with a word search is very valuable. Each of these apps offer that across all platforms (except web clipping, which is only offered by OneNote and Evernote).

OneNote and Evernote have free and paid versions. Notability is an app you need to purchase. Google Keep and Apple Notes are free.

Olive Tree Bible Study (and Accordance)

Olive Tree Bible Study is, in my opinion, the best iOS, Android, Mac, PC and web-based offering for a good bible app. It is free and has some good free and paid bible translations and tools. Accordance is very good too, especially for Greek texts and tools, but very expensive.

Apple Books, Kindle and Google Play Books

eBooks are good for the environment and great for searching text, especially when you're looking for that highlighted quote and you can't remember where it was. They are much more portable than paper books (which is helpful for ever-travelling Officers), and allow easy access when on the road and wanting to quickly access and/or share content with others.

Omnifocus

If you decide to pursue the Getting Things Done methodology, this is by far the best iOS and Mac app for the GTD practitioner. It is very expensive, but worth every cent. Things 3 is probably the next best app for iOS and much cheaper. TickTick would be the best Android and Web Browser combination I know of.

Woolworths and Coles Online Shopping

Save yourself an hour or more per week and get your groceries picked and delivered to your door. Then block out the time you'd otherwise be walking the supermarket aisles to power through an assignment.

Do Not Disturb (iOS and Mac Feature)

As long as you're powering through on an assignment, turn off those Facebook, Messenger and other distracting notifications and give yourself a block of undisturbed 'Deep Work' time to 'Get Things Done.'

We all know what it is like to get to the end of a precious hour wasted. Put things in place to avoid such frustrating disappointment. The world of Social Media will survive without you for an hour or two here and there, and you will too.

Jesuit Prayer (iOS App)

This is important - not the app necessarily, but the principle. Don't get so busy with academic study or ministry that you neglect the inner life. Find resources and ways to build prayer and meditation into your day. This is time well invested and will feed you in a way that enhances all you do and are, including your essay writing.

Apple Watch / Fitbit (Optional)

Somehow, be it a wearable device or otherwise, get motivated to move while studying. Study life and Officership are often very sedentary roles. Exercising and eating well will fuel your body and brain to perform better. I probably sound like your Dad or Mum here, but if you think you can neglect your physical well-being and not pay a price in your studying or work, I'm here to tell you that you're dreaming!

I have developed some exercise and eating habits that I have found very helpful, and which compliment study life wonderfully. Have a chat with me or Mr Google if you're interested in making this work well for you. This is something you will do well to work out earlier rather than later.

Audible.com Audiobooks (Apple Audiobooks and Google Audiobooks)

Audiobooks are a great way to listen to books on the go. I have recommended Getting Things Done and Deep Work above. Do yourself a favour regarding self-development and listen to these books when you're on the road. The time invested will be paid back ten-fold.

1Password (or mSecure)

Ok. We are way off topic here (and probably really were already a few recommendations ago), but this is helpful stuff.

You will need accounts that require username and passwords for most if not all of the above apps and services. Do not use the same username and password for everything! This is bad practice and in our digital age opens you up to absolute disaster regarding access to your content, not to mention the risk of identity theft. Get a good password app, like mSecure or 1Password, and lift your game with passwords.

Two-Factor Authentication

For important accounts like Apple iCloud, Facebook, Google, etc. enable two-factor authentication. If you don't know what I'm talking about, find out! Get on Google and get onto it. This is one area of your life when you are busy that you do not want to unnecessarily go pear-shaped. If you need help setting it up, get help! This is important - trust me.

Netflix

As long as we're way off track, don't forget to build some 'chillax' time into your schedule too. 😊

For EBC Cadets, don't hesitate to contact me or our local IT person if you need help with any of these tools.

God bless,

Andrew

Next Post: Taking Notes

March 2018 (Updated January 2021)