Five Tech Tools

That Actually Make Make Doctoral Writing Easier

Doctoral writing is already challenging enough without wrestling with inefficient systems. The right tools can save you hours, reduce frustration, and keep you organized. Here are my favorite tech helpers for dissertation, capstone, or major project work.

1. Zotero

A free, open-source reference manager that lets you store, organize, and cite sources with just a few clicks. You can create folders by theme, tag articles with keywords, and insert citations directly into Word or Google Docs. Pro tip: set up a separate folder for each major writing project so you can easily track what sources belong where. You cap hop over to the Free Resources page to snag a copy of my Zotero 101 cheat sheet.

2. Speechify

A text-to-speech tool that reads your articles or drafts aloud. Listening while you follow along can help you catch awkward phrasing, missing words, or unclear arguments. It is also a lifesaver for reviewing long articles while giving your eyes a break.

3. Elicit, Semantic Scholar, and Google Scholar

All three help you discover scholarly sources more efficiently.

• Elicit uses AI to surface relevant research and summarize articles.

• Semantic Scholar applies AI to highlight key points, influential citations, and related papers.

• Google Scholar offers the broadest reach, especially for gray literature and cross-disciplinary searches.

Use them in combination: start broad with Google Scholar, refine with Semantic Scholar, and preview with Elicit.

4. Summarizer Tools (e.g., Scholarcy, TLDR This)

Summarizers condense articles into brief overviews so you can decide whether to read in full. Scholarcy offers structured summaries with headings, while TLDR This creates concise plain-language abstracts. Always verify key points against the original; think of summaries as the trailer, not the full film.

5. Grammarly Premium

An advanced editing tool that checks grammar, style, clarity, and tone. The premium version can flag overly long sentences, inconsistent formatting, and vocabulary that does not fit your intended audience. Use it as a final polish after substantive editing, not as a replacement for critical review.

Final Tip: Technology should serve your process, not complicate it. Choose a few tools that address your biggest challenges and integrate them into your workflow. Master those before adding anything new, and you will see the payoff in both time and clarity.