Editing Guide to technical writing (section)

==Choice of writing package==

* We use LaTeX because engineering is a highly mathematical topic, and this is the most professional way to present a mathematical paper. Also managing a very large document, such as a thesis, is actually easier in LaTeX.  The overall quality of presentation beats Microsoft Word  without question. 

* Because LaTeX is a typesetting language, and not a word processor, it is the most efficient way for a journal to convert your paper into a final published form without making any mistakes in translating your mathematical expressions.  If you send a highly mathematical paper in Word to a journal, the chances are that your maths will end up with many formatting errors that you then have to fix at the galley-proof stage.

* We use Microsoft Word for administrative matters, writing letters to editors, grant applications, CVs etc.  But for technical journal articles and a thesis, LaTeX is the preferred medium.  In some cases where we are collaborating on a journal article with non-engineers (eg. biologists) we will compromise and use Microsoft Word for ease of editing between many authors of different disciplines.

* For the thesis LaTeX style file download it from [http://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/thz/PhD_Thesis_LaTex.zip here]. You are strongly recommended to use this style file. Seven postgrad alumni medal winning theses have used this style file and so it will give you a winning presentation style.