A computer can help you incredibly with your writing process. It can certainly make the writing process easier with keyboard skills. Below is a brief overview of how computers can be used effectively at different stages of the writing process:
- With the advent of the internet, the computer is a good research tool. You can use the internet to find books and innumerable Internet resources to draw on relevant ideas, thus adding to the quality of your writing.
- Professional fonts like Times New Roman, Cambria, or Calibri are better for reading. Font size 12 is ideal. A sans-serif typeface such as Arial is recommended for table numberings, drawings, and diagrams.
- In the “page settings” option, ensure you have chosen “A4” and provided margins of about 1 inch on all sides. The space between paragraphs should be 6 points, and line spacing should ideally be “double”.
- Use different tools to emphasise different levels of headings in your document. For example, capitals can be used for primary headings in bold or italics for secondary headings.
- You can use built-in word processing tools such as Spell and Grammar Checkers. In the set language option, enable English UK. In India, we generally follow the British spelling and grammar systems. It can be constructive in proofreading and editing, especially if you want to restructure your writing.
- A simple function such as “cut and paste” can simplify your job.
- Also, if you are looking for a specific point in your writing, you can use the “search” function on a computer to find it, which is much less time-consuming than finding it manually on a handwritten sheet of paper. This function is also extremely useful in checking if you have overused a specific word or term in your writing. If you find that you have used a word quite a few times, then you can use synonyms to replace it with a word with the same meaning, thus enhancing the quality of your writing.
- Always use the “Tab” key, not the space bar, when indenting a line. Similarly, when you want to indent the first line of a paragraph, press the “Tab” key once.
- It is very important to back up your file, as it will help you in the case of a hard disk failure. It is best to save a second copy of your work on a removable disk so that you can use it in the event of system failure. It also allows you the flexibility of working from another computer.
In summary, the computer as a writing tool has advantages and disadvantages. However, the advantages outdo the disadvantages with quite an edge. Computers help students in every stage of writing, be it note-taking, outlining, writing, proofreading or editing. It would not be an exaggeration to say that a computer is a machine that students cannot afford to ignore any longer, especially as it helps them with the flexibility to print and store materials easily.
WORKS CITED
Hawisher, Gail E., and Cynthia L. Selfe. Literacy, Technology, and Society: Confronting the Issues. Prentice Hall, 1997.
Flower, Linda S., et al. “Detection, Diagnosis, and the Strategies of Revision.” College Composition and Communication, vol. 37, no. 1, 1986, pp. 16–55. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/357381.
Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.
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