All through my educational {and professional} journeys, one factor has remained my fixed ally: Google Docs. Not solely is having all of your paperwork accessible irrespective of the place you might be tremendous useful, however the software program itself is surprisingly versatile and complex. I’ve by no means encountered something I couldn’t do with Google Docs, from signing a contract to seamlessly working with enormous teams of collaborators. There are different, smaller hacks for the phrase processor that you could be not even learn about, although. Its enterprise purposes are plentiful, however let’s give attention to what Google Docs can do for college kids, particularly.
Google Docs hacks for essays and notes
A lot of schoolwork facilities on writing, from essays to memos to notes, so listed here are the hacks that may serve you finest if you’re within the zone on a paper or taking down data at school.
Change capitalization formatting
Simply change the capitalization formatting of something within the doc by highlighting it and selecting “Format,” then “Textual content.” On the backside of the menu, you’ll see “Capitalization,” and hovering over it provides you three choices: “lowercase,” “UPPERCASE,” and “Title Case.” While you by chance kind in all-caps or have to make a title however don’t need to rewrite what you have already got, it is a little-known fast repair that may save a lot time.
Use Voice Typing for note-taking
Make note-taking at school approach simpler by choosing “Voice Typing” from the “Instruments” menu. When you click on the little microphone icon that seems, something your pc mic pics up shall be put into the doc. It gained’t be excellent, however it will likely be editable, so let it jot down all the things your professor says, then revise it later for notes that match up along with your lecture.
Use an built-in dictionary for papers
You need to use Google Docs’ built-in dictionary inside your doc by going to “Instruments” within the prime menu, then hitting “Dictionary.” You possibly can even spotlight a phrase within the doc and hit Command + Shift + Y to look it up straight away. The dictionary seems within the sidebar of the display, so that you don’t want to depart the doc to Google your phrase. Maybe better of all, the underside of the panel reveals synonyms that you may swap into your doc to take your vocab up a notch, which is useful for if you’re writing an essay. (One other dictionary tip: Add any technical phrases to your “private dictionary” so the spell-checker stops flagging them by right-clicking the phrase and including it. This works nice for these of us with bizarre final names, too.)
Use Discover and Substitute to shortly edit essays
You will discover and substitute textual content in Google Docs by hitting Command + F. The standard search bar will seem within the top-right of the window, however for those who click on the three-dot menu, you’ll see not solely “Discover,” however “Substitute.” If you happen to’ve been misspelling somebody’s title time and again all through an essay, or utilizing a phrase too many occasions, you’ll be able to substitute it shortly. You even have the choice to do a full “Substitute All,” or leap from occasion to occasion to determine for those who solely need to substitute a number of of them.
Make a desk of contents with little effort
Insert a desk of contents from the “Insert” menu if you might want to hold a protracted doc organized. This solely works for those who format the headings in your sections by highlighting them, choosing the “Format” button within the menu, hovering over “Paragraph types,” then choosing a header possibility, nevertheless it creates an incredible desk of contents that routinely updates. If data you had on web page two finally ends up on web page three after you insert a paragraph of textual content above it, the desk of contents will replace by itself, so that you don’t must do it manually. It’s also possible to click on the headers throughout the desk of contents to shortly navigate to that part of the doc.
Model Historical past will save misplaced drafts of papers and deleted notes
You will discover older variations of your doc by hitting “Model historical past” within the “File” menu. I didn’t learn about this for a very long time, and thought that since Google Docs updates routinely, any revisions I made had been everlasting. Not so! I’m penning this in Google Docs proper now, and the software program has saved two totally different variations within the 45 minutes I’ve been at it.
Allow line numbers for lengthy papers or group initiatives
In case you are working with a bunch of individuals in a collaborative Google Doc, allow line numbers so you’ll be able to all shortly reference parts of the work amongst your self. The function merely provides little numbers down the left facet of the doc. That is notably useful for those who’re enhancing one thing huge, like a thesis, as a result of it helps you retain monitor of precisely the place data seems inside your doc. It is a lot simpler to inform your undertaking companion they should tackle a difficulty on web page two, line seven, than to attempt to describe which sentence wants consideration. Toggle these numbers on by hitting “Instruments,” then “Line numbers.” Within the line numbers sidebar, choose “Present line numbers.”
Pressure collaborators to work on copies, not the precise Google Doc
I’ve run throughout this a number of occasions when engaged on assignments from professors: I will open a Google Docs hyperlink, often containing directions for a undertaking, and discover their doc shouldn’t be editable. So, I’ve to “Make a replica” that generates the doc a second time in my Docs. Lecturers do that to allow them to simply distribute a worksheet and all the scholars can fill it in with out affecting the unique model everybody has entry to. It really works properly in that situation, however may be useful for those who want group members to do some impartial work and don’t need everybody typing into the first doc on the similar time. Click on “Share” on the highest proper of the doc, change the hyperlink settings to “Anybody with the hyperlink,” and select “Editor” from the dropdown subsequent to it. Subsequent, copy the hyperlink and paste it into no matter you are utilizing to share it. Earlier than hitting ship, edit the tip of the hyperlink by changing the phrase “edit” and all the things after it with “template/preview.”
Reap the benefits of Google Preserve
Lastly, do not forget about Google Preserve, the note-taking app that integrates completely with Google Docs. I exploit Google Preserve for all types of issues, like purchasing lists and sudden good concepts, nevertheless it’s glorious for jotting down notes at school, too. Faucet the yellow lightbulb icon on the highest proper whilst you’re in a doc to disclose the Preserve sidebar menu, which can can help you drag and drop notes and concepts straight into your doc. There are many note-taking apps on the market, however for those who’re a frequent Google Docs person, I would extremely advocate attempting Preserve for the Docs integration right here.
Google Docs hacks for all the things else
You possibly can (and undoubtedly do) use Google Docs for extra than simply writing essays. Listed below are among the most handy issues I’ve been capable of do with Google Docs, which often require a number of packages when utilizing different software program.
Make editable PDFs with Google Docs (at no cost)
You possibly can flip your PDFs into editable textual content paperwork by importing them to your Google Drive, then hitting “Google Docs” within the “Open With…” menu. I didn’t know you possibly can do that till a number of months in the past, when my Adobe subscription lapsed and I used to be refusing to pay for it once more on precept, since I actually solely wanted to edit one doc. There can be some formatting points when doing this, however for probably the most half, I’ve discovered that Google Docs seamlessly turns the PDF into editable textual content, so it is easy to make modifications earlier than saving, once more, as a PDF.
Signal paperwork at no cost, too
Signal your paperwork by including a “scribble” in Google Docs. I discover the extensions for Phrase too difficult and the net doc editors too costly, so earlier than I spotted you possibly can do that proper in Google Docs at no cost, I used to be printing out all these paperwork, signing them with a pen, and importing photos of them wherever they wanted to go. Humiliating. Famously, I as soon as used the doodle instrument within the Instagram Story editor to signal a doc. Past humiliating. To signal inside Google Docs, go to “Insert,” then “Drawing,” then “New.” A field will seem so that you can attract. Simply go to the menu possibility that claims “Choose Line” and hit “Scribble.” Now, scribble your signature within the field, hit save, and also you’ll have the ability to insert it proper within the doc. Once more, that is free.
Create Google Docs duties to maintain your self targeted
It’s also possible to add in-text “duties” to remain on monitor. That is useful for those who’re working collaboratively with a bunch or simply have to get an enormous project accomplished on a specific timeline. By typing @process into the doc, you’ll immediate a dialog field that permits you to title the duty, delegate it to somebody (even your self), and set a date that it must be accomplished by, so that you’ll get reminders. It’s useful to place a clean web page at the start or finish of your full doc and add all of the duties there. Google Docs places somewhat checkbox subsequent to all of the duties, too, so you’ll be able to tick them off as you go.
