Aaron Massey

Assistant Professor — University of Maryland, Baltimore County

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Introduction to LaTeX

estimated reading time: 0 minutes and 56 seconds.

I recommend using LaTeX to write academic papers. Although LaTeX has a bigger learning curve than Microsoft Word, that curve is more hype than hindrance. More importantly, learning LaTeX pays off in the long run.

If you’re interested in learning LaTeX, tons of guides exist. I recommend the following:

• The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX is probably the shortest introduction that can be considered reasonably comprehensive.
• A very basic guide to start writing in LaTeX right now covers the absolute basics in minimal time.
• Overleaf tutorials and examples cover many aspects of LaTeX in an easy to browse fashion. I should also say that Overleaf isn’t a bad way to get into LaTeX if you aren’t sure about installing a huge software package. You can sign up for Overleaf and use their system entirely online.
• The TeX StackEchange question “What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner?” covers many other options.

Finally, if you’re going to buy a book on LaTeX, then it should be The LaTeX Companion.