Thread by @MushtaqBilalPhD

Here are two apps that will make reading papers and taking notes easy — super easy:

1. Zotero

Open your Zotero desktop app and simply drag a PDF to the main panel.

Zotero will add the PDF to your library. It will also retrieve the paper's meta-data from the internet.

Double click on the PDF and Zotero will open it in its inbuilt Note Editor.

Now you can read the paper, annotated it, and take notes — all within Zotero.

Zotero will also sync these notes with your web library, so you can access them on multiple devices.

You can add in-text citations in your notes and web links.

You can export all your notes to MS Word.

To do so, open a blank document.

Click on "Add Note" in the Zotero tab.

Type in the title of the note you want to add in the yellow search bar and press Enter.

Zotero will bring all your notes from Note Editor to your Word file.

These notes will be formatted according to the citation style you select.

If you want to read more about Zotero's Note Editor and its capabilities, here's a thread on that 👇

2. Obsidian

Open Obsidian and create a new vault, which is Obsidian's name for a folder.

Choose a location on your computer where you want to save the vault.

I have a folder named "All Obsidian Vaults" on my desktop.

I have named the new vault "World Literature."

Obsidian will create a folder with the same name (in "All Obsidian Vaults" in my case).

This is how your vault will look in Obsidian.

[You can change the dark mode to light.]

Go to "All Obsidian Vaults" and then open the folder you just created.

Add the PDF you want to read and take notes on.

The PDF will show up in your Obsidian.

Click on the PDF and Obsidian will open it in a tab for you.

To take notes, click on the "New note" button in the top-left corner of your screen.

Obsidian will open a new note. Name it however you want to.

Arrange the PDF and the note file vertically (or horizontally).

Start reading and taking notes.

In Obsidian, you can also create links by adding square brackets around a word like so [[Vittorio Coletti]].

When you create a link, Obsidian will also create a new note.

The new note will be automatically linked to your original note.

If you're new to Obsidian, here's a step-by-step guide to get you started on it 👇

Comparison:

1. Convenience:

Zotero is relatively convenient to use than Obsidian. It also automates your citations and references, which Obsidian doesn't.

Obsidian is "low-tech" and may seem intimidating to a beginner. But once you get the hang of it, it's very useful.

2. Annotations:

Zotero's Note Editor has an inbuilt annotations feature.

In Obsidian, you will have to install a plug-in if you want to annotate a PDF. This may seem challenging if you don't know your way around plug-ins.

3. Connections:

In Zotero, you can't create links between your notes. Every note is a standalone note.

Obsidian is meant to help you with creating links between different ideas and thoughts.

Comment below if you'd prefer Zotero or Obsidian.

If you found this thread useful, follow me @MushtaqBilalPhD for more tips on academic writing.