Ditch Microsoft Word¶

Let me introduce you to the world of LaTeX -- pronounced something like LAY-tech or LAH-tech, not "latex" like the material.

Microsoft Word versus LaTeX meme

LaTeX is a document preparation system. Instead of dragging figures around, manually numbering headings and repeatedly fixing your reference list, you write plain text with commands that describe the structure of the document.

For example:

\section{Method}

We evaluated the system using three task conditions, as shown in
Figure~\ref{fig:experiment}.

\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{figures/experiment.pdf}
    \caption{Experimental setup used for all three conditions.}
    \label{fig:experiment}
\end{figure}

You write the content and describe what each part is. LaTeX then handles much of the typesetting, numbering, cross-referencing and formatting.

So you can focus on writing, not formatting¶

Your main job should be explaining the research clearly. The LaTeX template will take care of the margins, fonts, heading styles, column layout and reference format.

This is also useful when several people are writing the same paper.

Citations are much easier to manage¶

LaTeX works extremely well with .bib bibliography files produced by Zotero. You cite an item using its citation key:

Recent systems have explored immersive interfaces for remote
robot operation~\cite{smith2025teleoperation}.

BibTeX or biblatex then builds the reference list using the style required by the template. You do not manually renumber citations every time you add a paper.

See Citations and references for the Zotero workflow.

Figures, tables, equations and cross-references behave properly¶

LaTeX can automatically number and reference sections, figures, tables and equations. If Figure 3 becomes Figure 4, every \ref{...} pointing to it updates when the document is compiled.

It is also very good at typesetting mathematics:

\begin{equation}
    \mathbf{x}_{t+1} = f(\mathbf{x}_t, \mathbf{u}_t)
    \label{eq:system-model}
\end{equation}

The document is source code¶

A LaTeX document is compiled into a PDF. That means it fits naturally into the tools we already use for software.

If you need to move a paper to a different venue, changing the document class and template can be much easier than manually restyling a Word document.

Always begin with the correct template¶

Do not start from an empty document.

For a conference or journal paper, download the current template from the official venue or publisher website. IEEE provides official conference and journal templates, while ACM uses its Master Article Template.

The specific venue instructions still win. A conference may use an IEEE or ACM template with a particular document option, page limit or anonymised submission mode.

Warning

Do not change margins, font sizes, line spacing or other template settings to squeeze in more content. Reviewers notice, and submission systems may reject the paper.

The "unofficial" UTS thesis template¶

If you are writing a UTS thesis or report, the UTS Robotics Institute maintains an unofficial UTS LaTeX thesis template.

You may also find an Overleaf template called Thesis Template for The University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Based on my experience, I prefer the version maintained by the UTS:RI team as a starting point.

However, the repository is very clear that it is not an official UTS template. Its description says that it reflects Graduate Research School requirements as of 2022 (still applicable in 2026).

Warning

The repository also notes restrictions around using the official UTS logo in public or intermediate thesis versions. Check the current UTS requirements before including it.

Where should you begin?¶

If you have never used LaTeX before, begin with Overleaf. It removes most of the installation work and lets you learn the basic writing workflow first.

When the free plan or online workflow begins getting in your way, move to LaTeX in VS Code and compile the same source files locally.

Then use the rest of this section when you need it:

One final point: do not wait until the project is finished before you start writing. Writing exposes missing reasoning, unclear methods and unsupported claims much earlier.