Linux Productivity and Quality Tools for the Writer

Jun 22, 2010
Mark Alexander Bain

Improve Writer Productivity and Quality with Linux - Mark Alexander Bain

Every good writer continually works at their productivity and the quality of their writing. A few simple, but effective, Linux command line tools will help.

The writer, like the student, will always find ways to distract themselves from their actual work. They can quickly find another email to check or another web site to investigate. Unfortunately, these activities tend to waste the writer's valuable time and reduce their productivity. Some simple Linux tools such as nano, spell, style and diction will help them improve this productivity and the quality of their writing.

Using the Linux Console

The key to the writer improving their productivity is to dispense with the high level graphical user interfaces (or GUIs) such as OpenOffice.org Writer or Abiword. The key is to use the Linux command line. The Linux user accesses the command line by starting a Linux console such as Xterm or Gnome terminal. How the user starts the terminal will depend on the system. For example an Ubuntu user will click on the main menu, then "Accessories" and then "Terminal". They will then a window in which they can access the command line (as shown in figure 1).

Using Nano on the Command Line

Nano (or sometimes Pico) is a console based text editor. The user accesses it by typing "nano" and then a file name, for example:

nano article.txt

The main advantages to using nano are:

there is no automatic spell checker
there is no fancy formatting

This ensures that the writer can concentrate on the important job of writing.

Using Spell on the Command Line

Once the writer has completed their article they will, of course, want to start the process of proof-reading. Linux can help here with its ispell tool. This will:

check a file for any incorrect spelling -
spell article.txt
check a phrase for any incorrect spelling -
echo "tihs is a tset." | spell
for which the output will be:
tihs
tset

Then, having corrected all of the spelling in their article, the writer can move on to the quality of their writing.

Using Diction on the Command Line

Diction is a very useful tool for any writer. It helps the writer to identify any commonly misused words and phrases or wordy passages. It is used in one of two ways:

To analyse individual phrases -
echo "Diction is a very useful tool for any writer." | diction
To analyse a whole file -
diction article.txt

Diction will then report areas of concern:

1: Diction is a [very] useful tool for any writer.

1 phrase in 1 sentence found.

Using Style on the Command Line

If diction is useful then style is invaluable. It analyses the writing style of a sentence or a document and, like diction, it can be used in two ways:

To analyse individual sentences -
echo "Style is an vital tool for any writer." | style
To analyse a whole file -
style article.txt

In the above example style will tell the writer that there is one passive sentence with a Fog Index of 3.2. The writer can make any changes as they see fit and then rerun style:

echo "The writer will find a vital tool in style." | style

Fog Index: 3.6

0% (0) passive sentences

In this way, not only will Linux help the writer to improve their productivity, but it will also help them improve the quality of their writing.

Mark Alexander Bain - Mark Alexander Bain is a writer, Mo Bro and consultant for all aspects of software development at dsquared. He has also written regularly ...