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None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

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  1. Move your arm using back or shoulder muscles rather than relying on fingers to write.

    Hand muscles tire more quickly than arm muscles, reducing fatigue during long writing periods and increasing control once muscle memory develops.

    • One person reported it made their handwriting larger and sloppier.
    • Another questioned if shoulders provide sufficient control for fine motor movements.

    8 people, independently

  2. Email the first or corresponding author of a paper to request a free copy.

    Researchers are often willing and happy to share their work via email.

    • Some researchers may be too busy to respond for weeks or never.
    • Older authors might not check their email regularly.

    4 people, independently

  3. Recognize that people often misuse 'I' instead of 'me' due to a fear of sounding uneducated.

    People are conditioned to think using 'me' sounds wrong or stupid, leading to hypercorrection.

    • This is based on personal experience and common misconceptions.

    4 people, independently

    • Be aware that hypercorrection may lead you to incorrectly use 'and I' where 'and me' is grammatically correct, due to over-teaching in school.5

  4. Slow down your writing speed to improve neatness.

    Writing too fast typically makes handwriting sloppy as the hand tries to keep up with typing-trained minds; slowing down allows for cleaner, neater results.

    6 people, independently

  5. Use 'e.g.' for examples and 'i.e.' to restate a point, since the two are distinct.

    'e.g.' translates to 'for example' whereas 'i.e.' means 'in other words'.

    6 people, independently

    • Remember that e.g. stands for the Latin 'exempli gratia', which translates to 'for example'.4

  1. Never use 'I's' as a possessive form; use 'my' instead (e.g., 'my husband's and my house', not 'my husband's and I's house').

    'I's' is not a word.

    3 people, independently

  2. Learn and use effective note-taking techniques to help with studying and identifying knowledge gaps.

    Good notes make studying easier and help pinpoint specific concepts that are not understood.

    3 people, independently

  3. Read 'Why We Sleep' by Matthew Walker to learn more about sleep science.

    3 people, independently

  4. Use interlibrary loan via a local public or university library to borrow articles from other institutions.

    Libraries can often retrieve articles from other libraries, typically digitally within 24 hours, at no cost and without copyright issues.

    4 people, independently

10 more on this

  1. Treat college like a job with a 9-5 schedule, doing homework on campus rather than at home.

    This approach helps avoid all-nighters and structures time.

    3 people, independently

  2. Focus on clear pronunciation and articulation so your speech is easily comprehended.

    Clear diction allows you to speak softer while still being understood by listeners.

    3 people, independently

  3. Include 'filetype:pdf' in your Google search to find direct PDF links for academic papers.

    This filters results to show only direct links to PDF documents.

    3 people, independently

  4. Verify that you are learning the sign language specific to your country, as different national sign languages are mutually unintelligible.

    Proficiency in ASL does not enable communication in BSL, just as English does not cover Italian.

    4 people, independently

  5. Remember 'i.e.' by associating it with 'in essence', 'in other words', or 'in effect'.

    14 people, independently

  6. Study the textbook chapter prior to attending class.

    Grasping new material is far simpler if you have already considered it.

    3 people, independently

  7. Associate 'e.g.' with the word 'example' by thinking of it as the phonetic start of 'egzample'.

    3 people, independently

    • Use e.g. to introduce one or more examples from a broader category.4

  8. Research current and future career options and job prospects for a potential major before committing.

    4 people, independently

  9. Remember the RAVEN acronym: Remember, Affect Verb, Effect Noun.

    7 people, independently

  10. Create an 'unphonetic' alphabet using words with silent or obscure spellings (such as Gnome, Knight, Mnemonic, Pneumatic, Queue) to clarify letters.

    3 people, independently

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