Writing a research paper is only half the work. The real challenge comes when you need to check plagiarism, fix grammar, format citations, improve readability, and prepare the final submission.
Today, students and researchers use professional research tools to ensure their paper meets journal standards and avoids rejection.
In this guide, we list the Top 20 tools for research paper writing that every student, scholar, and academic researcher should use before submission.
Why You Must Use Research Tools Before Submission
Many journals reject papers because of:
Grammar mistakes Incorrect referencing High plagiarism percentage Poor formatting Weak readability
Using the right research tools can:
Improve acceptance chances Save editing time Make your paper professional Ensure journal compliance
TOP 20 TOOLS FOR RESEARCH PAPER WRITING
GRAMMAR & WRITING IMPROVEMENT TOOLS
1. Grammarly
Best tool for correcting grammar, punctuation, and sentence clarity.
Helps improve academic tone and readability.
Best for: Grammar correction + writing suggestions
2. ProWritingAid
Advanced writing editor for long academic papers.
Provides style reports and readability analysis.
Best for: Deep academic editing
3. Hemingway Editor
Highlights complex sentences and passive voice.
Best for: Making research writing simple and clear
4. Ginger Software
Offers grammar checking and sentence rephrasing.
Best for: Quick corrections
PLAGIARISM CHECKING TOOLS
5. Turnitin
Most trusted plagiarism checker used by universities worldwide.
Best for: Academic plagiarism verification
6. iThenticate
Professional plagiarism detection tool used by journal publishers.
Best for: Journal submission checking
7. SmallSEOTools Plagiarism Checker
Free online plagiarism checking tool for students.
Best for: Basic plagiarism scan
8. Quetext
Shows plagiarism percentage with detailed sources.
Best for: Easy plagiarism reporting
CITATION & REFERENCING TOOLS
9. Zotero
Free research management software that saves references and creates citations.
Best for: Automatic bibliography generation
10. Mendeley
Popular reference manager with PDF organizer and citation generator.
Best for: Research library management
11. EndNote
Professional referencing tool used by advanced researchers.
Best for: Large academic projects
12. Cite This For Me
Simple website to generate citations instantly.
Best for: Quick APA/MLA citations
RESEARCH DISCOVERY & LITERATURE TOOLS
13. Google Scholar
Search engine for academic papers and citations.
Best for: Finding research sources
14. ResearchGate
Platform where researchers share papers and publications.
Best for: Downloading academic papers
15. Semantic Scholar
AI-powered academic search engine showing influential papers.
Best for: Smart literature search
FORMATTING & DOCUMENT TOOLS
16. LaTeX / Overleaf
Used for professional academic formatting and mathematical papers.
Best for: Journal-level formatting
17. Microsoft Word Editor
Includes grammar checking, formatting styles, and reference support.
Best for: Standard research writing
AI-BASED RESEARCH SUPPORT TOOLS
18. ChatGPT
Helps in rewriting paragraphs, explaining concepts, and improving structure.
Best for: Idea clarification + rewriting
19. Paperpal
AI academic editing tool designed for research manuscripts.
Best for: Journal-ready language correction
20. Scholarcy
Summarizes long research papers into key insights.
Best for: Literature review support
BEST WORKFLOW FOR USING THESE TOOLS
Follow this professional submission process:
Step 1 → Write paper in Word or LaTeX
Step 2 → Fix grammar using Grammarly
Step 3 → Check plagiarism using Turnitin or iThenticate
Step 4 → Generate citations using Zotero/Mendeley
Step 5 → Improve clarity using Hemingway Editor
Step 6 → Final formatting check before submission
This workflow greatly improves publication success.
COMMON MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE
Submitting without plagiarism check Wrong citation format Copy-paste from internet Too complex writing style Missing bibliography
Avoid these using the tools listed above.
FINAL CONCLUSION
Using the right tools for research paper writing can dramatically improve your chances of journal acceptance.
Whether you are a student, PhD scholar, or academic researcher, combining:
Grammar tools Plagiarism checkers Referencing software Literature search platforms
will help you submit a professional, error-free research paper.
Before your next submission, make sure to use at least 4–5 tools from this list.
Your research deserves the best presentation.