Reading Status

Reading Status

Track your reading progress through your reference library. Reading status helps you remember which papers you’ve read, which you’re currently reading, and which you still need to tackle.

Why Track Reading Status?

Stay Organized Know at a glance what you’ve read and what’s pending.

Plan Your Reading Prioritize unread references for upcoming work.

Track Progress See how much of your literature review is complete.

Find References Quickly locate papers you’ve already read when writing.

Status Options

StatusIconUse When
Unread○Haven’t started reading
Reading◐Currently working through
Completed●Finished reading
On Hold⊘Paused, plan to return
Won’t Read✗Decided not relevant

Default Status

New references are marked Unread by default.

Setting Reading Status

From Reference List

  1. Find the reference in your dashboard
  2. Click the status icon/badge
  3. Select new status from dropdown
  4. Changes save automatically

From Reference Details

  1. Open the reference detail page
  2. Find Reading Status section
  3. Click desired status
  4. Status updates immediately

Bulk Status Update

  1. Select multiple references (checkboxes)
  2. Click Set Reading Status
  3. Choose status for all selected
  4. Confirm

Reading Progress Overview

Your dashboard shows reading progress:

Statistics

  • Total references
  • Unread count
  • In Progress count
  • Completed count
  • Completion percentage

Visual Progress

Progress bar showing:

[●●●●●●○○○○] 60% Complete

Or pie chart breaking down by status.

Filtering by Status

In Dashboard

Click status filters:

  • All – Show everything
  • Unread – Only unread
  • Reading – Currently reading
  • Completed – Finished
  • On Hold – Paused

Combined Filters

Filter by status AND:

  • Category
  • Type
  • Favorites
  • Date range

Example: “Unread articles in the Methods category”

Reading Workflow

1. Capture

Add references with status Unread.

2. Triage

Review unread items:

  • Mark as Won’t Read if not relevant
  • Keep promising items as Unread
  • Start important ones: change to Reading

3. Read

When actively reading:

  • Status: Reading
  • Add notes as you go
  • Record key quotes and page numbers

4. Complete

After finishing:

  • Status: Completed
  • Add final notes and assessment
  • Star if particularly valuable

5. Review

Periodically:

  • Check On Hold items
  • Review Won’t Read decisions
  • Assess overall progress

Reading Goals

Set reading goals (if enabled):

Weekly Goals

“Read 5 papers per week”

  • Track progress toward goal
  • See weekly completion stats

Project Goals

“Complete 50 papers for literature review”

  • Set target completion date
  • Monitor daily progress

Reading Statistics

View your reading data:

This Month

  • Papers read
  • Average per week
  • Most read category

All Time

  • Total papers read
  • Reading streak
  • Fastest/slowest months

By Category

Breakdown of reading by subject area.

Syncing Reading Status

With Zotero

If synced with Zotero:

  • Reading status syncs as tags
  • reading, completed, etc.
  • Bidirectional (if two-way sync enabled)

Across Devices

Status syncs automatically when you:

  • Use the same WordPress account
  • Access from multiple devices
  • Status changes propagate

Tips for Tracking Reading

1. Update Promptly

Change status as you start and finish reading – easier than catching up later.

2. Use On Hold Wisely

For papers you’ve partially read but paused – not for papers you haven’t started.

3. Be Honest with Won’t Read

It’s fine to skip papers that aren’t relevant. Better than cluttering your “to read” list.

4. Combine with Notes

When marking complete, add a brief note about what you learned.

5. Regular Review

Weekly review of reading progress helps maintain momentum.

Integration with Citations

Reading status connects to your writing:

Citation Suggestions

When adding citations, see:

  • Completed papers you’ve read
  • Notes you made while reading
  • Quick access to familiar sources

Uncited Completed

Find papers you’ve read but haven’t cited yet.

Cited but Unread

Warning if you cite something marked unread (consider reading fully).

Troubleshooting

Status not saving

  • Check internet connection
  • Refresh the page
  • Try clicking again

Wrong count showing

  • Refresh statistics
  • Check filter settings
  • Clear browser cache

Status reset unexpectedly

  • Check if another user has access
  • Review sync settings
  • Check for plugin conflicts

Next Steps

Last updated: January 31, 2026