Microsoft Word has its own built-in spelling and grammar check. Its features are limited though, compared to Grammarly.
Grammarly is a software that can be used on desktops, mobile phones, and major browsers. It also can be installed as an add-in to Microsoft Word.
Its paid subscription offers more comprehensive checking and editing features than Word’s. These include clarity, conciseness, formal language, vocabulary suggestions, and plagiarism checking (“similarity”).
1. Grammar
Microsoft Word has been a popular program for writing documents for decades, but it does not have the best grammar or spelling check available. That is why many people choose to install Grammarly for Word, which is a more comprehensive and nuanced program for correcting writing errors.
Grammarly flags potential mistakes with colored underlines and offers suggestions for corrections. Hovering over a highlighted word will reveal a brief explanation of the error and how to correct it.
Grammarly is available as a standalone program or as an add-in for Microsoft Word. The standalone version is more expensive, but it comes with a full suite of office software and a terabyte of cloud storage. The premium version of Grammarly also includes plagiarism detection. This feature compares your text against online sources and an academic database to identify potential plagiarism.
2. Spelling
Typos and misspellings can be a major frustration for anyone who writes regularly. Even though we all have a spell checker built into our computers, those programs don’t catch everything. They only work by ensuring that the words you use are in the dictionary and that they match up with the context of your sentence.
Grammarly catches more mistakes and goes a step further by correcting them and providing spelling suggestions. It also recognizes common and technical spellings that Word might not pick up on.
Microsoft has recently launched its own version of Grammarly called Editor, which is available as an add-on to Word and it does a decent job at checking spellings and grammars but still lacks the depth of analysis that Grammarly provides.
3. Punctuation
Microsoft Word has its own built-in spelling and punctuation checker, but it’s not as comprehensive as Grammarly. The software goes beyond basic spelling checking and identifies errors in sentence structure, style, and tone. It also offers suggestions for fixing those mistakes.
Grammarly is available for desktop and mobile devices, as well as major web browsers. It can identify over 400 types of mistakes and offer suggestions for corrections. It’s also compatible with most office suites, including Word, Outlook, and Google Docs.
Both programs have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Microsoft Editor is included with Office 365 subscriptions and works within Word, Word Online, and Outlook, while Grammarly Premium can be used on its own or as an add-on for web apps and major browsers.
4. Style
Grammarly’s style suggestions can help you address issues like overuse of adverbs or passive voice. It will also help you keep your writing succinct and clear. It can also identify stylistic errors such as misplaced commas or improper word spacing.
Microsoft Editor has some catching up to do in this regard. It has improved over the years but it can still be inconsistent in its results.
As for compatibility and accessibility, both programs have good availability across platforms. They are compatible with major browsers and Microsoft Office products. However, Grammarly requires an internet connection to work. Moreover, it’s not a stand-alone application so you would need to have it installed in the program you want to check your writing. This is unlike Microsoft Editor which has been integrated into Word.
5. Engagement
Grammarly is the best app to use if you want to improve your writing skills. It uses top-of-the-line AI that analyzes natural language and syntax to correct mistakes.
It can also suggest corrections and alternative terms for words you’ve used incorrectly. You can hover your mouse over a flagged word to see a description of the issue and suggestions for fixing it.
With Grammarly Premium, you can get more detailed corrections. For example, you can choose to focus on correctness, clarity, and engagement or add a human proofreader. You can also get a plagiarism checker for an additional cost.
Microsoft Editor is more comprehensive than Grammarly, but it lacks a plagiarism detector. Plus, it’s part of a larger subscription that includes full access to Office.