If you’re looking to improve your writing, a grammar checker can be one of the best tools you can use. But which one should you choose?
Microsoft Word is a popular document writing program that has been around for decades now. It has a basic spelling and grammar checker that doesn’t catch errors very well, though it does make suggestions.
Spelling Checker
Spell checkers in word processing programs like Google Docs and Microsoft Word are a great way to catch basic errors. However, they cannot replace a grammar checker that provides feedback on your writing style and tone.
For this reason, many writers use a dedicated grammar checker that goes beyond basic proofreading. The best ones can also correct more advanced errors and suggest ways to improve your writing.
The grammar and spelling checker in Word is part of the program, which means you don’t need to pay extra for it. This option is located on the toolbar in the middle and left of the screen.
Grammar Checker
Grammar checkers are a great way to prevent plagiarism and improve your writing. But which one is right for you?
Both Grammarly and Microsoft Editor use artificial intelligence to correct grammatical and spelling errors. They can also suggest ways to fix stylistic, tone and vocabulary issues.
Neither tool can catch every grammar error, but they both do a pretty good job of keeping an eye on medium-to-large grammatical and punctuation errors.
If you need a more powerful grammar checker, you should consider paying for Grammarly Premium. However, the free version of Grammarly is more than enough to catch basic grammar mistakes and help you write for your audience.
Plagiarism Checker
When writing academic documents, students should take a proactive approach to protect themselves from plagiarism. Plagiarism can result in failing grades and even expulsion.
A good way to check if your work is plagiarism-free is to use a plagiarism checker. These tools can compare your work with billions of web pages and academic databases from ProQuest to find instances of copied text.
Grammarly is a popular, AI-powered writing assistant that can help you improve your grammar and vocabulary. It offers a free online writing tool as well as mobile apps and web extensions.
Style Checker
The Style Checker, built into the Microsoft Word or Outlook app, is an easy-to-use proofreading tool that flags grammar and usage errors. It also provides an explanation for every suggestion, so you know exactly why it’s being corrected.
The tool works with a variety of styles from the AP Stylebook and allows users to accept, reject or alter the suggested fixes. Its simple interface is a great option for writers who struggle to adhere to strict formatting requirements prior to submission or review.
LanguageTool helps remove common spelling and grammar mistakes, like subject-verb agreement or wrong plural forms. It even checks for proper punctuation. You can download it as an add-in for Microsoft Word or install it directly in any major browser, including Firefox and Chrome.
Readability Score
A readability score is a number that gives you an idea of how easy or difficult it will be for people to understand your text. This is an important factor for many writers, especially those who are writing to a more complicated audience.
Grammarly uses a Flesch reading-ease test to calculate your readability score. It also considers the length of your sentences and how easy they are to absorb.
You can improve your readability score by avoiding long, run-on sentences and complex words. You can also make your text more readable by using active voice and chunking your ideas into short paragraphs.