Even if you have been writing your whole life, a grammar checker can still prove very handy. With the growing number of assistive writing tools, we need to consider which one best meets our needs, and more so which can be relied upon? Of course, if you want a quick answer, most people will cite Grammarly. In this article, we will consider a few online contenders.
Ed tech, or educational technology, isn’t really new. Teacher and students alike rely on a plethora of tools to reinforce learning. In recent months, this reality has come front and center, as educational systems the world over have had to offer education remotely. Now more than ever, educators and learners are reaping the benefits of using different applications and platforms. Thanks to technology, education whether face-to-face or asynchronous, is bridging the gap in spite of adverse conditions.
The same boon of decades of technological advancement make a difference in upgrading competencies, soft skills included, particularly when the preferred mode of learning is of the independent sort. What if writing isn’t one of our strong suits? How do we know if we have written well? This is where grammar checkers come in. Writing becomes a breeze as errors are detected, misspellings are corrected, and sentence construction is improved.
The low-down on a grammar checker
Confidence in the application of a language is akin to becoming proficient. Grammar remains an ambiguous, tedious quagmire of rules unless otherwise applied. Your prowess in the use of grammar may have well been tested by a university paper you had to submit, or that pesky email you had to compose. You may have also found it daunting to prepare your resume. Not everybody has the time nor the drive to scour various grammar websites to look up some obscure reference on the use of the present perfect tense or the virtues of the semicolon for a one-time specific context.
Before test-driving any grammar checker, try to take into account the following aspects so that your text is well composed:
Orthography (spelling). Misspellings in a document or email can have a jarring effect on reading. Although English is your everyday language, it is important to investigate the spelling when you are not sure of a term. It is one of those nitty-gritty habits leading to mastery that simply cannot be done without. Words in English are tricky as sometimes just one misplaced or erroneously included letter changes the meaning of not just the word but an entire sentence, sometimes to a comedic extent.
Punctuation. Whereas misspellings can be eyesores, erratic punctuation, or lack of punctuation altogether results in amateurish writing. We must be circumspect in the use of punctuation. Misplacing a comma alters the phrasing of words and may read differently as ideas get chunked the wrong way. We can thus say that punctuation plays to the ears, not just to the eyes.
Verb tenses. Since writing gives us the luxury of introspection and time to compose, it is imperative that we are surefooted in this temporal aspect of verbs, or risk losing our readers to time anomalies and anachronistic narrative.
Prepositions. These parts of speech are notorious speedbumps in navigating the writing process. While they are generally just two letters long, they are nonetheless important carriers of meaning. Repetition is key in remembering which preposition goes with which context, and as with other elements of a language, it takes trial and error in addition to research, to get a handle on correct usage.
Singular and plural words. A singular subject complements a singular verb. This may require laying out what we want to say mentally to avoid incorrect subject-verb agreement based on number.
Now that we’ve had a look at the specifics of language, which commonly leave us fumbling with word choice, lets talk about grammar checkers, particularly options that have been known to bolster good writing.
Ready?
Best free English grammar checkers
Don’t have a penny to your name to splurge on a grammar checker?
Not a problem. Free alternatives abound to help you assess the quality of text that you write. No checker is infallible so it’s your responsibility to give each one a try and get a better idea of each program’s capabilities. Here are our recommendations.
Scribens. With an eye to simplification, this free online grammar checker sniffs out annoying writing errors with just a few clicks of the mouse. Feature-rich, it offers not just grammar and spelling corrections, but also suggests improvements by way of pointing out redundancies, language register, awkward sentences, and verbiage. The clever use of color makes it easy to spot corrections of a certain type, and a cursory glance at the statistics tab reveals information on reading time, speaking time, words per sentence, and readability just to name a few.
SpellCheckPlus. With a clean, minimalist interface, this corrector gets the job done by providing a summary of possible errors as well as a general rating of linguistic ability. The “Plus” in the site’s name doesn’t feel like it’s there just for effect; rather the site delivers in ways that other grammar checkers do not. Not only does it spot errors and gives corrections, but it goes the extra mile by explaining succinctly, and even providing examples. Thus, each visit to SpellCheckPlus is also a teaching moment that generates invaluable insight as to common writing missteps and how best to avoid them. Moreover, ticking the “Anglophone” box on the homepage enables the site to make recommendations specifically for native speakers.
Reverso. More than a grammar checker, the site has a handy set of tools every proofreader needs: definitions, synonyms, conjugations, and grammar are all at your fingertips. Reverso seems geared toward the independent learner who wants to hone their writing skills, and browse through multiple tabs that elaborate on relevant content.
LanguageTool. This grammar checker boasts ease of use, and gives you the option to choose the regional variant of English that suits your proofreading needs. American, Aussie, Canadian, Kiwi, or South African English – LanguageTool has got you covered. Like any good grammar checker, it recommends possible improvements that you can make. Add to the mix grammar examples, correction of typographical errors, lessons for each error, and correction of conjugations, and you’ve got yourself an excellent tool to make your text stand out.
Ginger. Another site with a clutter-free interface, Ginger makes the grade because of some useful options. Located to the right of the grammar checker there is a sidebar with links to topics in English that are sure to add polish to your writing. Here you can brush up on grammar rules including the parts of speech, often interchanged words, and some notorious “spelling demons.” The free version allows you to correct 300-character texts following the conventions of either American English or British English.
Virtual Writing Tutor. This site offers both a free version that allows you to check 500 words at a time and a membership tier that extends this capability to a whopping 3,000 words. Scrolling down the length of the homepage reveals the gamut of features at one’s disposal. In addition to correcting grammatical and spelling errors, it also keeps a keen eye on vocabulary and paraphrase. It helps you choose the best words according to the case, whether academic or colloquial, and it even tells you if you are using standard words. This checker also takes a fresh approach to honing writing skills by gamifying grammar practice. As if that weren’t enough, you can also put your grammar chops to the test with some online writing exercises.
RECOMENDED: Grammarly. It has a pretty good free version that corrects grammar, spelling and punctuation. You can also add it to your browser as an extension. We talk in more detail about its paid version below.
Hemingway Editor. With its considerable use of white space, this site is a breath of fresh air in a sea of busy bells and whistles. Form reflects function as readability is the name of the game with this editor, which bears the same appellation as a literary great. The online app points out which sentences in your text are too complex to read, as well as any superfluous use of adverbs and the passive voice, among other things. It rounds out our list of free sites, and is a great complement to any of the aforementioned grammar checkers.
It’s your turn! Try each of our recommendations, and choose the ones that meet your needs. Each has something unique to offer. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the same applies to writing.
Best paid grammar checkers
If you’re not scraping by and if the bulk of your work or school tasks involve writing reports, emails, or essays, then investing in a paid grammar checker might be the way to go. As with the list of free sites, the following paid programs can give you a leg up on the competition.
RECOMENDED: Grammarly. A fan favorite and byword for effective writing, this proofreader harnesses the power of AI to give you the best assistance possible. This includes the option of defining a goal for the proofreading task before placing your text in. That is, do you need to tell a story, describe, or report? Is the audience general, or are they experts on a topic? Do you have to write formally or informally? The program helps you meet all these requirements for 139 USD a year.
Once you have your goals defined, Grammarly will offer:
- grammar and spelling corrections
- tips to improve writing
- a plagiarism checker
- punctuation suggestions
- writing style suggestions
- expert help
Stilus. The site easily stands out with its four levels of revision and a more affordable price. 60 euros per year get you not just a grammar checker, but also suggestions on how to improve spelling and style. Additionally, you can correct 200,000 or even a million words a month depending on which plan you choose. Other advantages include interactive correction; checks for linguistic precision and typography; and alerts for run-on sentences, redundancies and excessive use of words. Not to be missed are plug-ins for WordPress and Microsoft Word.
WhiteSmoke. A grammar checker that offers services for different use cases, it has three different packages: Web, Premium, and Business. The Premium option should suffice the proofreading needs of the average student or entrepreneur. For $79.95 per year you can get a spelling and grammar checker, translator, and plugins. Other features such as the punctuation mark checker, writing style checker, linguistic suggestions, and plagiarism checker will give your writing that professional touch.
So really, when you think about it, there are no excuses not to check your text! We have already shown you the best free and paid options currently out there to give your writing that added boost. Using any one of these suggestions will enhance your ability to spot mistakes and root them out. Furthermore, you’ll learn by applying grammar, which beats learning the same rules by rote any day.
Do you really need a grammar checker?
In the spheres of commerce and education, grammar will always be essential in every way. For as long as we need to put pen to paper, to record thoughts, and thrive and transact globally. There will always arise a need for coherent writing that informs and persuades.
However, let us be clear on this. A grammar checker will not teach you to write. It is designed to support or verify what you have written. Please don’t use any of these sites as a crutch. You should resort to their use after you’ve written down your ideas. Writing precedes editing.
But.. Which is the best grammar checker?
For us, whether you use the free version, or if you want to invest some money and go further, Grammarly hands down trumps other writing assistants in terms of usability and dominant market share. The latter bodes well since they are less likely to abandon development once you have got used to it.
What do you think of this article? Do you have a favourite? We would love to know if you have already used any of the above-mentioned sites. Do you know of any other grammar checkers that we may have missed? Share your experience with us!