Grammar
What Are English Grammar Checkers?
How do English grammar checkers improve your writing? Learn how they work to correct spelling, grammar, style, and punctuation errors.
According to the International Center for Language Studies, 1.52 billion people speak English across the world, making it the most widely-spoken language.
However, English has a number of quirks, including inconsistent pronunciation, spelling, and challenges like phrasal verbs. Considering the complexities of the English language, it’s no wonder that English grammar checkers are incredibly popular!
Whether you’re learning English as a second language or you simply want to make your English writing more polished and professional, an English grammar checker is an indispensable tool.
Still, there are a number of grammar checker tools (both in English and other languages) and it can feel overwhelming trying to decide which one to choose.
In this article, let’s take a closer look at:
English grammar checkers are invaluable tools for anyone who wants to improve the clarity and quality of their writing.
From getting immediate feedback as you type to identifying complex grammatical mistakes, English grammar checkers spot errors and issues that could affect readability and understanding.
Today’s English grammar checkers, especially those powered by AI, can also help with the nuances and subtleties of the English language. They are excellent for clarifying writing so the tone suits its respective audience.
In this regard, not only do English grammar checkers save time, but they can also help boost your confidence and improve the quality of your writing overall.
Some of the top features to consider when choosing a grammar checker include:
Some grammar checkers also offer an expanded suite of customization options, including aligning them with certain style guides (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
Keep in mind that the capabilities of English grammar checkers can vary by product. For instance, when using the Grammar feature in the Originality.ai Content Scan, you can pair the ability to check for spelling and grammar suggestions with AI detection, readability checks, and plagiarism detection as well.
Note: Rephrase and rewrite features may increase the AI detection score of content. Learn more in our article on whether Grammarly impacts AI detection.
Get insight into some of the top ways to incorporate an English grammar checker into your editorial workflow.
English grammar checkers are highly attuned to catching spelling and basic grammar errors.
Example: They can correct “recieve” to “receive” and highlight changes for other common typos like:
English grammar checkers can identify incorrect, misplaced or unnecessary punctuation. Most commonly in English, problems revolve around commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks.
Example: The semicolon after ‘working’ should be a comma. “Although he was tired, hungry and irritable, he kept working; knowing that the deadline was fast approaching.”
When students learn English grammar, they often need to diagram sentences and study the different parts of speech.
English grammar checkers can correct common sentence structure errors in the same way as these exercises, highlighting sentence fragments, run-on sentences and more.
Even the most polished and professional English speakers make style and clarity mistakes, including:
English grammar checkers can also spot clichés and redundancies in writing, especially regarding formal, corporate-style content.
For example, they may suggest correcting “at this point in time” to “currently” for brevity and ease of understanding.
Commonly confused words picked up by English grammar checkers include homophones (words that sound the same but mean different things) and similar-sounding words.
Example: The misuse of your versus you’re in “your going to love this.”
Commonly confused words include:
AI brings with it a host of tools and training to remedy common spelling and punctuation mistakes, as well as advanced errors and adjustments in style and tone.
Using Natural Language Processing, AI can work to “understand” the context of a sentence, which in turn allows it to make more accurate suggestions.
AI can also analyze the style and tone of a given piece to make suggestions that align with a writer’s style. Additionally, AI-driven English grammar checkers frequently offer sentence restructuring and rewriting options to present a more concise way to word a specific phrase.
Note: Rewriting or rephrasing features can increase an AI score because the system or platform uses AI to generate the suggestion.
Grammar checkers are incredibly useful for improving the flow and quality of writing. They can help you avoid publishing content with common spelling or grammatical mistakes to ensure your writing is clear and professional.
At the same time, it’s important to balance AI grammar editing tools with human editorial expertise. Certain AI features of AI-powered grammar tools, like rewrite or rephrase features that generate new copy, can increase AI detection scores.
So, the key takeaway? Grammar checkers are an asset in every writer, editor, and publisher’s toolbox and are an excellent complement to human editorial experience and expertise.