As someone who makes a living as an editor, I am well aware of the value that a human editor can bring to the table.
Despite this, I continue to use Grammarly on a consistent basis in order to proofread anything that I write on this site. Even though I have a very decent grip on grammar and the norms of the English language already, it never ceases to amaze me how typos and other minor errors can make their way into anyone’s writing.
Then, what exactly is Grammarly? Is it worth the trouble? And is it capable of taking the place of human editors and proofreaders?
In the following Grammarly review, I not only answer these queries but also a few others.
Because I wanted to provide information that was as extensive as possible, this review is somewhat lengthy. If you’re short on time, you can utilize the table of contents to jump directly to the chapters that most pique your interest.
Grammarly overview
Grammarly is undoubtedly already familiar to you if you engage in any type of internet writing at all. It is by far the most popular spelling and grammar checker on the internet, with more than 10 million people actively logging in each day.
So, what exactly is the big deal about this? What exactly can you accomplish with Grammarly?
The operation is as follows:
Grammarly performs an in-depth analysis on a piece of writing you’ve created and flags any faults it finds. The free edition covers the fundamentals (grammar, punctuation, and spelling), but the premium version goes one step further by providing tips on style and the most effective ways to write.
It has the potential to make the difference between writing something that is understandable and compelling and writing something that is sloppy and unprofessional.
Do you even need a grammar checker?
Listen to what I have to say: I’m not the type of man who walks around offering to edit other people’s writing (unsolicited, of course).
But because I work as an editor, I am aware of how vital it is to write in a way that is both clear and correct. In this day and age of emojis and short-form material, it can be tempting to think of syntax as an outdated norm. Chat speak, for example, is becoming increasingly popular. However, there is a significant gap between well-written sentences and those with grammatical errors.
This is why:
Your message is highly important. If the message that you are trying to convey is not clear, your readers will have a difficult time comprehending the point that you are attempting to make in any kind of writing, from tweets to blogs.
Your writing is a reflection of who you are. Your writing offers the reader a glimpse into who you are; therefore, why take the chance of appearing in an unfavorable light owing to grammatical errors when this might be simply avoided?
There is also a Grammarly Discount available you get can make use of it to get an extra discount on the premium plan by reading the article at Bloggervoice.
You have nothing to lose by trying it out. The use of a grammar checker will not detract from the overall quality of the text you produce. It won’t take up much of your time, it will help you and enhance your writing, and it will ensure that you communicate with your audience in the appropriate manner and tone.
Therefore, using a robust grammar checker that is accessible online is an excellent way for authors to verify that their work is comprehensible and free of errors. However, despite its many strengths, Grammarly still has several important shortcomings.
In this review of Grammarly, I will provide a more in-depth explanation of some of its positive and negative aspects, as well as instructions on how to get the most out of utilizing Grammarly.
The 3 different ways to use Grammarly
- The Grammarly web tool
The first approach is to duplicate what you have written and then paste it into the relevant field on the Grammarly website. To accomplish this, go to the dashboard and select the ‘New’ button. After doing so, you will see a page that is completely empty.
Make a copy of your writing and paste it into the page, then give the website a few moments to do its thing. Your writing is read, analyzed, and corrected by the software in an extremely brief amount of time.
If you have a document that is finished and comprehensive, you may just upload it to the site without any more steps. Simply select a file from your computer by clicking the “Upload” button rather than the “New” one, and Grammarly will continue to evaluate the material in the same manner.
You also have the option of typing directly into the Grammarly website, at which point the program will verify your work as you go along.
2. Desktop app
If you would rather have your writing checked using a desktop application, you are able to accomplish so as long as you are utilizing either Windows or MacOS.
Simply visit the download page to obtain the application for your computer, then simply install it by following the on-screen instructions, and you will be able to use the tool in a manner that is quite similar to the online version.
3. Microsoft Word
You can also use an add-in version of Grammarly that is integrated directly into Microsoft Word. At the time of this writing, however, this feature is only accessible on computers that are operating Windows.
Please go to this link for the add-in and follow the instructions to incorporate it into Word. After it has been activated and is functioning properly, the add-in will correct your writing as you type it.
In most cases, this is how I make use of Grammarly. The installation went off without a hitch, and getting started with it was a breeze. You should be aware, however, that in order to use it in Word, you will need to have an active internet connection.
How much does Grammarly cost?
There are no monthly fees associated with using Grammarly.
One of the aspects of Grammarly that I enjoy the most is the fact that you can make use of it without having to pay anything. The free edition of Grammarly does not have any limitations, which means that you can use it endlessly without being subject to a time limit or having to go through a trial period.
In addition, as you will see in the following section, the free edition of Grammarly has a lot going for it.
You will, however, need to upgrade to Grammarly Premium in order to access all of the services that Grammarly has to offer.
The following is the current cost of Grammarly Premium:
If you pay for the whole year at once, it will only cost you $12.00 each month ($144.00 total).
When paid quarterly, the monthly fee is $20.00.
If you pay on a monthly basis, the fee is $30 per month.
(In addition to that, there is an option for businesses to utilize Grammarly that costs $12.50 per user per month when billed yearly. This gives you access to everything that is included in Grammarly Premium, as well as additional features (such as an admin panel, statistics for your team, etc.).
Now that you know how much Grammarly costs, you’re undoubtedly curious about whether or not the free edition is sufficient for your needs. Or should you consider upgrading to the premium version of Grammarly?
You may see my verdict on this topic below, which also includes a detailed assessment of the Grammarly Premium service.
Grammarly Premium review
When it comes to checking your grammar and sentence structure online, there is no better option than Grammarly Premium.
To begin, there is no difference between the free and premium versions in terms of the features they offer. After that, you will receive the remaining items.
The premium version of Grammarly provides a significantly bigger number of checks that analyze grammar, punctuation, phrase structure, and context. In addition to the checks that are performed in the free version, it will keep an eye out for the following:
- Writing inconsistencies
- Unclear structure
- Overuse of words
- Wordiness
- Inappropriate tone
- Insensitive language.
It is claimed by Grammarly that its premium version goes beyond simple grammar correction to ensure that whatever you write is understandable and interesting to the reader.
Even if you use Grammarly Premium, there is no assurance that your writing will be understandable and interesting. A hasty and sloppy piece of writing cannot be transformed into a masterpiece by using a grammar checker.
Despite this, Grammarly Premium possesses a number of features that I find to be really helpful and employ on a regular basis. When I run something I’ve written through the premium version of Grammarly, it always provides me with a few more and insightful suggestions, which I then include into what I’ve written. When I use the premium version, I notice an improvement in the quality of my writing.
In addition to this, under the pop-up box, it gives you specific information regarding each of your grammatical errors, which is something that the free version does not offer.
