Do you know that typos can harm your content? They may appear insignificant, but errors can send the wrong message to your audience.
It repels readers and reduces trust, especially for your new audience, as first impressions count.
These can be avoided with the right grammar checker and, of course, good proofreading skills.
Whether you are writing a blog post, an email or a script, these tools will make your content better, and many are for free.
Read on to see free grammar checkers that will help in your editing and proofreading process.
As a bonus, we will also share plagiarism tools to help you check the authenticity of your content.
Benefits of Grammar and Style Checkers
Writing is taxing, and post-writing is just as hard. Grammar and style checkers help you in the following ways:
- Save time
They reduce the time spent on proofreading by quickly catching mistakes.
- Build trust
These tools can enhance your content flow, allowing your audience to focus on your message. It also makes your content more professional, which tells well of your brand.
- Boost confidence
They are very beneficial for non native English writers or inexperienced content writers and can increase confidence.
While the benefits of grammar and style checkers are many, they should not replace your judgment.
Use them as an assistant because they can make mistakes, so always review your writing afterwards.
Also Read: 10 Simple Strategies to Improve Readability
Best Free Grammar and Style Checkers
Here are our top recommended Grammar and Style checkers.
1. Grammarly
Grammarly is an AI-powered tool that effectively checks grammar, tone, and spelling. It’s easy to use whether on mobile or desktop.
You can integrate the Grammarly app with your browser for it to work on every page you type in on that browser.
The free plan is suitable for basic checks, but for insights into style and tone, you need the Pro plan.
Grammarly, like many tools, can be overzealous; apply caution and thoroughly check its suggestions.
2. Hemingway Editor
If you struggle with writing in simple words, Hemingway Editor will be of great help to you. It focuses on readability, points out long and complex sentences and passive voice.
The grammar and spelling check is rather basic, but it still points out some errors.
Hemingway is best for making content more reader-friendly.
3. Quillbot
Quillbot is an AI-powered multi-function tool. It identifies errors in your writing, like misspellings and grammatical errors. Quillbot supports up to nine languages.
The checker is basic, but it also offers additional tools, such as a summarizer and translator.
4. ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid is another easy-to-use grammar and style checker. It can help you catch typos, grammatical errors and passive voice.
Prowritingaid, however, is more suitable for professional writing and storytelling.
5. LanguageTool
This grammar checker is simple to use. LanguageTool offers support for multiple languages (30+), which gives it an edge. You can use LanguageTool directly on MS Word and on other pages through a browser extension.
The free plan is decent for use, although it has a limited word count.
6. Ginger
Ginger checks your grammar, spelling errors and style. It provides basic checks and has a decent interface.
Ginger also translates over 30 languages, a good feature for multi-lingual write-ups. It, however, often struggles with grasping the context of very complex sentences.
Free Plagiarism Checkers
Besides grammar checking, checking for plagiarism is vital, especially for long-form content.
They will help you ensure that your writing is original and protect your credibility. Here are some free plagiarism checkers you can use.
Most of these plagiarism checkers have word limits, so you might have to break your writing to use the free version.
Best Practices for Using Grammar and Style Tools
Grammar and style tools can improve your content, but they can also alter your voice. Follow these tips to use them effectively.
1. Write First, and Edit Later
Use the editor only after you are done with your draft. This not only prevents interruptions but also helps you capture your ideas better.
2. Know Your Audience and Preferred Tone
Be certain of your content goal and preferred tone and voice. Tools like Grammarly enable you to choose between a formal and informal tone.
Additionally, it guides the corrections you will accept.
3. Choose Clarity Not Perfection
Avoid aiming for perfection. Don’t get carried away by the score; clarity is better than a perfect, useless sentence.
Still, don’t settle for a lower score because it usually indicates that your writing needs improvement.
4. Be Mindful of Some Suggestions
Suggestions for some vocabulary, passive words and adverbs are not always correct. Before accepting any suggestions, ensure they align with your voice and tone.
5. Use the Tools to Fix Patterns
You can learn more about your bad writing habits from these tools.
If certain words are often flagged, simply change them and work on improving your writing habits as well.
6. Choose Your Tools Carefully
To get the best out of a grammar and style checker, you have to know its strengths and weaknesses.
Hemingway Editor, for instance, will improve your readability better, while Grammarly is better suited for more detailed corrections.
7. Proofread Afterwards
These tools are helpful, but your brain remains the best editor of your writing.
Do a read-through after using grammar and style checkers for final proofreading. This will ensure that your writing tone remains consistent.
Related Post: Top Writing Tools for Content Creators You Need Right Now
Conclusion
Grammar and style checkers can enhance your proofreading processes and strengthen your writing. The good thing is that you don’t always need paid tools to begin with.
Use these free grammar and style checkers to polish your content before you hit send or publish.
Be mindful when using them; they are good helpers, but you remain the head editor.
Which of these tools do you use regularly?
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