Grammarly? (The program)

[NJ Merchant]

LOL I will admit sometimes it is operator error, but I've had this problem with this computer since I bought it last year. There are even times I have to hit the n button a few times before it takes. It's a crappy HP 15 Notebook from Walmart, but it works for writing okay. Better than the one I had since I was having to hotwire it to get it turned on LOL.

And yes, you can use my excuses. Do you suffer from Yodaism too?

 

[Parson]

Not often having to I am.

 

[Guillermo Stitch]

I haven't used but it's also getting pushed at me online. My grammar's pretty good and if you type as slowly as I do there aren't going to be many grammar mistakes. However there will always be some - even so I wouldn't want to use software. A succession of eagle-eyed people is my chosen method.

 

[ZlodeyVolk]

Not a fan. When I need advice from software developers upon the matter of English grammar, it's euthanasia time.

 

[Dave]

Not a fan. When I need advice from software developers upon the matter of English grammar, it's euthanasia time.

I haven't tried it but I'd be wary about using it for fiction writing. I'm sure it will pick up simple things...

Everyone occasionally makes simple mistakes that MS Word will not correct. "There" and "Their" and "They're" is a good example. However, I turned it off. Even when writing non-fiction most of what it highlights is a matter of style rather than a mistake, and you want to be distinctive, not to sound exactly like everyone else. If you are writing about historical matters then many sentences will be "passive sentences." What else could they be?

 

[Overread]

One issue is that most grammar programs would probably work great for semi-legal documents and school/uni essays, but not for creative arts with language. So many books we read which are stories have things in them which are grammatically wrong. From parts where the author is generating a scene and thus giving very short clipped sentences to build a sense of speed; or where a character speaks with a totally inappropriate use of the English language.

It's where a well trained and experienced editor is far more valuable, because they can see the patterns and flow of the writing not just the rigid rules of writing.

 

[AlexH]

I know people who write and edit fiction for a living, and they use Grammarly.

There is a free trial - a browser extension version that will highlight errors when you're writing on the web. I had a trial and decided it wasn't for me. But, I keep putting commas, in the wrong place, so, maybe I should see if it can, help me with that.

 

[CTRandall]

Slight diversion from the topic, but here's an example where Grammarly would definitely be a hindrance:

Breaking Google Translate

 

[-K2-]

Being a novice, I use the free software PC program without hesitation. In that I often have a number of unconventional words, or even will use punctuation for emphasis, if I don't like its suggestion I'll simply disregard it (of which there is a discard the suggestion button).

Although it might not be ideal except for us literary ignoramooses, I find it helps me to often rephrase something looking at it in a different light. If the suggested change works for me, I use it, if I didn't realize it was an error, I look it up further and learn one way or the other. If I don't like the suggestion, I don't use it.

My process (having just started using it and Slick Write ) has changed since discovering it.

I write,
reread and edit,
reread and edit while trying to reduce sentence sizes,
note often repeated words searching the document for them and change as many as practical,
use grammarly and edit,
use slickwrite and edit,
use grammarly and edit,
let it sit,
reread again, edit as needed,
tell myself how great I am as I drink scotch... or rum... or, well, you get the point

Then post it and realize all I missed

K2

 

[Karn's Return]

I may not write for a living, but honestly, it kind of saddens me that someone/some people even thought this kind of program was necessary. I suppose it can be a help to some, but...I'd much rather see competent literacy go up across the world rather than rely more and more heavily on technology as a crutch.

 

[Overread]

Even those who are competent make mistakes or spelling errors. Remember its not like when monks used to transcribe the Bible. We don't have the luxury to take years upon years carefully triple checking every letter before writing it to paper. Plus they still made mistakes and had to throw out paper or wipe clean and start again. In fact I'd wager careful study of such material would likely show evidence of corrective methods used and even mistakes.
Plus that was transcribing - copying what was written.

Even some of the greatest giants in writing have had revision after revision and editors correct basic and complex mistakes.

 

[Karn's Return]

Well, that is very true, nobody is perfect, but that is usually what proofreading and editors are for. Maybe grammarly would be cheaper than hiring an editor, but I would much rather have human scrutiny go over anything I would put out than rely on current AI. For instance, writing programs don't usually have the best vocabulary.

 

[-K2-]

Currently rehashing some of my work, I'm going to firm up my response above ( Grammarly? (The program) ). As I plod through my chapters, just in my time here at chrons I've noticed a vast improvement... in no small part due to help from everyone here. So, taking that improved text, I've rechecked it. Many errors now, I'm seeing as 'options.'

I'm not a psychologist, but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that skills and learning have a curve. Eventually, once your skills peak and what you've learned reaches an apex, thereon, the rate of improvement diminishes. However, I believe that your flexibility does as well. So, now that you 'know it all' and have little room to improve, I suspect that most people also become rather rigid.

Though an unskilled, uneducated novice, even I'm seeing where I got things right... BUT-- when presented with an option, I still find ways to improve even if it is simply a style change versus grammatical correctness.

Try it... you might be surprised by the 'options' suggested. And who knows, after that one change, then you'll be perfect

K2

 

[Overread]

However you also have to consider that, as a writer, you have a style to your own writing. The computer program is unlikely looking for a long term profile to the writing and is instead looking at segments more in shorter blocks or (in some programs) in sentence isolation. So there's a risk that you might go through and select neat sounding alternatives, or even get hooked on variation too much and keep varying things and suddenly - bam - you've lost the flow and voice of your writing. This is where a good editor makes a difference over the machine, because an editor can take into account not just the strict correctness of your writing, nor just the alternatives, but also the work as a whole. There might be "better" or different turns of phrase or words to use for many things, but if they don't fit into your style then you run the risk that they wil jar and confuse your reader.

 

[Lumens]

"Grammarly" isn't a word, is it? I wonder if it will correct its own name...

 

[Vladd67]

"Grammarly" isn't a word, is it? I wonder if it will correct its own name...

Only to capitalise the name if you don’t.

 

[Plucky Novice]

Anyone use prowritingaid?

I'm giving it a go on a free trial. It mostly seems helpful, even if I don't always agree with it.

Any thoughts/views ?

 

[AlexH]

Anyone use prowritingaid?

I'm giving it a go on a free trial. It mostly seems helpful, even if I don't always agree with it.

Any thoughts/views ?

I've used Pro Writing Aid in Google Docs and think it's pretty good. It's very slow on Docs, and I've found out it often gets commas wrong. I think "Aid" is the right name, as the suggestions shouldn't be taken as gospel, but do help.

 

[Plucky Novice]

I've used Pro Writing Aid in Google Docs and think it's pretty good. It's very slow on Docs, and I've found out it often gets commas wrong. I think "Aid" is the right name, as the suggestions shouldn't be taken as gospel, but do help.

Yes it does like a comma,

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Has anybody signed up to use the online version?

Grammarly

Grammarly’s free writing app will make sure your messages, documents, and social media posts are clear, mistake-free, and impactful.

www.grammarly.com

How does it compare to the software?