The Best Grammar Check Software of 2021

What Is Grammar Check Software?

A grammar checker is software that checks your writing for grammatical mistakes, appropriate punctuation, misspellings, and issues with sentence structure. Some programs are even more sophisticated and can also evaluate tone, style, and syntax to ensure your writing is flawless.

Good grammar check software has built-in dictionaries and uses artificial intelligence, natural language processing technology, and various rules to detect errors, such as misspelled words, subject verb agreement, commonly confused words, repeated words, passive voice, etc.

Users input text for the grammar software to check by copying and pasting it, uploading a file, or typing directly into the program. Some programs have plug-ins for email programs, web browsers and social media websites, so it can continuously check everything you write as you write it and make suggested corrections in real time. Grammar check software have varying levels of accuracy, so many people use more than one to maximize the number of errors found.

Benefits of Grammar Check Software

Grammar check software ensures what’s written is of the highest quality possible, benefiting any writer from students to business owners to professional writers. The most obvious benefit is its ability to correct your mistakes to ensure you don’t appear less intelligent or sloppy to your teachers, customers or writing clients.

Grammar checkers increase credibility by helping you create professional, error-free copy, which encourages people to take you more seriously. Other benefits of grammar check software include:

• Saving editing time by having the program proofread your work first
• Improving readability so writing appeals to the intended audience
• Allowing readers to focus on the message instead of stumbling over writing errors
• Learning better grammar by paying attention to suggested corrections
• Improving your writing skills by learning from and correcting your mistakes
• Avoiding plagiarism when programs include a plagiarism checker
• Boosting your writing confidence and potentially advancing your career with consistently well-written text

Many grammar check programs also have translators and are used by non-native speakers to ensure they’re writing correctly in a language they’re not yet comfortable with. Grammar checkers benefit them by improving their writing and helping them learn to speak and write the new language by correcting word usage and spelling errors.

Must-Have Features for Grammar Check Software

During your grammar check software evaluation, make sure you’re getting the key features that make it a valuable tool in your writing arsenal. You must have a program that’s as accurate as possible. Grammar checkers have different levels of accuracy. Reading reviews helps determine which ones have previously performed poorly but do your own research. Compare correction suggestions from several programs using the same document to see which one catches the most errors.

While the primary function of grammar check software is catching grammar errors, look for a program with additional features. Spell checking is a vital feature of a good program. Look for software with a built-in dictionary and thesaurus to find good word choices and alternate words if necessary. Other key features are a plagiarism checker to ensure your writing is original and language translators for those needing to write in non-native languages.

Built-in integrations and extensions are also must-have features because they let you use your grammar checker wherever you write. Look for software that integrates with popular word processing software and shared web-based word processors like Google Docs. Most programs also have extensions for all the common web browsers, email programs and social networking sites, which allow you to get grammar and spelling suggestions in real time. This helps you avoid embarrassing errors being sent out through hastily composed emails or Facebook posts.

The Cost of Grammar Check Software

Costs for grammar check software on our list run the gamut from free to $30 per month. Although the most important factor should be how well the software performs, price can be the deciding factor when two programs are equally as good.

Software that’s always free is often open source software and tends to not be as feature-rich as paid programs. If you only need a simple program, free might be the way to go. Businesses and professional writers usually need something more powerful. Free software also sometimes bombards you with ads, which are annoying at best and crash your computer in worst-case scenarios.

Many grammar checker choices have a free version and a paid one, which is referred to as freemium software. Free versions generally have limited features, and to get all the bells and whistles advertised on the home page, you need to purchase the premium version. These versions may require a one-time fee, a license that must be renewed annually or a monthly subscription that may offer discounted rates for paying quarterly or annually. If you’re using a grammar checker for professional work, compare paid options that fall within your budget to get the best features.