Writing a book has many moving parts and there are tons of tools out there to help you save time and polish your manuscript. One of my favorites is Grammarly—a powerful cloud-based writing assistant.
What is Grammarly?
Grammarly is a digital writing tool that provides grammar and spell checking, plagiarism detection services, and suggestions about writing clarity, concision, vocabulary, style, and tone. It can find and correct low-level errors in your written work (like manuscripts and emails) and even detect plagiarism!
You might be wondering…how is this different from the built-in spellcheck in Google Docs or Microsoft Word? The short answer is Grammarly provides more in-depth grammar, writing, and plagiarism help compared to other software on in the market.
Pros of Grammarly
Cost-effective
Grammarly offers a free version that you can use without spending a penny. It's a great way to dip your toes in and get the basic benefits of spellcheck and grammar suggestions, especially if you’re on a budget.
Highly Accessible
You can use Grammarly as a browser extension, like a trusty sidekick that follows you wherever you go on the internet. It seamlessly integrates with popular web browsers like Chrome, so you can catch writing errors while composing emails, working on social media posts, or even drafting your next masterpiece on an online platform. They also offer desktop apps for both Windows and macOS, ensuring that you have Grammarly's support even when you're working on your manuscript offline.
Instant Feedback
One of my favorite parts is you get feedback as you type! You can choose what to implement and what to ignore but it can polish everything from your social media posts to your emails and beyond.
Cons of Grammarly
It’s not a replacement for a professional editor
Lots of new authors think that editing is just correcting spelling and punctuation, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The truth is editing is where a good idea becomes a great book, and a professional can help you get there.
Some inconsistencies
Although Grammarly is the most advanced proofreading software on the market, its algorithm doesn't fully understand all the nuances of the English language (e.g., sarcasm, idioms, double entendres). Sometimes, it won’t understand what you’re trying to say.
Not all features are free
While the free version of Grammarly is powerful, some of the features (like plagiarism detection and full sentence rewrites) aren’t included.
Is Grammarly Premium worth it?
To be completely honest...no. At least, for most people. Grammarly Premium has additional features that can be useful to authors but they're mostly designed for students. If you're not concerned about plagiarism or in need of citation help, you'll probably get by just fine with the free version.
What it comes down to:
You don't need flashy tools to be a great writer but if you find yourself needing a quick touch-up, Grammarly is a simple tool to add to your process.
Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links to products we enjoy using ourselves. Should you choose to use these links, At Home Author may earn affiliate commissions at no additional cost to you.
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