How to Get the Most From an Online Grammar Checker

Important Update on the Second Cather... An Interview with Catherine O'Brien!

How to Get the Most From an Online Grammar Checker

If you have ever used a word processing software before, you have probably used a spell checker, and you have probably been disappointed. Spell checkers have a limited list of words, which can make your spell checker unreliable. Spell checkers also don't check for incorrect grammar, but there are plenty of grammar checkers available online to help you make sure that your articles and projects make grammatical sense.

Since there are so many different grammar checkers available online, you may not know which ones to use or which ones are the most reliable. If you pick the wrong grammar checker, you could be putting the competency and correctness of your work in unreliable hands, and you could end up submitting work that is still full of mistakes.

If you want to enlist the help of a grammar checker, you need to make sure that it works well and provides you with great results. Below are a few tips to help you get the most out of your online grammar checker.

1. Test them out.

Before deciding which grammar checker to use, test out a few options. Write a sentence that you know is wrong, and have each grammar checker correct it. If it doesn't catch your blatant mistakes, it does not have the accuracy you need to rely on. After you have tested out a few options, you will know which ones worked better than others, and you will have a better understanding of which ones you can trust.

2. Read reviews.

Customer reviews can be found online. Make sure to check and see what others are saying about the software. If an online grammar checker has awful reviews, you will know to stay away from using it. If it has great reviews, it will be one of the better grammar checkers available, and you will know that you can trust it with your work.

3. Listen to its suggestions.

A great grammar checker will give you an explanation as to why something is wrong. When it offers you a suggestion as to why it is flagging something as wrong, actually pay attention to why. This way, you can learn from your mistakes and refrain from making them again in the future.

4. Use all of its tools.

Some grammar checkers come with other tools. Along with checking for grammar, they may also check for spelling errors and even recognize when something is plagiarized. Make sure to check out all of the possible tools and services available, and actually use them. This can be the difference that changes your work from good to great.

Instead of being stuck using a limited spell checker, use an online grammar checker to proofread your work. It will give you better feedback and catch more mistakes, and it will usually provide you with more information and better results. Though a grammar checker will do more for you than a spell checker, it is still important that you read through your work too. Sometimes even the best grammar checkers cannot trump the detail of the human eye.

Mark Weatherford is a high school teacher and published author who often uses grammar checkers and recommends them to all his associates. In his spare time he likes to work with his students and help them edit and finalize their college application essays.