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If You Are A Writer Or English Is Not Your Native Language, This Might Help!

by Brent Stangel
30 replies
Hey All,

I never stayed in school long enough to get a proper handle on written language. I always use a proofreader for important things, like sales copy.

I've been using www.grammarly.com recently and I must say it's already been very useful.

If your skills aren't the best (like yours truly), it might be worth checking out.

Brent
#english #grammarly #language #native #writer
  • Profile picture of the author Gallag97
    nice, thanks for the advice. deffinately gonna give this a check.
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  • Profile picture of the author superowid
    Thanks, Brent. Just bookmarked the site.
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  • Profile picture of the author dansilvestre
    I write a lot every day and appart from using Grammarly I also like to use Hemingway.

    Also free

    I tend to write rather long paragraphs/sentences at first and the app helps me by pointing them out and reminding me to break them down or make them more coherent.

    Normally I just start writing on Evernote with complete disregards for typos or sentence construction. I then edit it out on the Hemingway first, Grammarly second and then my eyes again for the last revision.
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  • Profile picture of the author neshaword
    B, if you allow me, I would like to suggest you The Writer's Readability Checker. If you're interested I can send you the link. I'm using Grammarly on my laptop and Ginger Software for the same purpose on my smartphone. Yet, that's enough only to take care of your grammar and spelling. Trust me, without proper readability you're only half way there. I wrote about the importance of readability in one of my threads, but I really don't want to sound like I'm promoting myself. Really think this can help. Cheers, N
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    • Profile picture of the author Luke Dennison
      Originally Posted by neshaword View Post

      B, if you allow me, I would like to suggest you The Writer's Readability Checker. If you're interested I can send you the link. I'm using Grammarly on my laptop and Ginger Software for the same purpose on my smartphone. Yet, that's enough only to take care of your grammar and spelling. Trust me, without proper readability you're only half way there. I wrote about the importance of readability in one of my threads, but I really don't want to sound like I'm promoting myself. Really think this can help. Cheers, N
      Just post your link to your thread where you discuss "readability" i'm intrigued.

      Also, at OP, at first I wondered how it was different to any other spell checker but after seeing some examples it looks quite impressive and very intelligent tech.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    May I have the writer's readability checker URL?
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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    • Profile picture of the author neshaword
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      May I have the writer's readability checker URL?
      Here's the link:
      Readability | The Writer

      Just copy/paste and hit "check my readability" button. One more thing you will certainly find to be useful.

      When you hit this button with no text at all, you get a table of readability results. This is an excellent indication for your writing. You know, some clients require the certain readability score.

      Either way, you can use it to either impress your clients or improve your own writing. I worked for me nicely.
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  • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
    Anyone without good grammar skills should be very careful using any editing software such as Grammarly. They, and Grammarly especially, return a lot of false error markings, while at the same time completely missing genuine mistakes.

    This article gives a good example:Do proofreading tools really work? | The Good Content Company

    As an editor myself, I would be the first to agree that these programs can be useful and I encourage my clients to purchase either Grammarly, Serenity Editor, SmartEdit or AutoCrit, then run their work through the program of their choice to "tidy it up" first.

    I always emphasize though that they should never accept everything the program flags as gospel because no matter how good any of them may be, they still rely upon programming to function and no programming on earth can read and interpret writing as a human brain will.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Nothing beats the skilled eye of a professional. Yes, I agree that software programs fix some issues but don't submit work unless it has been vetted.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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    • Profile picture of the author neshaword
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      Nothing beats the skilled eye of a professional. Yes, I agree that software programs fix some issues but don't submit work unless it has been vetted.
      Laurence,

      You're absolutely right. Yet, sometimes we need a helping cyber hand.

      There was an article about a proofreader comparing Grammarly, Word and I forget the 3rd checker. I can Google it. The results weren't surprising at all. No one can match a flesh and blood proofreader. Yet, when you're writing a dozen pages a day, you just don't have time to check all the things. This is why Grammarly helps me identify an embarrassing problem on time.

      Cheers,
      N
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      • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
        Originally Posted by neshaword View Post

        There was an article about a proofreader comparing Grammarly, Word and I forget the 3rd checker. I can Google it. The results weren't surprising at all. No one can match a flesh and blood proofreader. Yet, when you're writing a dozen pages a day, you just don't have time to check all the things. This is why Grammarly helps me identify an embarrassing problem on time.
        Cheers,
        N
        That's possibly the article I referenced in my earlier reply to this thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author ShawnLim
    English is not my main language too.
    I have been blogging and writing content in English for years.
    Yes I did use Grammarly and SpellCheckPlus help to check for errors.
    They work great.
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  • Profile picture of the author DizzST
    Thanks Brent, this is a great advice!
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  • Profile picture of the author CurtisSWN
    There is almost no worse turn-off than poor grammar. Not that I'm picky, it just indicates the mind you're working with.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    I read a number of blogs and follow some Internet marketers that have less than ideal writing skills.

    If all these folks used the tools you're mentioning, I honestly wouldn't recognize their emails, posts, and articles.

    I agree with what you're saying in this thread . . . but have to admit that I often enjoy the character and personality of these less than careful writers.

    To me, there is a certain charm or entertainment quality that comes out of these larger than life authors that don't try to hide who they are. If their writing didn't have all kinds of mistakes and errors, I wouldn't recognize that they had produced it.

    If you have no special "voice" or personality and you make lots of mistakes as well . . . that's not a good thing.

    But I would hate to see some of my favorite online characters give up their style and foibles just to be correct!

    Thanks for the thread.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author fawwaz tirupattur
    yeah, thanks for the advice.. it is a great software.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    I agree with Steve. These sites are helpful in checking your grammar but they won't give your writing any personality or make it less boring.

    Rose
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  • Profile picture of the author MrFume
    In terms of basic mechanical error these tools are useful. However in questions of style and choices of language there is no substitute for clear, logical thinking.
    Technology will never be able to replace the power of unique creativity, and if you rely on this type of web-based linguistic assistance you will wind up just sounding like everybody else, dreary and generic. The web is chocked full of generic, obvious and self serving writing. There is no substitute for learning how to write.
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    • Profile picture of the author neshaword
      Originally Posted by MrFume View Post

      In terms of basic mechanical error these tools are useful. However in questions of style and choices of language there is no substitute for clear, logical thinking.
      Technology will never be able to replace the power of unique creativity, and if you rely on this type of web-based linguistic assistance you will wind up just sounding like everybody else, dreary and generic. The web is chocked full of generic, obvious and self serving writing. There is no substitute for learning how to write.
      I remember reading that some guys are still attempting to improve automatic writing solutions. For the time being, it is just like you are giving Terminator a writing assignment. Unfortunately, I keep hearing from some of my potential clients, just gimme something to replace Lorem Ipsum, and I was like speechless. The entire online writing industry has come down to an endless river or words no one reads. Finding a client who truly appreciates content with a personality is a mission impossible. No wonder so many of them dream a dream about a day when they will be able to use ATMs for articles. Hope not in my lifetime, lol. Cheers, N
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  • Profile picture of the author frankliu
    My native language is not English
    Yes, for Chinese People English copywriting is really difficult
    I study every online to find good copywriting writer to done my sale copy
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  • Profile picture of the author Carson Sedna
    This is great, grammar is my biggest enemy, I installed it in my Firefox and it working perfectly, thank you Brent for this recommendation.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    In terms of basic mechanical error these tools are useful.
    That's why I use it and suggested it.

    If you load my personality into a piece of software, it explodes!
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  • Profile picture of the author Reddevil007
    I have Grammarly premium and I always believe it's a good pratice to have 2nd opinion so Ginger grammar checker gives me a better idea.
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    • Profile picture of the author neshaword
      Originally Posted by Reddevil007 View Post

      I have Grammarly premium and I always believe it's a good pratice to have 2nd opinion so Ginger grammar checker gives me a better idea.
      I gave it a try for a month. It was 30 bucks or something. But, eventually it all came down to comma warnings. And these so-called advanced suggests, lots of synonyms nothing more.

      I hoped they'll do something about their pricing policy. I would gladly pay $10 or $15 a month, but more than this, it's just not worth it.

      I also tried their Plagiarism checker. It's no match to Copyscape, for which you have to pay $0.05 / check. So, hope Grammarly guys will change their attitude any time soon.
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  • Profile picture of the author chippen2188
    I have been using Grammarly for Chrome for a while and I love it! It is great when I write blog posts and so on. Of course, you have to apply logic too. If Grammarly wants an "a" or a "the" in front of the word, I just read the sentence out loud and see if it make sense. Also the fact that Grammarly sends you weekly reports is really fun and it is great feedback! My most common mistake is to forget comma
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    • Profile picture of the author neshaword
      Originally Posted by chippen2188 View Post

      I have been using Grammarly for Chrome for a while and I love it! It is great when I write blog posts and so on. Of course, you have to apply logic too. If Grammarly wants an "a" or a "the" in front of the word, I just read the sentence out loud and see if it make sense. Also the fact that Grammarly sends you weekly reports is really fun and it is great feedback! My most common mistake is to forget comma
      Here's one more comma sinner, LOL.

      Is is just me, or this monthly/weekly reports aren't good with numbers. It says a week, but I have this feeling we're talking about a month actually. I even tried Premium version, and honestly I wasn't thrilled.

      To this day, I am not sure which one is correct. When you have like this word1, word2, and word3. Do you put comma after word2 or not. Grammarly says do so, then one client told me this was a mistake. Really don't know.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Grammarly says do so, then one client told me this was a mistake. Really don't know.
    This is why I use a human proofreader (for important things) with a college education and 25+ years journalism experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex July
    This tool is useless if you are not good at English.
    You have to be either a native speaer or English, or at least an advanced non-native speaker of English in order to use this tool properly.
    It corrects your grammar, but it will never help you build sentences.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
      Originally Posted by Alex July View Post

      This tool is useless if you are not good at English.
      You have to be either a native speaer or English, or at least an advanced non-native speaker of English in order to use this tool properly.
      It corrects your grammar, but it will never help you build sentences.
      I don't think anyone expects that of a grammar checking tool? Do you? It's not an article spinner.
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      Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
      All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
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