If you need help checking your writing, there are plenty of English grammar check tools out there. We tested a few to see how they performed. There are big differences in the quality and capability of the English grammar for each tool. We gave these English grammar checker tools a grammatically incorrect sentence. Here’s what we found.
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Our test
To make a fair comparison, we tested the same incorrect English sentence in each of these English grammar check tools. The sentence:
- I would of liked to heard the speach.
This sentence contains three common grammar errors. The errors are:
- Incorrect usage (would have))
- Incorrect verb conjugation (hear)
- Misspelled word (speech)
Let’s see how these tools for English grammar check online deal with this sentence. We rate each tool on a scale of 1-3 out of 3 for each mistake it catches.
1. Grammarly
You’ve probably seen the Grammarly ads on YouTube or social media. Guess what? It’s pretty good.
The good: The free version is versatile and easy to use. You can open it on the web, download it to your computer, or run it on Chrome and Outlook. You can upload documents of various file types or just copy-and-paste. It offers spelling, punctuation, and basic grammar suggestions.
The bad: The online version doesn’t provide corrections until you install the program. Advanced suggestions are behind a paywall. If you need to make your language more sophisticated or bring your writing to a new level, you’ll need the premium features.
Our test sentence: I would have liked to hear the speech. (3/3)
2. Language Tool
Language Tool is an open source software that has an incredible 45 languages available for grammar check. That includes six different English grammar check dialects (USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa).
The good: Language Tool is versatile. You can open it on the web or download it as an add-on to your browser, word processing software, or operating system. Upload a document or copy paste to get started right away. The suggestions are clear. They cover spelling, punctuation, and basic grammar.
The bad: It seems that Language Tool only covers quite basic grammar errors and doesn’t really help you advance your writing tone. Premium is affordable at $4.99/month.
Our test sentence: I would have liked to hear the speech. (3/3)
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3. Writer
Writer is a clean and easy-to-use English grammar checker tool.
The good: There’s no worrying about file extensions because it’s just copy-and-paste. Writer works in Chrome, Word, and Outlook. Again, the suggestions cover spelling, punctuation, and basic grammar. I was pleasantly surprised to see Writer offer improved word choice to enhance the overall tone of the writing.
The bad: Writer has a 100k word limit per month on it’s free version. Premium is $11/month.
Our test sentence : I would of liked to hear the speech. (2/3)W
4. Ginger
Next up is Ginger and its grammar checker online free in English.
The good: The free version of Ginger is available across Chrome, Windows, Word, Outlook, iOS, and Android platforms. The corrections included basic spelling, punctuation and grammar.
The bad: The web version only allows for a copy-paste of 300 characters. It gives limited suggestions including some unhelpful ones.
Our test sentence: I would of liked to hear the speech. (2/3)
5. English grammar check by a human
Nothing beats a native speaker’s eyes, ears, and brain when it comes to editing your grammar. Algorithms can’t always catch the nuance of language. A person can edit your grammar much better. If you don’t have a native-speaking friend to call, try this grammar forum on Reddit. You can post your question and someone will likely get back to you with suggestions.
The good: A real human will read your words and offer feedback. It’s free.
The bad: It’s best to post just a sentence or a short paragraph. No essays, long writing, or anything urgent. It may take a day or two to get a response.
Use what works for you
Overall, all the English grammar check tools did a great job at spelling, punctuation, and common typing errors. When it came to advanced grammar suggestions, Grammarly and Language Tool stood out. For your writing help, use what works for you. At the end of the day, a human grammar nerd beats an algorithm. Native English-speaking friends and community forums are a great way to get correct grammar feedback on short questions.
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Alison Maciejewski Cortez is Chilean-American, born and raised in California. She studied abroad in Spain, has lived in multiple countries, and now calls Mexico home. She believes that learning how to order a beer in a new language reveals a lot about local culture. Alison speaks English, Spanish, and Thai fluently and studies Czech and Turkish. Her SEO business takes her around the world and she is excited to share language tips as part of the Lingoda team. Follow her culinary and cultural experiences on Twitter.
