Third-party Writing Help Software

So, recently I've been looking into third-party software that helps as an editor. I figured I'd share some of what I've learned with anyone who cares. I've looked specifically into 1Checker, Hemingway, Ginger, and Grammarly. I'll start with 1Checker. (Note: These are all the trial/free versions I've been testing)

1Checker

This little piece of something I would consider the worst of the four I've looked at. This is because this is far more useful as a spell checker rather than a grammar checker. If you are bad with spelling or aren't using Microsoft Word like I do, then this might be useful for you. It also gives helpful alternatives to words within your sentences, which is nice but it is not 100% accurate in any regard. If you accepted every error it stated, you'd probably look like a madman. Example of that is two sentences ago, when I said "which is nice but", it changed 'is' to 'are'. So, it's useful for checking tiny things, but you probably want to edit your story yourself and then put it through this software last, just so you can see if it catches anything.

I would not recommend this for someone who has a strong grasp on the ins and outs of writing.

Hemingway

I quite enjoy Hemingway as it makes you work. I've actually been using Hemingway for a while as a final run through chapters, just to see what it thinks is bad. Now, this software is named after the author Ernest Hemingway. It will tell you if your sentences are hard to understand and the limit of adverbs you should use. This is in no way a spell checker or grammar checker. It will help if you have long, run-on sentences that you need to limit down. It will also help if you run into a staggering amount of adverbs within your story, as those, if not limited, can bore the readers of your work.

I would absolutely recommend this for any writer to try every so often, just to see how they fair in certain areas. I don't consider sentences that are marked "hard to read" as a problem, but "very hard to read" I do.

Ginger

Ginger is honestly the best for writing essays or school projects. It has the same accuracy problems as 1Checker, but will check your grammar as well. It can recognize when commas are in incorrect places, recommends different words, and of course spell check. It also has a built in define/synonym search engine that I would consider faster than the define/synonym searcher that Microsoft Word has. I said it would be better for essays and school projects because it also has a built in rephraser that can see if any of your sentences could be rephrased to something better or easier. While it rarely works for me, I have to assume that is because I'm writing novel-like sentences that would not be read like an essay. Not only that, it also has tutorials and online help, though you do have to buy for more detailed tutoring.

I'd recommend this for anyone wanting to learn more about how to write, or for those who are still in school.

Grammarly

Now, I have to start this off by saying this one is my favorite of the bunch. It is a grammar and spell checker, it will check your punctuation, and it will check your sentence structure. When you misspell something it'll check into other variations of the word, along with giving you alternatives. It will also give you examples of other sentences so that you can better understand what they mean. The problem I do have with it is that the free version is less helpful compared to the full version. I've watched YouTube videos online of the full version and it is far more impressive, and the free version is fairly lackluster.

I would recommend it for anyone who is writing stories, whether fanfic or original, as it's very useful for things you miss. It's good for those who have an average grasp on writing and still want to improve.

So, over all four, I'd have to say I use Hemingway the most with Grammarly the second most. I rarely ever use Ginger or 1Checker, simply because I've advanced past their use. I'll have to debate on whether or not to throw in some cash for the premium version of Grammarly, mostly because that's a chunk of money for a hobby.

Let me know what you all think of these products, or if you have any you constantly use and would like to recommend.

~TheTimeSword

Comments

[Cursed Quill]

how they fair in certain areas.

fare