Grammarly vs Word - which writing tool should you choose?
As a writer, you want your content to be polished and error-free. But with so many writing tools available, it can be tough to decide which one to use. In this blog post, we'll compare two popular writing tools - Grammarly and Microsoft Word - to help you make an informed decision.
Spelling and grammar
When it comes to spelling and grammar, both Grammarly and Word are strong contenders. Word has an in-built spell check and grammar checker, which are helpful tools to ensure that your content is free of errors. Grammarly, on the other hand, offers advanced spelling and grammar checking, with additional features such as suggestions for better vocabulary, clarity, and tone. According to Grammarly, their tool catches 10 times more errors than Microsoft Word.
Writing style
Grammarly also offers suggestions for style and tone. This feature analyses your writing style and suggests ways to make it more cohesive and engaging. The tone detection tool is especially helpful, allowing you to adjust the tone of your message to match the audience and situation. In comparison, Word’s style suggestions are typically more basic. Although Word offers a thesaurus, it lags behind Grammarly in terms of the sophistication and relevance of its suggestions.
Pricing
Word comes included as part of Office 365, which is a subscription service requiring a monthly or annual fee. The basic subscription offers 1TB of OneDrive storage for one person, and the option to download Word to up to 5 devices. There’s also a plan for families, which offers 6 TB of storage and the ability to share the account between 6 people. Grammarly has a free browser extension and website option which offers basic error detection, but for more functionality, a Premium subscription is required. Grammarly Premium offers advanced grammar and spelling checks and has features such as a plagiarism detector, tone and style suggestions, and writing insights. Pricing starts at $11.66/month for an annual subscription or $29.95/month for a monthly subscription.
Conclusion
So, which writing tool should you choose for your work? If you're looking for a basic spelling and grammar checker, Word is a great option. However, if you're looking for more advanced features and suggestions for overall writing style and tone, Grammarly comes out on top. It does come at a price, but the advanced features may be worth it for professionals or students looking to improve their writing skills and avoid errors.
References:
- Microsoft Office. (2021). Compare All Microsoft Office Products. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compare-all-microsoft-office-products?&rtc=1
- Grammarly. (2021). Products. Retrieved from https://www.grammarly.com/premium