One of the most important parts of freelancing is proofreading your work and making sure that it is free of any grammatical mistakes. Turning in sloppy content is a quick way to lose credibility. If you create more work for your client by making them fix errors in your writing, they may not want to work with you again. Giving them clean copy is essential to maintaining a good working relationship and keeping them coming back for your high quality material.
But avoiding mistakes can be hard to do, especially when you’re in a hurry or writing long-form pieces. After looking at your own work for so long, it can be easy to overlook minor errors that are right in front of your eyes. Thankfully, writers are not alone when it comes to proofreading work. Many writers use Grammarly to double check what they’ve written and make sure grammatical mistakes don’t slip through the cracks.
Grammarly is an app that flags potential issues in a text, like errors in grammar, spelling, word usage, style, punctuation, and plagiarism. The app’s algorithms catch these mistakes, and the app will explain the reasoning behind what it has found. It will also let you know how the issue can be fixed.
Install the extension: Users can start getting help proofreading by installing Grammarly’s browser extension, which is free. You’ll see the green logo appear in the right hand corner. Once the app is installed, Grammarly will work to correct anything you type, no matter what site you’re using.
Another way to use Grammarly is to copy and paste text directly into the desktop app’s Editor space.
If you’d like to only check your writing in specific areas, install the app wherever you need it. Check your writing directly in Microsoft Office by using Grammarly for Microsoft Office on Windows, or use Grammarly for Microsoft Word on Mac. It can also be used on ipads, iOS, or android to check anything you text on mobile.
In addition to helping writers fix mistakes, Grammarly also offers free grammar tips and advice through social media, their blog, and weekly email reports. Find tips on the site’s Facebook and Twitter pages to keep grammar rules fresh in your mind. There is also a Grammarly blog with helpful tools on grammar, writing style, and everything in between.
Finally, writers can benefit from statistics gathered by Grammarly. The app calculates information based on what you have written, such as your weekly word count. You’ll get this information in a Weekly Writing Update email. The stats remain linked to your account, and are updated continuously throughout the week as you write more content with Grammarly.
The free version of Grammarly offers users plenty of help, but upgrading to Premium gives you access to over 400 types of checks and features. This version checks for grammatical errors, provides vocabulary enhancement suggestions, detects plagiarism, and provides citation suggestions. Start with the free version and see if you think you could use a little more help. If you no longer need Premium after signing up, cancel at any time.
Writers of all levels can benefit from some extra help proofreading and making sure their work is the best it can be. Even the best writer in the world might as well use an easy, cheap resource to keep their writing sharp. Another set of eyes on your work and learning along the way will make your writing as strong as it can be.
