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A grammar checker online has a lot to answer for, particularly in making people think that they have produced a piece of writing that is well written and mistake free. You see, an online grammar checker is extremely limited in its functionality, and is designed to pick up on only very common grammatical and spelling errors. When you compare the free grammar checker tools available on the Internet with a professional editing and proofreading software program, the differences in quality are remarkable:
Professional software spots grammar mistakes that are difficult to identify, such as:
Professional software spots embarrassing punctuation mistakes that are difficult to identify, such as:
Professional software spots spelling mistakes often unidentified by grammar checker online software, such as:
Professional software doesn’t just stop at these aspects of writing correctly. To write like a native-English professional there are a number of other disciplines required that aren’t provided by online grammar checker tools. For example, professional software improves sentence structure, known in the writing world as syntax. This helps you to choose a better order of words and to find better alternatives to the words you have used. Professional software also helps you learn as you write, telling you why what you have written isn’t correct, and providing reasons for needing to alter the text. This is critical for your development as a writer. It is pointless running your copy through online grammar checker software and not understanding why you are making particular mistakes, that is of course if the free software highlights the mistake at all.
The main problem with grammar checkers online is that they're only as good as the developer. And when you consider that someone has spent time developing the thing for free, the likelihood of it being reliable is minimal. Think of grammar checking tool like a dictionary or a thesaurus, these reference books are only as good as the volume of words listed within the pages. Likewise, grammar checking software is only as good as the number of errors, styles and sentence variations it is programmed to identify and suggest.
It is highly recommended that you avoid using a grammar checker online when proofreading and editing correspondence that requires you to look like a professional in your field of work. There is no substitute, or getting round the necessity of owning a professional editing and proofreading program that provides 100% reliability for your professional communications.