Grammarly

Overview

Grammarly is one of the most commonly used writing assistants out there, and for good reason. The platform's high accuracy rate in catching misspelled words and incorrect grammar has made it a favorite for students at all levels. Most word processors and online document platforms now have a version of Grammarly available as an extension or have their own spell checkers built in. But while Grammarly can be helpful, new AI additions to the technology have raised questions about its effectiveness and whether using it can result in plagiarism.

While the AI Writer Toolbox can help you learn more about applications of AI in writing, it's important to remember that faculty will have different policies about the use of AI in the classroom. If you are ever in doubt about acceptable applications of AI tools in a specific class, the best thing to do is ask your instructor.

What to Know About Grammarly

Most of us who have used Grammarly before are aware of how helpful it can be in catching minor errors, which is a definite upside in advocating for its use. But are there any pitfalls? We also have to remember that

Grammarly can't catch everything.
Grammarly tends to be more helpful if you already have a good grasp of academic English conventions.
Grammarly can make mistakes.

Check out our blog post on the right to learn more about what Grammarly can and can't do well and who benefits most from using it in certain ways.

Check Yourself before you Grammarly Yourself

Pair Grammarly with a Tutor's Advice

A tutoring session is a great place to experiment with Grammarly since a trained tutor is on hand to jump in with explanations for unexpected changes or serve as a second pair of eyes if the platform makes a mistake. Don't be afraid to ask about Grammarly in tutoring!

For more information about signing up for a tutoring session, visit the Writing Center website.

Use Grammarly for Surface-Level Concerns

While Grammarly is proven to be good with catching surface-level spelling and grammar errors, things become a little complicated when asking it to check for deeper issues, such as clarity. As this can result in the software rewriting entire sentences, there is a risk of those suggestions burying personal style and voice, as well as potentially violating academic integrity rules.

Don't Take Grammarly's Word as Law

Even though AI spellcheckers and proofreaders are generally reliable, that doesn't stop them from making mistakes occasionally. They can also change your authentic voice and sentence structure, even if what you've written is not technically incorrect. If you are unsure of why Grammarly has made a certain change, it never hurts to ask a classmate, your instructor, or a writing tutor for guidance and a second opinion.

Grammarly and Generative AI Features

This video, created by high school teacher Stephanie Sukow, goes over some of Grammarly's recent generative AI additions, most notably the "Improve my Writing" option. Keep in mind that simply inserting Grammarly's suggestions without reviewing them not only removes critical thinking from the writing process; it may also be flagged by AI detection software used by many writing instructors and be marked as plagiarism.

Blog Post: Revisiting Grammarly

Revisiting Grammarly: An Imperfect Tool for Final Editing - Another Word

This article published by the Writing Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison provides an in-depth look with examples at Grammarly editing functions, and reflects on the merits and ethics of using the platform.

Blog Post: Descriptive vs. Prescriptive Grammar

Weird Grammar Rules: Descriptive vs. Prescriptive

In this handout, our blogger breaks down the idea that all grammar rules are set in stone. Generative AI platforms like Grammarly often cannot distinguish between these kinds of language nuances, and therefore they may be prone to correcting writing that does not need it.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Concern over Grammarly use leading to plagiarism is a major consideration. There are several ways that you can make sure that you are being transparent about your use of the platform.

Always be sure to keep your editing history on. Version history can be used to show what kind of edits you have made to your paper over a period of time, based on feedback that you may have received.
Consider toggling the generative AI suggestions settings to "Off" if you have the Grammarly extension downloaded in Chrome.
Avoid using Grammarly to edit your writing beyond correcting spelling and basic grammar.
Always declare and cite your use of AI.
If you are ever unsure about your use of Grammarly in a particular way, check with your instructor.

Ask Yourself...

"Does using Generative AI align with my goals for this assignment?"

"Will I miss out on a learning opportunity if I rely on machine learning while completing this assignment?"

As this article published on the American University website says, "application determines [Grammarly's] appropriateness." For example, if the goal of your assignment is to demonstrate critical thinking skills like refining an argument or incorporating more research, using Grammarly to do that work for you will probably not get the results you want. It may also result in a violation of academic integrity rules. Besides that, will using Grammarly for such a task help you achieve your learning goals? Refining your argument often requires you to understand exactly what you are trying to say; incorporating more research requires you to read and understand sources. These tasks require critical analysis on your part, not on the part of an AI chatbot.

Universities Grapple with Grammarly—and Generative AI

Ethical Considerations & Academic Integrity

In order to effectively use Grammarly as a writer's tool, it's important to be aware of what the platform's capabilities are. You should never allow AI to write for you or take the place of tasks that require critical thinking, such as brainstorming or analyzing ideas. It's always a good idea to have a second pair of eyes on your work if you are unsure about grammar or clarity, whether that's a peer or a tutor. If you are ever in doubt about acceptable applications of AI tools in a specific class, the best thing to do is ask your instructor.

See the AI Ethics page to learn more about the ethical implications of using AI.

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