Grammar

Grammar Checkers

The below websites have free grammar checkers that, as of 2026, work better than many others tested by the author.

1. Scribens. Recommended by the author.

2. LanguageTool. Works well.

3. Scribbr. Works well.

4. QuillBot Grammar Checker. OK if you ignore the extra features.

5. Grammarly Grammar Check. OK if you ignore the extra features.

When using a grammar checker, there are several points to consider.

• The useful stuff is already free. Don’t pay for anything.

• Use the tool to fix bad spelling and grammar, and nothing else.

• Split screen use is recommended. Put your text in a window on the left and the grammar checker in a window on the right.

• Check one paragraph at a time. Formatting errors often creep up when copying pages of text.

• Look at each suggestion one at a time, and see if you understand and agree with it. Then make the changes to your own document. Don’t click Accept All.

• Don’t be hasty. Fixing one piece of writing is a good idea, but improving your own skills and knowledge is even more important.

Sometimes students ask why instructors suggest the use of grammar checkers but outlaw generative AI like ChatGPT. There are several reasons. First, grammar checkers are an old creation — they were invented in the 1980s. Second, the primary goal is to help you understand your own mistakes, which will improve your future writing. Third, grammar checking is about identifying errors. It's not generative AI because it doesn't generate things. So, although students can easily misuse grammar checkers — by pressing Accept All — they can also be a great source of targeted grammar feedback.