How to use AI to help you improve your grammar

How AI checks for grammar issues

AI tools leverage sophisticated language models to analyze the written content that you input. By comparing your writing against vast databases of writing and language basics, these tools go beyond basic spell-checking, offering in-depth insights into sentence structure, punctuation, and contextual nuances. As you receive suggestions, you can see what errors have been made and learn more about specific rules that are being called out.

AI grammar tools will usually draw from established and authoritative sources, such as the MLA and Chicago style guides. You also have the option to create a custom style guide for your class or organization, so you can ensure consistent writing across teams. As you interact with AI grammar tools, they learn from your writing style and preferences, improving the accuracy of suggestions.

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However, grammar rules can be played with and experimented with—especially in the fields of creative writing and poetry. Therefore, you can accept or reject the grammar corrections that you get: the ideal AI spelling and grammar tools merely offer suggestions, but they don’t rewrite for you. You get the flexibility to decide how your own writing sounds. And because AI isn’t infallible, it’s important to use them as aids rather than relying solely on their suggestions.

Where to access AI grammar tools

You can access AI grammar tools both online and offline. Microsoft Editor is a free tool whose AI algorithm is aimed at helping you write more concisely, which means eliminating unnecessary verbiage and using easily understandable phrasing instead.

Editor is also built right into Microsoft 365, so whether you’re composing an essay in Word, tweaking a presentation in PowerPoint, or even filling in data recommendations in Excel, you’re never far from clear, concise grammar.

Prompts to use for AI

In your favorite AI platform, you can make specific requests to have your work reviewed in different ways. Check for tone and writing styles that can range from academic or comical. Ask AI where you can expand on a topic or summarize your work in a specific word count.

Here are some sample prompts that you can use, ranging from basic to stylistic:

• “Check the following text for overly formal writing and highlight passages that can use a more casual tone.”
• “Proofread the following casual blog post for typos, grammar, syntax, and accuracy, and provide a list of errors.”
• “Rewrite the following passage to mimic the writing style of Ernest Hemingway.”
• ”Check the following list of headlines and convert them to sentence case.”
• “Summarize the following article to fit a 500-word count.”
• “Convert the following passage into passive voice.”
• “Provide 5 examples of past perfect or past continuous tense.”

Today’s AI grammar tools are more sophisticated than ever before, and able to provide much more insight into your work than a mere dictionary of grammar rules. They can explain any errors they find, offer alternative suggestions and styles, or help you with easily understandable examples of even the most obscure grammar rules.