What’s the best proofreading software to complete your thesis or dissertation?
When you are working on this epic document, you will need to complete many revisions and edits. The old Microsoft word spellchecker just doesn’t cut it. Apart from spelling, you need to understand important concepts such as active voice and passive voice.
Pro-tip – if you can place the words “by zombies” after your sentence, you probably need to revise it to be more active. Example: ”John was observed”……(by zombies). Doesn’t “zombies observed John” sound much better? The good news is there are several tools out there which help you to write faster and better. Here we break down the two behemoths in the proofreading software space. Grammarly and Hemingway tend to rise to the top in terms of use, functionality, and updates.
Grammarly
Overview
Grammarly has several features that are critical for grammar and spelling checks. The free version of Grammarly includes grammar and spelling checks, as well as preciseness. Overall, the editor does a great job of identifying grammar and sentence structure issues and allows you to fix your mistakes quickly. There are desktop apps for both Windows and Mac, and you can even check your writing across the web. The chrome and firefox extensions are excellent for typing online (for example, in an LMS such as Canvas, Moodle, or Blackboard).
You can access your documents on several devices, and write from anywhere. It’s also super easy to double click to see definitions and synonyms, which help expand your vocabulary and improve your writing. One of the benefits is that Grammarly helps you create a feedback loop and improves your writing in the process. The premium version contains additional features that include readability, vocabulary enhancement, writing style, and a plagiarism detector. Checking plagiarism can be helpful in your thesis or dissertation because you will likely need to submit your work through a plagiarism detection program once you are finished.
Thesis/Dissertation Benefits
- Accurate/Immediate grammar checks mean faster editing
- Advanced features in the full version (tone, plagiarism detection, style, word count)
- Feedback loop which improves your writing
- Works on all platforms. Browser extensions
Cons
- Must pay for premium for advanced editing features
- Does not catch all mistakes/context
Pricing (per month)
There is one premium plan. Paying annually gets you the most bang for your buck.
- Monthly: $29.95 ($359.40 total)
- Quarterly: $19.98 (Four quarterly payments of $59.95 or $239.80 total)
- Annual: $11.66 (One payment of $139.95)
Hemingway
Overview
Hemingway is another great tool that you can use for free to proofread your writing. Hemingway is like a spellchecker for style. The interface will highlight areas where your writing is to dance. The app also provides readability grade levels. In other words, the grade level is the lowest level of education that someone needs to understand your writing. The average American reads at a 10th-grade level. Ernest Hemingway’s work usually scored at a low fifth grade, meaning it was understandable to most of his audience. Hemingway allows you to format your text and offers a pleasing typing experience.
Thesis/Dissertation Benefits
- Free version available. The full version is inexpensive.
- Catches common style and grammar errors.
- Check the reading level and provides reading time.
- Pleasing typing environment
- Feedback loop which improves your writing.
Cons
- No save/export in free version
- It does not offer many suggestions to fix the writing.
Pricing
- Free Version? Yes
- Full Version: $20
Conclusion
Generally, for thesis writing, we recommend Grammarly because it is highly accurate and comprehensive as far as the grammar checks and suggestions for fixing your work. The additional plagiarism, content, and tone features will be very useful for your thesis. If you are mainly concerned with style, and the cost is a primary consideration for you, then Hemingway is the way to go. Either way, each of these tools will help you complete your dissertation and provide feedback that will improve your writing! Happy writing!