10 editing tools you can use while writing

Editing tools, if you use them correctly, can help writers identify certain areas in which they can improve. While I don’t suggest depending on these tools, they definitely don’t hurt. The key is to know why you’re agreeing with whatever the tool says and only making the changes you agree with. Never assume the tool is right. Many times, it may not be. Then, if the change is something you’ve had to do more than once, add it to your style guide so you can be consistent with your flaws and attack them early on in future works.

These tools are not listed in any order of preference or helpfulness. Each tool will simply have a short description that will help you better identify the one that fits you best.

Tool No. 1: Grammarly

Grammarly isn’t just a website but also an extension for your browser and a Microsoft Word plugin. It has free features, and while I cannot vouch for its paid features, the free features catch a lot of errors, but it catches even more things that are not errors, so be aware. If you’re looking for a tool that will catch some of your spelling mistakes, find incorrect punctuation, and show improper grammar, this tool isn’t a bad place to start. What I like about it is the fact that it does work as an extension, so whether you’re writing your book or writing a Facebook post, Grammarly can catch some of those stray errors that insert themselves because of speed-typing.

Tool No. 2: Ginger

Ginger works similarly to Grammarly, but it also has a synonym checker and will help rephrase some sentences in ways that Grammarly does not. Whether it’s more efficient or not, I cannot say, but for those who speak English as a second language, Ginger is said to be more helpful.

Tool No. 3: PerfectIt

PerfectIt is a paid service available for both Mac and Windows. It is an add-on in Microsoft Word and is commonly used by editors. PerfectIt is meant to be more of a consistency tool, so where you may have unconventional spellings, titles or words with odd spellings, or even hyphenated words throughout that you may have unhyphenated here or there, PerfectIt helps you to collect most of the inconsistencies throughout your document and offers fixes for each. This versatile tool allows you to create your own style guide so you can prevent changing things halfway through your series or forgetting the conventions you chose.

Tool No. 4: After the Deadline

After the Deadline is a blogging tool that can be integrated into WordPress and similar software. It’s more of a context tool, so if you use a word such as your or you’re in the wrong context, this tool will help you find them so you don’t do that.

Tool No. 5: GrammarBase

While GrammarBase will never be able to touch the skills of a true proofreader, GrammarBase is a proofreading tool that offers some insight and help for those who struggle with grammar. It’s not wrong to admit it; after the years we spend learning grammar, syntax, and paragraph structure, the knowledge dies away if we don’t use it. Like learning any language. So while this won’t even replace your own checks before sending your book to an editor, GrammarBase can offer some help that will clean up your document a little more than you may have been able to yourself.

Tool No. 6: Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word has a more advanced spellchecker than people give it credit for. Now, Word offers tools to identify more than just grammar or misspellings. Use your writing tool to search for passive voice, improper pronoun usage, offensive language, and so much more. The days of red squiggly lines under your text are back with many more options to its features. You only need to go to File -> Options -> Proofing -> Settings to start checking all the boxes you want it to look out for, and you’re on your way.

Tool No. 7: ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is popular with writers and helps improve the readability of text. As you type, it offers more concise ways of writing things, so for wordy writers or new writers, a tool like this one may be perfect while you search for your writing voice but learn some of the better ways of trading in wordiness for clarity.

Tool No. 8: Hemingway Editor

Similar to ProWritingAid, Hemingway Editor is great for new writers or those who want to refine their writing and polish their work to the best of their ability before seeking agents, publishers, or editors. This software, which can be downloaded to the desktop, is not a spellchecker as much as it’s a syntax analysis software of sorts, so while it won’t work on readability, flow, or any story-focused areas, it will help improve clarity in ways similar to the tool above.

Tool No. 9: SlickWrite

SlickWrite is unique in that it has more of a memory integrated into the software. It can be used both in your web browser or in Microsoft Word, and it’s meant to be more versatile by remembering your settings.

Tool No. 10: EasyBib for plagiarism

Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, you want to avoid plagiarism at all costs. It’s unlikely that you’ll be plagiarizing on accident, but if you want to be safe, EasyBib and other plagiarism tools will be essential. You cannot depend on your editor to do this for you unless you’re paying for the service.

There are dozens of editing tools available to you and waiting for you to take advantage of their features. Again, these tools will not and cannot replace an actual editor. I don’t say this because I am an editor; I say it because algorithms can’t identify an author’s voice, tone, pacing, or the overall structure of a book. They can’t ensure your character has red hair in chapter one and chapter thirty. They can’t tell you where a character’s actions don’t match who they are, and they can’t tell you exactly why you should use passive voice in one paragraph then remove it in others. Editors are not disposable, so when you’re budgeting for editing, include the tool(s) you choose in that budget.