If you’re wondering how to use Grammarly, this step-by-step guide will simplify the process for you.
Grammarly is an advanced writing tool that helps identify errors, improve tone, and enhance clarity.
Whether you are using Grammarly on your phone, desktop, or browser, this guide will cover everything in detail to ensure you maximize its features.
Let’s dive into the steps to make your writing impeccable.
How to Use Grammarly on Mobile
Using Grammarly on your phone is perfect for those who need writing assistance on the go. Here’s a detailed guide to help you get started with how to use Grammarly on your mobile device effectively.
Step 1: Download Grammarly Keyboard
- Go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Search for “Grammarly Keyboard” and install it.
Step 2: Enable Grammarly in Your Settings
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Navigate to Keyboard Settings.
- Enable the Grammarly keyboard and set it as the default keyboard.
Step 3: Log in to Your Grammarly Account
- Open the Grammarly app.
- Log in using your email, Google, or Facebook credentials.
Step 4: Start Typing with Grammarly
- Open any app where you write, like WhatsApp, Gmail, or Instagram.
- As you type, Grammarly will highlight errors and suggest corrections directly on the keyboard.
Step 5: Adjust Settings for Personalization
- Open the Grammarly app.
- Customize settings like tone, intent, and language preference (American, British, Canadian, or Australian English).
- Save your preferences to get tailored suggestions while typing.
How to Use Grammarly on Desktop
Grammarly’s desktop application is ideal for editing documents, emails, and blog posts. If you’re curious about how to use Grammarly on your desktop, follow these simple steps to make your writing clearer and more effective.
Step 1: Download Grammarly App
- Visit Grammarly’s official website.
- Download the Grammarly app for Windows or macOS.
Step 2: Install the Application
- Open the downloaded file.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Grammarly on your computer.
Step 3: Log in to Your Account
- Launch the Grammarly app after installation.
- Log in with your account credentials.
Step 4: Upload or Create Documents
- Drag and drop documents into the Grammarly editor.
- Alternatively, click New Document to type directly in Grammarly.
- Review the suggestions provided and accept or reject them.
Step 5: Use Grammarly Add-in for Microsoft Word
- Download the Grammarly add-in for Microsoft Word from their website.
- Open Word and enable Grammarly under the Add-ins tab.
- Write or edit your document while Grammarly provides real-time suggestions.
Grammarly for Browser Use
If you frequently write emails or blog posts, Grammarly’s browser extension can make your writing smoother.
Step 1: Install the Browser Extension
- Go to Grammarly’s website.
- Download the extension for your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari).
Step 2: Log in and Start Writing
- Log in to your Grammarly account.
- Grammarly will automatically start checking for errors when you write online.
Step 3: Compatible Platforms
Grammarly works on platforms like Gmail, WordPress, LinkedIn, and more.
Features of Grammarly Premium
Upgrading to Grammarly Premium unlocks several advanced features that make your writing even better. Here’s what you get:
1. Clarity Enhancements
- Suggests rewriting complex sentences for better readability.
2. Plagiarism Checker
- Scans billions of online sources to ensure originality.
3. Tone Adjustment
- Analyze tone to ensure it aligns with your writing goals.
4. Advanced Suggestions
- Highlights word choice and provides style recommendations.
5. Consistency Checks
- Ensures consistent spelling and punctuation.
How Grammarly Detects Mistakes in Your Writing
Grammarly uses a sophisticated color-coded system to highlight different types of writing errors, helping users quickly identify and correct mistakes. Here’s a detailed explanation of each color and what it indicates:
Grammar Errors (Highlighted in Green):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly will underline errors related to grammar such as incorrect verb tenses, subject-verb agreement issues, run-on sentences, misplaced commas, and faulty sentence structures.
- Example: If you write, “She don’t like cats,” Grammarly will highlight “don’t” in green because it should be “doesn’t.” Hover over the green underline to see suggestions like “doesn’t” and click to correct it instantly.
Spelling Errors (Highlighted in Red):
- Mistakes Detected: These are common misspellings, typos, and incorrect word usage. Grammarly flags words that are spelled incorrectly and might change the meaning of a sentence.
- Example: If you write, “Receive the package,” Grammarly will underline “recieve” in red because the correct spelling is “receive.” Clicking on the underlined word will offer the correct spelling as a suggestion.
Punctuation Issues (Highlighted in Yellow):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly checks for missing commas, incorrect use of semicolons, run-on sentences, and misplaced apostrophes. These errors are highlighted in yellow.
- Example: If your sentence reads, “Let’s eat grandma,” Grammarly will underline “grandma” in yellow to suggest inserting a comma after “let’s” to clarify who is being referred to. Clicking on the underline will offer “Let’s eat, Grandma!” as the corrected version.
Clarity Issues (Highlighted in Blue):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly identifies complex sentences that are hard to follow, vague language, or sentences that are difficult to understand. These issues are marked in blue.
- Example: If you write, “Although the meeting discussed various points, not everyone was on the same page,” Grammarly might underline “points” in blue to suggest rewriting for clarity, such as “Although the meeting discussed several different points, not everyone was clear about them.” Clicking on the suggestion will show an easier way to phrase the sentence.
Tone and Engagement Issues (Highlighted in Purple):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly evaluates the tone of your writing to ensure it matches your intended audience and purpose. It highlights sentences or words in purple when the tone is off.
- Example: If your writing sounds overly formal or too casual, Grammarly will underline words or phrases in purple. For instance, if you write, “I would be very much obliged if you could attend the event,” Grammarly might suggest, “I’d really appreciate it if you could attend the event.” Clicking on the purple underline will provide more engaging alternatives.
Word Choice Improvements (Highlighted in Gray):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly looks for repetitive words, redundant phrases, or unclear word choices. Words or phrases underlined in gray indicate these issues.
- Example: If you write, “This product is the best in terms of its quality and features,” Grammarly may underline “terms” in gray, suggesting a clearer, more concise way to phrase it, such as “This product excels in quality and features.” Hover over the gray underline to see the suggested change.
Sentence Structure Issues (Highlighted in Pink):
- Mistakes Detected: These are problems with sentence completeness, fragments, run-on sentences, or awkward sentence constructions. Grammarly marks these errors in pink.
- Example: If you write, “Because of the weather, the event was postponed,” and then add “but it’s expected to be rescheduled,” Grammarly might underline “but it’s expected to be rescheduled” in pink, suggesting that the sentence structure is awkward. Clicking on the pink underline will provide a clearer way to link the two ideas together.
Contextual Spelling Mistakes (Highlighted in Orange):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly identifies homophones, words that sound alike but have different meanings. Spelling errors that change the meaning of a word are marked in orange.
- Example: If you write, “I’m too tire,” Grammarly will underline “tire” in orange because it should be “tired.” Clicking on the orange underline will offer the corrected word, “tired,” and provide a brief explanation about the homophone mistake.
Plagiarism Issues (Highlighted in Dark Red):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly scans billions of online sources to identify passages that are too similar to other texts found on the web. These sections are underlined in dark red.
- Example: If you write a blog post with text that matches parts of an existing article on the internet, Grammarly will underline that text in dark red and show the matching sources. Clicking on the dark red underline will provide options to either rewrite the text or cite it properly.
Cultural Differences (Highlighted in Green with Dotted Underline):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly helps differentiate between different English dialects, such as American, British, Canadian, or Australian English. The highlighted areas in green with a dotted underline indicate issues like spelling variations or preferred word choices.
- Example: If you write, “colour” instead of “color,” Grammarly will underline “colour” in green with a dotted line, suggesting you choose the appropriate version based on your writing style. Clicking on the underline will offer the option to switch to the correct spelling.
Style Issues (Highlighted in Light Blue):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly identifies issues like passive voice, overuse of adjectives, and complex sentence structures that may affect readability. These problems are marked in light blue.
- Example: If your writing includes excessive passive voice, Grammarly might underline the sentence in light blue and suggest alternatives. For example, “The book was read by many students,” could be changed to “Many students read the book.” Clicking on the light blue underline will show a simpler, more active alternative.
Consistency Issues (Highlighted in Gray with Dotted Underline):
- Mistakes Detected: Grammarly checks for inconsistencies in terms like spelling, capitalization, formatting (e.g., using “favorite” vs. “favourite”), or punctuation (e.g., using single vs. double quotation marks).
- Example: If your document uses both “favorite” and “favourite,” Grammarly will underline these words in gray with a dotted line, suggesting consistency. Clicking on the underline will show the option to change all instances to the preferred version.
By understanding how Grammarly uses these detection methods, you can quickly identify and correct mistakes, improve the clarity and quality of your writing, and ensure that your text is polished and professional.
Why Grammarly is Perfect for All Writers
Grammarly adapts to different writing needs, making it suitable for:
1. Students
- Helps refine essays, research papers, and assignments by correcting errors and improving readability.
2. Professionals
- Polishes emails, business proposals, and presentations to maintain a professional tone.
3. Bloggers and Content Writers
- Optimizes blog posts and articles with precise grammar and engaging tone suggestions.
Grammarly is an invaluable tool for anyone striving to improve their writing. Whether you’re using it on your mobile, desktop, or browser, Grammarly offers real-time error detection, advanced editing tools, and personalized suggestions. This guide has detailed everything you need to know about how to use Grammarly effectively.
Start using Grammarly today to elevate your writing to a professional level, ensuring clarity, precision, and confidence in every piece you create.