A Comparative Study of the Error-Detection Accuracy of Grammarly and Microsoft Word Editor in Formal English Writing

Abstract

This study attempts a comparative overview of Grammarly and Microsoft Word Editor, two software programs used extensively to check and improve English language mistakes, to determine their respective effectiveness across various types of writing. Both of these tools are used across documents ranging from blogs to articles, research reports, and newspapers; samples of these documents are part of the representative corpus. Based on this corpus, the study carries out a detailed analysis to establish the exactness and efficiency of these tools in determining and improving errors in the English language. The findings of this research align with those of other studies, establishing that both tools have different levels of effectiveness vis-à-vis the categories of errors and types of texts. Grammarly, for example, outperforms Microsoft Word Editor in several error categories, such as subject-verb agreement, prepositions, and pronouns, whereas Microsoft Word Editor excels in detecting errors in English tenses. As a result, the research recommends using both tools as complementary resources to ensure comprehensive error detection and correction in formal English writing. Also, the findings provide valuable insights for educators, students, and professionals seeking to advance their writing quality. They also offer a basis for further research into integrating these tools in writing instruction and developing more comprehensive language editing tools.