Grammarly... is it wrong?

[XerXesXu]

I note that the question of Grammarly vs Hemmingway came up.

I stopped using the free version of Hemmingway some time ago. The reason was simple. It has a default font in it. When you copy and paste your work in, it's switched to that font. When you paste it back, you now have two sets of fonts.

It also has a default spacing in it, and pasting back, brings that problem with it too.

Libre seemed to struggle with the issue when you tried to change it back.

Grammarly never gave me that problem. And yes, the professional version with its increased number of suggestions is well worth it. I don't agree with all, but I can tell you it's most. It does struggle with things like in to vs into and hyphens. (even in this sentence, it's trying to join in to and now its suggestion is that to, be changed to too)

So there are problems with it. But I will also say that my writing went up several levels once I started using it. It makes me rethink clunky sentences. It catches spelling errors and all the missing commas that I so like to ignore. Despite the problems with it, I will be renewing mine shortly.

Thank you. That's helpful.

 

[XerXesXu]

I am no lady.

You fight like a girl.

 

[gordo12]

I should also point out my experience with Hemmingway was the free version and I stopped using it more than a year ago. Those problems may have been fixed or don't exist on the paid version. Anyone considering it should check.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I should also point out my experience with Hemmingway was the free version and I stopped using it more than a year ago. Those problems may have been fixed or don't exist on the paid version. Anyone considering it should check.

I don't know about the paid version but I'm with you on the free version. Very odd suggestions at time. And perfectly normal sentences are flagged for reason I can't figure out.

I do miss editminion I used it a lot. But it's gone now, or I can't access it. Anyone else have issues with Editminion not loading up?

 

[XerXesXu]

An "authority” (probably more accurately a data point, authoritative to that extent), but not the "authority"--that requires followers (as you correctly observe, grammar is descriptive [majoritarian perhaps], not prescriptive, but it is also true that at any moment I in time it is used prescriptively so as to provide a guide to making oneself understood most readily by the greatest number).

A toddler's speech, his native use of his language, is a clear and universally accepted example of speech which may be comprehensible but not admirable.

If the use of the subjective "me" rather than the objective "I" causes the majority of listeners to pause and (effectvely) translate, the use of "me" is simply incorrect within the context of grammar, which exists to facilitate communication not to require translation.

Getting there, yet, there are those who lack that insight.

Let's talk about talk.

This is an exercise in Empirical Linguistics. Pass on if you’re not interested in Grammar, and how it differs from Style.


Exercise.

It’s the day after the Freshers' Ball.

These students are the cream of the crop, future doctors, lawyers, writers, politicians and so on. This question is asked of 1000 of those who paired up.

Q. Who paired up at the Freshers’ Ball?

A1. Me and her.
A2. Him and me.

B1. I and she.
B2. He and I.



Would you expect to hear, mostly, A responses or B responses?

If you heard A responses, what would you think?

If you heard B responses, what would you think?

Which are grammatically correct, and why?

Which are grammatically incorrect, and why?

Which are stylistically correct (your choice of style manual), and why?

Which are stylistically incorrect (your choice of style manual), and why?

Sam, Nio, anyone else who’s disgraced the streets of Central London (in KeithD’s case, disgraced is probably the ‘mot juste’, as we mid-metropolitans say), I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.

 

[KeithD]

I'm strangely pleased that you've spent the time to write up something I'm not going to read through.

 

[SimonDoom]

You fight like a girl.

And you talk like a crazy man. And everyone else knows it.

 

[XerXesXu]

I'm strangely pleased that you've spent the time to write up something I'm not going to read through.

Damn. I was hoping you'd read to the end. I gave you a special mention.

 

[XerXesXu]

And you talk like a crazy man. And everyone else knows it.

I didn't expect you to make my point, but you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

 

[XerXesXu]

Serendipity.

I've downloaded the Grammarly plug-in for Edge. Now, when I edit using Hemingway online, I get the 'benefits' of both programs simultaneously. Who'd have thought?

 

[XerXesXu]

I do miss editminion I used it a lot. But it's gone now, or I can't access it. Anyone else have issues with Editminion not loading up?

Editminion's screenshots and description look good, but its site is no longer accessible. If it's as good as its promotion, someone may have bought it to polish up and sell, perhaps as a cheaper alternative to Grammarly.

 

[gordo12]

I just had to share this one. Word wants me to change this sentence.

"The bullet hit the door"

to

"The bullet knocked on the door!"

Honestly, you can't make this stuff up. I could almost write a book on stupid suggestions from editorial software

 

[MillieDynamite]

I just had to share this one. Word wants me to change this sentence.

"The bullet hit the door"

to

"The bullet knocked on the door!"

Honestly, you can't make this stuff up. I could almost write a book on stupid suggestions from editorial software

It is because of the number of times the word hit appears in the preceding sentences and paragraphs. Either change it to another synonym or leave it. Struck, impacted, so forth.

 

[yowser]

I just had to share this one. Word wants me to change this sentence.

"The bullet hit the door"

to

"The bullet knocked on the door!"

Well, at least I hope you follow the advice. May have to change the story a little though...

 

[rescatooor]

I get by with Microsoft Word. When in doubt, I Google.

I don't know if my grammar is that of a top pupil. Every language has its own rules regarding commas and punctuation, so I'm sure things get mixed up.

Just following that alleged Oscar Wilde quote: spend half a day putting that comma in, the other half taking it out.

 

[mynameisben]

I just had to share this one. Word wants me to change this sentence.

"The bullet hit the door"

to

"The bullet knocked on the door!"

Honestly, you can't make this stuff up. I could almost write a book on stupid suggestions from editorial software

The day I take writing tips from Microsoft Word is the day I cut off my dick, mash it into pâté, and serve it on crackers at a Radical Women feminist rally.


Ben

 

[rescatooor]

The day I take writing tips from Microsoft Word is the day I cut off my dick, mash it into pâté, and serve it on crackers at a Radical Women feminist rally.


Ben

My goodness. Luckily I have no phallus to mutilate.

EDIT: Although I think Freud still thinks I wished I had.

 

[gordo12]

It is because of the number of times the word hit appears in the preceding sentences and paragraphs. Either change it to another synonym or leave it. Struck, impacted, so forth.

4x three paragraphs, changed it to "slammed into." A much stronger sentence that way.

Well, at least I hope you follow the advice. May have to change the story a little though...

Yeah, a tea party instead of trying to kill someone.

The day I take writing tips from Microsoft Word is the day I cut off my dick, mash it into pâté, and serve it on crackers at a Radical Women feminist rally.
Ben

I thought it was funny like LOL. Not a moment to throw yourself on the sword of radical feminism. What kind of crackers do they like anyway.

 

[JGittes]

I just had to share this one. Word wants me to change this sentence.

"The bullet hit the door"

to

"The bullet knocked on the door!"

Honestly, you can't make this stuff up. I could almost write a book on stupid suggestions from editorial software

"The bullet knocked on the door!"

It's a damn fine sentence, worthy of Chandler or Hammett.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I just had to share this one. Word wants me to change this sentence.

"The bullet hit the door"

to

"The bullet knocked on the door!"

Honestly, you can't make this stuff up. I could almost write a book on stupid suggestions from editorial software

That's a really polite bullet though. This will progress to drive-by shootings delivered by a guy in a tux serving up murder on a silver tray. Thank you, Bill Gates, for bringing a higher degree of class to our smut.

 

[gordo12]

That's a really polite bullet though. This will progress to drive-by shootings delivered by a guy in a tux serving up murder on a silver tray. Thank you, Bill Gates, for bringing a higher degree of class to our smut.

"The Bullet Always Knocks Twice" Title of my new book. (Apologies to Cain)

 

[SimonDoom]

The day I take writing tips from Microsoft Word is the day I cut off my dick, mash it into pâté, and serve it on crackers at a Radical Women feminist rally.


Ben

I find it very helpful, actually. It's a tool. I don't defer to it, but I use it to spot things that I overlooked or did as a result of a typo or a bad habit. I found it useful at catching instances of one of my bad writing habits -- too many qualifiers. I use words/phrases like some, somewhat, pretty, a little bit, etc. far too often, and Word is good at catching those uses.

 

[Bramblethorn]

That's a really polite bullet though. This will progress to drive-by shootings delivered by a guy in a tux serving up murder on a silver tray. Thank you, Bill Gates, for bringing a higher degree of class to our smut.

"The bullet knocked on the door, let itself in, and slipped into something more comfortable: him."

 

[Rustyoznail]

"The bullet knocked on the door, let itself in, and slipped into something more comfortable: him."

A fine sentence, but too late for the noir event.

 

[mynameisben]

I find it very helpful, actually. It's a tool. I don't defer to it, but I use it to spot things that I overlooked or did as a result of a typo or a bad habit. I found it useful at catching instances of one of my bad writing habits -- too many qualifiers. I use words/phrases like some, somewhat, pretty, a little bit, etc. far too often, and Word is good at catching those uses.

Oh, it catches errors, I'll grant you that. But the number of bullets knocking on doors seem to overwhelm the dangling modifiers. I find Word's suggestions more of a nuisance than a help.

I don't believe automation has any business critiquing anyone's writing. Give me a flesh and bones editor or proofreader any day! The last thing I want is to write in a style that only a syntax parsing algorithm can appreciate.


Ben