Grammarly Explained: A Tool for Educational Purposes and Strategies for Optimal Use
In a significant shift, Grammarly, the popular AI-powered writing tool, has unveiled its latest update, transforming it from a simple grammar checker into a comprehensive AI writing assistant. This update introduces a suite of specialized AI agents and a modern block-first writing interface called Grammarly Docs [1][3][4].
Key new features include eight to nine specialized AI agents embedded in Grammarly Docs that assist with specific writing tasks such as predicting reader reactions, simulating grading with rubric evaluation, finding credible sources and generating citations, plagiarism checking, AI-text detection, paraphrasing, and advanced proofreading [3][4][5]. These agents actively collaborate with users by understanding writing context and goals, offering feedback and suggestions without the need for explicit prompts.
The update also introduces Grammarly Docs, a distraction-free, AI-native writing platform that integrates these agents directly into the writing process, enhancing productivity for students, professionals, and creatives [3][4]. The platform offers a modernized user interface designed to boost productivity and ease of use with step-by-step AI workflows, weekly expert Q&A sessions, and guides on maximizing AI features [1].
In addition, Grammarly's AI-powered rewrite tools within the keyboard app help users improve vocabulary, clarity, tone, formality, and fluency in real time across emails, texts, and social media posts [2].
Grammarly's free program offers advanced grammar and spell-checking, with 100 prompts with the AI assistant. Premium plans offer additional features such as plagiarism-checking and the ability to have Grammarly's AI rewrite full sentences [6]. Users on premium plans also get up to 1,000 AI prompts per month [7].
Grammarly's AI can provide students with helpful writing tips if they ask it to read their work and make suggestions [8]. The Google plug-in automatically checks everything you write, helping eliminate potentially embarrassing typos or mistakes in emails, on web forms, etc. [9].
Users can customize Grammarly to account for their desired style and tone [10]. Grammarly's blog is loaded with great writing resources and explanations about grammar [11]. The tool is available for desktops, as a browser extension, a keyboard plugin, MS Office Plug-in, Google Docs browser extension, and as an iOS app for iPhones and iPads [12].
The premium subscription plans for Grammarly cost $12 per month with a year's subscription, or $30 per month if paid monthly [6]. School administrators need to contact Grammarly directly for price quotes on education-specific plans [13].
Grammarly, founded in 2009 in Ukraine, has donated millions to the Ukrainian defense [14]. It's important to note that the original version of this story incorrectly implied that Grammarly Editor was only available in paid versions of the tool [15]. Using phrases such as "Can you read this paper and make sure it accomplishes X and Y?" can help get the best results from Grammarly's AI.
Experimenting with Grammarly's AI can serve as a good AI literacy lesson, offering better feedback with better prompts [16]. Grammarly's latest update marks its bold shift from a reactive correction tool to an agentic, collaborative platform that anticipates and fulfills complex communication needs, making it a powerful assistant in academic, professional, and creative writing contexts [1][3][4].
- A student can use Grammarly, available on an iPad, to enhance their writing skills by taking advantage of its new features, such as AI agents that predict reader reactions, simulate grading with rubric evaluation, find credible sources, generate citations, and offer feedback during the writing process.
- In an academic setting, a student might use the Grammarly Docs platform, integrated with the latest AI technology, to work more efficiently and productively while composing essays or reports, benefitting from the AI's ability to understand writing context and offer suggestions without explicit prompts.
- As technology advances, students might find learning more interactive with the help of gadgets like an iPad paired with AI writing tools such as Grammarly, which can provide useful tips for improving writing style and tone, helping students become more effective communicators and writers.
