I Used Originality.ai's Grammar Checker for a Month — My Honest Take
What the tool is
Originality.ai’s Grammar Checker is a free, AI-powered checker designed to catch spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes before you publish. It scans up to about 2,000 words per free scan and returns a scorecard showing the number of issues detected. For longer texts or heavier use you need to sign up or use the paid version.
Key features and how they help
Free starting point
You can test the checker without paying. The ~2,000-word free scan is enough to try it on blog posts, emails, or short articles and see whether it fits your workflow.
One-click fixes
After the tool highlights problems, a ‘Fix issues’ button lets you apply corrections quickly. That saves time on straightforward fixes like punctuation, capitalization, and common word misuse.
Clear highlights and a scorecard
Mistakes are marked clearly in the text so you know exactly where to focus. The scorecard gives a quick snapshot of how many grammar and spelling issues are in your draft, which is useful for tracking improvement across edits.
API and integrations
If you build content workflows, the availability of an API or plugin makes it easier to embed grammar checks into editors or publishing pipelines, reducing context switching.
Strengths I noticed
- Speed and simplicity: The interface focuses on correctness rather than heavy style guidance, which makes it fast and easy to use.
- Practical fixes: It handles common mistakes like comma splices, subject-verb agreement, incorrect word choice, and misuse of contractions reliably.
- Motivation to improve: Seeing a numeric scorecard motivates iterative improvement on drafts.
Limitations and things to watch for
- US English only: Grammar and spelling checks are currently targeted at United States English. If you write in British English or mix dialects, some suggestions may not match your preferred conventions.
- Not a stylistic editor: The checker focuses on correctness. It may miss higher-level issues like tone, flow, or rhetorical choices.
- Potential voice changes: Frequent use of the ‘Fix issues’ feature can produce technically correct text that slightly alters your voice or intended nuance. Always review suggested fixes.
- Scan limits: Longer documents require signup or paid features, which can add cost for heavy users.
- Over-correction risk: Casual language or acceptable colloquialisms may be flagged, which can strip naturalness if you accept all changes automatically.
My practical experience after a month
Using the checker on blog drafts, emails, and short proposals felt like adding a safety net. It reduced the small, embarrassing errors that often slip through when I rush. The one-click fixes and clear highlights saved time during copy edits.
At the same time, I noticed moments when the automated fixes smoothed over quirks I wanted to keep. For creative or highly personal writing I used the tool more selectively to preserve voice.
Who should try it
Try this tool if you:
- Write regularly and want a quick way to polish drafts
- Lack an editor or proofreader and need a simple accuracy check
- Want a lightweight, mostly accurate tool rather than a feature-heavy suite
If you write creatively, in dialect, or experiment with style, use the checker as a helper rather than a final authority.
How to test it yourself
Start by running a 2,000-word draft through the free scan. Check how many corrections are suggested, whether the fixes feel helpful, and whether the changed text still sounds like you. If it works for you, adopt a flow like: rough draft -> grammar scan -> manual review -> final edit.