Grammarly Premium Review

7 Ways Grammarly Helps Me Write Grammatically Better Blog Posts

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I’ve noticed a few things about myself since passing the big 4 0. My memory is not what it used to be and my spelling recall has taken a nosedive. Is it just me?

I run my documents through Word spell check and try to decipher the grammar suggestions it makes (Am I the only one who thinks they are wrong?) only to end up with missed spelling errors.

I have the darndest time with matching subject and verb tenses. I switch from present to past tense all the time sometimes in the same paragraph. I know, I should know better as a writer. I also find I have a recurring problem with using the passive voice. Grammarly helps with this. Yay!

When I started this site back in August, I knew I would monetize with a few select affiliate partners. As I was searching for companies to partner with I came across Grammarly. After reading about this tool, I signed up for a free account. I installed the Chrome extension and have used it since.

Last month, I finally decided to apply to the affiliate program and was accepted. I was given one month of premium access to try out. Let me just say, it is worth the investment.

Here’s why:

1. Microsoft Office ® Add-in lets you use Grammarly inside your M.S. Office software.

This puts your word processor on steroids. All the power of Grammarly on your desktop or laptop while you write.

Don’t have M.S. Office? You can write within Grammarly and download it as a Word document.

One more awesome thing about Grammarly (can you tell I am a fan?) is that it works right inside WordPress. How cool is that? I’m assuming it works in other platforms too if you use the Chrome extension.

2. 250 points of grammar checks including subject-verb agreement and article use to modifier placement.

Did that just go over your head? Let me explain.

It simply means when I write “The second tip that goes along with this is use a Pomodoro timer.” Grammarly lets me know that I need to add the word “to” in front of “use”. Here’s the cool part, it gives me an explanation of why this is done.

“It appears that the verb use should be in a participle form when used after the form of be is. Consider changing the verb form or removing the form of be”

M.S. Office doesn’t do that. It makes me feel better to know why I need to change it as well as alerts me to areas of English Grammar weakness I didn’t know I had.

3. It is the “Queen of Commas”.

I didn’t realize how many of these little punctuation marks I neglected to use in my writing. I have a theory. When I was in college, my papers were always marked in red ink as ‘overusing commas’. I became hyper aware of using them so over the years I started cutting back to the point that I stopped using them altogether.

Can you tell where the comma needs to go in the following sentence and why?

a) I enjoy creating graphics but I don’t consider it a strong point.

How about this sentence?

b) With foundations in the study of neuroplasticity, Lumosity games are used in research, and have been incorporated into studies done by top scientists worldwide.

Answers:

a) The comma goes after the word “graphics” because of the coordinating conjunction “but”.

b) In this sentence I actually added an unnecessary comma after the word “research”. Below is why it needs to be deleted.

It appears that you have an unnecessary comma in a compound predicate. Consider removing it.

4. Contextual Spell Check

I’m in my Forties now so I’ve been writing for some time now. How is it then, that I still get “their” mixed up with “they’re”? I know the difference, but when I write my brain will register the improper use onto the screen.

Grammarly fixes this. Here are some more examples:

lose - loose

affect - effect

lie - lay

to - too

there - their - they’re

signup - sign up (read why here)

login - log in (read why here)

setup - set up (read why here)

5. Grammarly Works Everywhere

You don’t have to be in M.S. Office or other Word Processor program to use Grammarly. It works for social media posts, emails, and text messages. (Auto-correct anyone?)

6. Vocabulary Enhancement

Do you ever find yourself repeating the same words in your blog post? Examples may be overusing the words good, great, excellent, or sometimes.

Grammarly fixes that as well. It lets you know when you are overusing a word and suggest synonyms that use can use.

7. English Grammar School

As a side benefit, I’m learning (or relearning) proper English. I always enjoyed English in school and writing has always been my strength. Did you notice I didn’t say grammar is my strength? (smiles)

I like knowing why I make a mistake so I can make a note of it for the future. I catch more of my mistakes now, especially those pesky commas than I did before using Grammarly.

I like Grammarly (affiliate link) for editing articles, blog posts, writing social media statuses, and emails. It is why am proud to partner with them.

You can try the free version out, but the added benefits of a Premium account will help you rock your writing “like a boss”.

Subscribe to Premium Grammarly Now

P.S. Watch this video + download the worksheet to start delegating your low-end tasks to a virtual assistant. *opt-in