Are You Going to buy Grammar Checker Software? Read Before You Buy
Face it: most grammar and language tools included in word processing software are rather limited. At best they can be used to find out some punctuation and spelling errors. Serious writers soon find out the limitations of such included tools and think of buying grammar checker software that will help not only with spelling and punctuation but also with better sentence and paragraph construction. What they actually need is an editor and proofreader, but human services are expensive and are not available 24/7.
Anyone considering purchase of grammar checker software must know about its capabilities.
Can it check for syntax? Does it have features that distinguish between synonyms and homonyms and pick the right one or suggest the right word in relation to the context in which a word is used? Can it check for phraseology and sentence constructs and does it have the capability of joining two sentences or splitting apart one into two for the sake of clarity, the same way a human editor would do? Does the checker check to see if a sentence begins with an adverb or ends with a preposition and correct it? Can it check for split infinitives? Does it know when to write numbers in numerals or in words, following the accepted practices in this regard? Can it improve sentences and paragraphs to communicate better and have the desired impact?