What is Grammarly and How Does It Work?
Grammarly is a powerful AI-powered writing assistant designed to help users improve their written communication across emails, documents, social media, and more. It checks for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, tone, and even plagiarism — making it more than just a basic spell checker.
✅ The Core Technology: AI + NLP
At the heart of Grammarly lies a sophisticated blend of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP). These technologies allow it to understand the structure and intent of your writing. It doesn’t just catch errors — it suggests how to improve clarity, engagement, and correctness based on context.
In 2025, Grammarly has further evolved, integrating generative AI to rephrase sentences, suggest tone adjustments, and even generate citations. It’s one of the most advanced writing tools available today, especially for non-native English users.
🖥 Platforms Where Grammarly Works
Grammarly is available across multiple devices and platforms to support your writing wherever it happens:
1. Grammarly Chrome Extension
- Installs directly into your browser.
- Works across Gmail, Google Docs, LinkedIn, Twitter, WordPress, and more.
- Offers real-time writing suggestions as you type.
2. Grammarly Desktop App
- Available for both Windows and macOS.
- Provides system-wide writing suggestions for all apps, including Slack, Notion, Outlook, and more.
3. Grammarly for Microsoft Word & Outlook
- A dedicated add-in for Microsoft Office.
- Adds a Grammarly sidebar inside Word or Outlook.
- Especially useful for professionals writing long-form documents.
4. Grammarly Web Editor
- You can log in at grammarly.com to paste or upload documents.
- Allows distraction-free editing with full access to Grammarly’s suggestions and analytics.
🔒 Bonus: GrammarlyGO (Generative AI)
In 2024–2025, Grammarly introduced GrammarlyGO — a ChatGPT-style assistant embedded within your writing experience. It can:
- Rewrite sentences.
- Suggest new paragraphs.
- Draft entire emails or outlines based on short prompts.
This has made Grammarly one of the most accessible and advanced AI writing platforms available to the public — without needing to be a tech expert.
Who Should Use Grammarly? (Use Cases) – Grammarly Guide 2025
Grammarly has come a long way from being just a grammar and spelling checker. In 2025, it’s evolved into a full-fledged AI-powered writing assistant used by millions. But is it the right tool for you? In this section of our Grammarly Guide 2025, we explore real-world use cases that show how Grammarly can support different types of users. Whether you’re a student writing term papers, a business professional drafting client emails, or an author refining your manuscript, Grammarly likely has something to offer.
Students: Boost Writing Confidence & Academic Accuracy
For students, especially in high school and college, Grammarly is more than just a proofreading tool. It becomes a silent tutor that corrects mistakes, explains grammatical rules, and helps build writing confidence. Students often juggle multiple writing assignments with tight deadlines. Grammarly not only catches basic typos but also suggests improvements in tone, clarity, and structure.
Example: Writing a thesis? Grammarly Premium will help you spot passive voice, wordy constructions, and even plagiarism, ensuring your paper is polished and original.
Why It Matters:
- Avoid embarrassing grammar errors in essays
- Learn from in-app explanations
- Ensure academic integrity with plagiarism detection
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Professionals: Clear Communication in the Workplace
In the corporate world, every email, proposal, or document you send is a reflection of your professionalism. Grammarly helps eliminate writing mistakes that could lead to misunderstandings or appear unprofessional. What sets Grammarly apart is its real-time tone detector that ensures your message is coming across the way you intend—whether it’s assertive, friendly, or formal.
Example: Drafting a client proposal? Grammarly ensures your language is confident and free of hedging words or grammatical missteps. Premium users even get tone rewrites tailored to professional environments.
Why It Matters:
- Write with confidence and clarity
- Maintain tone and brand voice
- Reduce errors in high-stakes communication
Related keyphrases: Grammarly for work, Grammarly for emails, Grammarly tone suggestions
Authors & Writers: Enhance Creativity with Clean Drafts
Professional writers and content creators use Grammarly not as a replacement for human editors, but as a powerful first-pass filter. Whether you’re crafting blog posts, writing books, or publishing newsletters, Grammarly helps keep your sentences tight, your tone consistent, and your grammar flawless.
Example: Publishing a blog? Grammarly catches readability issues, overused words, and inconsistent punctuation before it goes live.
Why It Matters:
- Streamline editing process
- Maintain stylistic consistency
- Focus more on storytelling and less on structure
Related keyphrases: Grammarly for bloggers, Grammarly for writers, Grammarly content editing
English Language Learners (ESL): Learn While You Write
Grammarly is especially useful for non-native English speakers. It not only corrects mistakes but also explains why those corrections are made. This helps users internalize grammar rules over time, making them more confident and fluent writers.
Example: Writing a job application in English? Grammarly helps ESL users fix grammar, suggest stronger vocabulary, and clarify phrasing.
Why It Matters:
- Understand and learn from corrections
- Avoid awkward or incorrect phrasing
- Increase confidence in writing English
Related keyphrases: Grammarly for ESL, Grammarly grammar learning, Grammarly vocabulary help
In short, Grammarly is a versatile tool that meets the needs of a wide spectrum of users. Whether you’re aiming for clarity in a business proposal or correctness in a college essay, Grammarly adapts to your writing goals. As we continue this Grammarly Guide 2025, we’ll explore how its features compare across free and premium plans so you can decide if an upgrade is right for you.
The Big Questions: Accuracy, Cheating, and Turnitin
Grammarly has become a go-to writing assistant for millions, but serious questions remain—especially among students, researchers, and professionals concerned with academic honesty and content integrity. In this section, we address the most searched and debated concerns about Grammarly in 2025.
✅ How Accurate and Reliable is Grammarly?
Grammarly is highly accurate for grammar, punctuation, and style suggestions—but like all AI tools, it has strengths and limitations.
🔍 Strengths:
- Grammar & Punctuation: Grammarly catches most common errors including subject-verb agreement, misplaced commas, and run-on sentences.
- Clarity Enhancements: Premium users benefit from rewording suggestions that improve flow and readability.
- Tone Detection: Grammarly helps adjust tone for emails, academic writing, and casual posts, enhancing communication.
⚠️ Limitations:
- Context Awareness: It may misunderstand idioms, sarcasm, or cultural references.
- Over-correction: Sometimes it flags correct phrasing as incorrect, especially in creative writing or non-standard English.
- Specialized Language: Grammarly may not fully understand technical jargon, niche industry terms, or legal formatting.
✅ Verdict:
For 90% of users, Grammarly offers accurate and useful suggestions—but always review its edits critically, especially if your writing is highly technical or personal.
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🎓 Is Using Grammarly Cheating in College?
This is a hot topic in education circles—and a fair question.
✏️ It Depends on the Use Case:
- ✅ Acceptable Use: Grammar correction, punctuation fixes, and clarity suggestions.
- ❌ Potential Cheating: Using Grammarly’s AI to rewrite entire essays or paraphrase existing content to avoid detection.
If you’re using Grammarly like a digital grammar checker, you’re safe. But if you’re using its generative writing features (like rewriting paragraphs or using templates), some universities may consider it a breach of academic integrity.
🔍 What Schools Say:
- Most colleges allow Grammarly for grammar and writing improvement.
- Some institutions warn against using AI rewrites, as it shifts from assistance to authorship.
- Always check your school’s honor code or academic policy to be sure.
🔑 SEO Keyphrase covered: “is using Grammarly cheating”, “is Grammarly allowed in college”
🧠 Does Turnitin Detect Grammarly?
This is one of the most searched Grammarly-related questions in 2025—and the answer is nuanced.
🔍 Direct Detection: No
Turnitin cannot detect Grammarly directly. Grammarly is not flagged as software or plugin use, and there’s no fingerprint indicating a user used it.
⚠️ Indirect Detection: Possibly
What Turnitin can detect is:
- AI-generated content
- Unnatural phrasing or structure
- Content too perfect for a student level
If you let Grammarly’s AI rewrite full sections using tools like “Improve It” or “Rewrite for Clarity,” Turnitin may flag the content as AI-assisted or partially generated.
✅ Safe Use:
- Grammar and spelling: ✅ Safe
- Sentence clarity: ✅ Mostly safe
- Entire paragraph rewrites or summaries: ⚠️ Risky
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🔍 Final Verdict
| Concern | Grammarly Is Safe | Grammarly May Cause Issues |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar Corrections | ✅ | – |
| Clarity Suggestions | ✅ | – |
| Tone Adjustments | ✅ | – |
| Full Paragraph Rewrites | – | ⚠️ May be flagged by Turnitin |
| Using for Original Work | ✅ | – |
| Using to Paraphrase Plagiarism | – | ❌ Considered cheating |
Key Takeaways:
- Grammarly is accurate, but like any AI, it requires human judgment.
- Grammarly is not considered cheating when used ethically for grammar and clarity.
- Turnitin does not detect Grammarly itself, but it may detect signs of AI-written content if Grammarly is overused.
How to Master Grammarly: Tips and Tricks
Grammarly can do much more than correct typos. If you know how to use its deeper features, you can turn Grammarly into a personal writing assistant that saves time, polishes your work, and even adapts to your tone and goals. Here’s how to make the most of Grammarly across different platforms and use cases.
How to Add Grammarly to Word on Mac and Windows
Grammarly works seamlessly with Microsoft Word—but only if you install the right add-in.
On Windows:
- Go to Grammarly for Windows.
- Download the Grammarly for Windows app.
- Once installed, it will integrate with Word automatically.
- Open Word → Click on the Grammarly tab → Log in to your account.
On Mac:
- Download Grammarly for Mac from the official site.
- Open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Enable Grammarly in Microsoft Word when prompted.
- You’ll now see the Grammarly icon in your toolbar.
🔍 Troubleshooting Tip: If Grammarly doesn’t appear, ensure Word is updated to the latest version and restart your computer.
How to Accept All Grammarly Suggestions at Once
If you’re editing long documents, accepting every suggestion manually can be time-consuming. Grammarly lets you speed things up.
On Grammarly Editor:
- Open your document in the Grammarly web editor.
- Click the dropdown next to each suggestion → Select “Accept All” where applicable.
In Microsoft Word (Premium only):
- Grammarly doesn’t yet offer a “bulk accept” feature directly in Word, but you can quickly tab through suggestions using keyboard shortcuts:
- Tab = Jump to next suggestion
- Enter = Accept
Note: Always review suggestions before accepting, especially tone and clarity rewrites.
How to Turn Off Premium Suggestions or Disable Clarity Alerts
If you find Grammarly’s premium alerts distracting—such as tone or clarity—you can adjust what it monitors.
To disable suggestions:
- Open your document in Grammarly.
- Click the “Settings” gear icon.
- Go to Goals & Suggestions.
- Uncheck features you don’t want, such as:
- Clarity
- Tone detection
- Engagement
This helps focus on grammar only—ideal if you’re writing technical or research-based content.
Troubleshooting: Why is Grammarly Not Working in Word?
This is a common frustration. Here’s how to solve it:
Possible Issues:
- The Grammarly add-in isn’t enabled.
- Your Word or Grammarly app is outdated.
- Conflicts with other plugins.
Fixes:
- Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
- Check that Grammarly for Microsoft Word is listed and enabled.
- If missing, reinstall Grammarly for Word from the official Grammarly site.
- Restart your computer.
- If problems persist, disable other Word plugins temporarily.
For Mac users: You may need to grant Grammarly accessibility permissions via System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
Bonus Tip: Use Grammarly Goals for Personalized Suggestions
When starting a new document in Grammarly Editor:
- Click “Set Goals”
- Choose:
- Audience: General vs. Expert
- Formality: Casual, Neutral, Formal
- Intent: Inform, Convince, Describe, etc.
Grammarly adjusts its suggestions based on your purpose—giving you smarter results.
Summary
Mastering Grammarly means going beyond basic checks. By learning how to integrate it with Word, adjust settings, and fix common issues, you’ll unlock its full value. Whether you’re writing emails, essays, or business documents, a few smart tweaks can turn Grammarly into your most efficient writing partner.
Managing Your Account: How to Cancel, Get a Refund, and Unsubscribe
At some point, you may decide that Grammarly Premium isn’t the right fit for your needs—or maybe you’re simply done with the subscription. This section walks you through everything you need to know about managing your Grammarly account, including canceling your plan, requesting a refund, and stopping marketing emails.
How to Cancel a Grammarly Premium Subscription
Grammarly Premium renews automatically unless you manually cancel it. Here’s how to do it without getting charged for the next cycle.
Steps to Cancel Grammarly Premium:
- Visit Grammarly.com and log in to your account.
- Click your profile icon in the bottom left corner and go to Account.
- Select the Subscription tab.
- Click on Cancel Subscription at the bottom of the page.
- Follow the on-screen steps and confirm cancellation.
🔔 Important: Cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date to avoid being charged again.
Once canceled, your account will revert to the free version after your billing period ends. You won’t lose your saved documents or access to basic writing suggestions.
How to Get a Refund From Grammarly
Grammarly has a limited refund policy, but in many cases, you can still get your money back if you act fast.
To request a refund:
- Visit the Grammarly Support Page.
- Click on the Contact Us button.
- Select Billing & Subscription → Choose “Refund Request.”
- Fill in your details and provide a brief explanation (e.g., accidental renewal or unsatisfactory service).
Refunds are usually granted if requested within 7 days of purchase or renewal. Be polite but firm in your message.
❗ Note: Grammarly does not guarantee refunds, especially for monthly plans. Annual subscriptions have a higher chance if the request is made quickly.
How to Unsubscribe from Grammarly Emails
Tired of Grammarly’s promotional emails? Here’s how to opt out:
Method 1: From the Email
- Open any marketing email from Grammarly.
- Scroll to the bottom.
- Click on “Unsubscribe” or “Manage Preferences”.
- Choose which types of emails you want to stop receiving.
Method 2: From Your Account
- Go to Account Settings.
- Click Notifications.
- Uncheck marketing email options.
You’ll still receive important account-related emails (like password resets), but you can silence promotional content.
Summary
Managing your Grammarly account is easy if you know where to look. Whether you’re canceling a subscription, seeking a refund, or stopping emails, taking control of your settings can save you time, money, and stress.
✅ Pro Tip: Always double-check your billing date and save cancellation confirmations for your records.
The Final Step: How to Completely Uninstall Grammarly
Whether you’re switching to another writing assistant or no longer need Grammarly, uninstalling it properly is key to preventing background activity, system lag, or accidental charges. Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for uninstalling Grammarly on Mac, Windows, and Chrome.
How to Uninstall Grammarly from a Mac (MacBook, iMac, Air)
Some users find that uninstalling Grammarly isn’t as simple as dragging the app to the Trash. Here’s how to do it thoroughly:
✅ Standard Method
- Quit Grammarly from the menu bar (top-right corner).
- Open your Applications folder.
- Drag Grammarly Desktop to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash.
❗ Stuck? Can’t Delete Grammarly?
If you see a message like “Grammarly is open”, follow this expert fix:
Force Quit via Activity Monitor:
- Open Activity Monitor (find it using Spotlight:
Cmd + Space → Activity Monitor). - Search for Grammarly.
- Click the Grammarly process, then hit the X icon to force quit it.
- Retry dragging the app to the Trash.
🧹 Optional Cleanup
- Delete leftover files from
~/Library/Application Support/Grammarly - Check
~/Library/LaunchAgentsfor Grammarly auto-launch entries
This ensures Grammarly is fully removed from your Mac system.
How to Uninstall Grammarly from a Windows PC
Follow these steps to uninstall Grammarly from a Windows 10 or 11 device:
- Press
Win + Ito open Settings. - Click Apps → Installed Apps or Apps & Features.
- Search for Grammarly.
- Click on it → Select Uninstall → Confirm.
If prompted, allow administrative permissions.
🧼 Optional: Delete Residual Files
- Press
Win + R→ type%appdata%→ press Enter. - Delete any Grammarly folders.
- Repeat for
%localappdata%.
How to Remove the Grammarly Extension from Chrome
Grammarly often installs itself as a Chrome extension. If you no longer want it:
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three-dot menu (⋮) → go to Extensions (
chrome://extensions). - Find Grammarly for Chrome → Click Remove.
- Confirm by clicking Remove again.
If you’re using Firefox or Edge, the steps are similar.
Summary
Whether you’re on a Mac, Windows PC, or simply using Grammarly in your browser, the steps above will help you fully remove Grammarly and any background processes it might leave behind.
✅ Pro Tip: After uninstalling, restart your device to finalize the cleanup and remove any lingering system hooks.
Top Alternatives to Grammarly in 2025
While Grammarly remains one of the most popular writing assistants, it’s not the only powerful option available. Whether you’re looking for a better AI detector, improved academic accuracy, or simply a free alternative, here are some of the top Grammarly competitors in 2025 — with pros, cons, and best use cases.
1. ProWritingAid
Best for: In-depth writing analysis and fiction writers
Platform: Browser, Desktop (Mac & Windows), MS Word, Google Docs
Pros:
- Offers in-depth grammar, style, and readability reports
- Better for long-form fiction, storytelling, and creative writing
- Cheaper lifetime pricing compared to Grammarly
Cons:
- Slightly slower interface than Grammarly
- The UI may feel outdated to new users
Verdict:
If you’re a novelist, editor, or prefer detailed feedback beyond basic grammar, ProWritingAid is a strong alternative.
2. Quillbot
Best for: Paraphrasing, rewriting, and citation generation
Platform: Web-based, Chrome extension, Word, Google Docs
Pros:
- Advanced AI-powered paraphrasing with multiple tone options
- Excellent summarizer and citation tool (APA, MLA, Chicago)
- Affordable plans with flexible controls
Cons:
- Not as strong in grammar correction as Grammarly
- Limited suggestions on clarity and tone
Verdict:
Quillbot is perfect for students and content creators who want to rewrite or summarize text quickly.
3. Writer.com
Best for: Teams, enterprises, and brand-specific writing
Platform: Web, Chrome extension, integrations (Slack, Figma, WordPress)
Pros:
- Tailored writing rules for brand voice and tone
- Real-time grammar and plagiarism checks
- AI writing assistant for companies
Cons:
- Premium pricing aimed at businesses
- Less beginner-friendly
Verdict:
Ideal for organizations that want consistent messaging across content creators.
Bonus Mention: Hemingway App
Best for: Simplicity, minimal writing distraction, and clean prose
Platform: Web and desktop (Mac/Windows)
Pros:
- Free version available
- Highlights complex sentences and passive voice
- Encourages simpler, more direct writing
Cons:
- No grammar correction or AI tools
- Doesn’t work in real time (needs manual edits)
🚀 So Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose ProWritingAid if you write long-form or fiction.
- Use Quillbot if rewriting, citations, or summaries are your focus.
- Try Writer.com if you’re part of a team or business needing on-brand communication.
- Use Hemingway if you want distraction-free, minimalistic writing improvement.
If Grammarly isn’t the right fit for you anymore — these tools cover all the bases.
Conclusion – Grammarly in 2025: Should You Keep It or Leave It?
Grammarly remains one of the most powerful AI writing assistants available in 2025, offering real-time grammar correction, tone suggestions, plagiarism detection, and now AI content rewriting. Whether you’re a student, professional, writer, or ESL learner, Grammarly can help elevate your writing quality and save time.
But it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some users may find it too intrusive, too expensive, or not aligned with academic policies. In those cases, disabling premium suggestions, uninstalling the app, or even switching to an alternative like ProWritingAid or Quillbot might be the smarter option.
What matters most is choosing the tool that fits your writing goals, platform preferences, and ethical standards. This guide has walked you through everything — from understanding Grammarly to using it like a pro, resolving common issues, and fully uninstalling or canceling it if needed.
📌 Key Takeaways:
- Grammarly helps improve writing, clarity, and tone across platforms.
- You can customize or disable its features without fully removing it.
- Full uninstall and subscription cancelation are easy if you follow the right steps.
- Use alternatives like Quillbot, Writer.com, or Hemingway App if Grammarly doesn’t suit your needs.
- Grammarly use is generally not considered cheating unless abused in academic or AI-generative ways.
Final Tip:
The best writing tool is the one you actually use — consistently and ethically. Whether it’s Grammarly or an alternative, let your writing reflect your voice, with a little AI help when needed.
If you’re exploring other writing assistants beyond Grammarly, check out our Top AI Writing Tools Compared (2025) to find the best fit for your workflow.
