Automatic Text Analysis
ProWritingAid automatically analyses your text using different statistics and its own algorithms. These analyses are based on the established rules for good writing that can actually be measured, e.g. Use adverbs sparingly, less transitions, less pronouns, glue words etc. If you care for good writing, you’ll probably try to stick to these guidelines in some way, or at least subconsciously. ProWritingAid makes these rules systematically evident.
Realtime will let you edit quickly any mistakes in grammar, spelling or style.
After the errors are taken care of and out of the way Once you have eliminated them, you can go to the individual reports for editing more deeply. They allow you to look at the word choices, sentence structure and words that are repeated. You can also run the Summary Report to determine the areas you should focus on to make the most improvement in the shortest amount of time:
How to Utilize it
ProWritingAid offers a variety of formats. Their Web Editor allows you to edit documents from your browser. They also have browser extensions that allow you to quickly fix grammar issues on websites such as Twitter, WordPress, Gmail, Facebook and Facebook. Additionally, you can modify your Word documents using their Word add-ins that are available for Windows and Mac.
Today we’ll concentrate on their Desktop App. This application is ideal to work using Ulysses documents.
ProWritingAid.com registration is required for access to the software. You have several options to work with Ulysses documents. Ulysses authors can use the online Web Editor for free or download the desktop software. You’ll require a premium license to edit more 500 words at one time and use the desktop app.
The desktop application can read and writing eight file types, including Markdown. It is possible to export Ulysses text to Markdown File. Then, you can edit it using ProWritingAid and then add it to your Ulysses library to further process. It’s fast and easy however you can’t save sheets or images like writing goals. After some experimentation with the app, I discovered that the following workflow is effective for me:
Open ProWritingAid and then create a Markdown File.
Go to your Ulysses page, select the text and use the Edit menu option “Copy as markdown“.
Paste into ProWritingAid.
Now go through each one of the reports and edit within ProWritingAid.
Once you’re finished, click and copy the text you edited.
Copy the text from the previous version onto your Ulysses page, using the “Paste from Markdown“ option in the Edit menu.
The Reports
In each ProWritingAid report, the problems that you have identified in your report are underlined. Move your cursor to the underlined text, and you’ll see an explanation or recommendation. If you need an idea, click it. Click on the suggestion to view a simpler word or a synonym.
The reports include an explanation of the subject and a link to extensive information about the subject. There are a few examples that will provide you with an idea of the length and depth of my explanation.
Writing Style Check This report will help you improve your writing style. The report, for instance, identifies passive voice in your text. The sentences that are active voiced are more readable to read. Writing Style Check also highlights the use of adverbs and repeated sentence beginnings and offers suggestions to improve readability.
Overused Words This report examines the words that are so ubiquitous in daily life that they are nearly meaningless. ProWritingAid is able to identify if you’ve used them too often.
Sentence Length Verify
Texts with sentences of varied lengths will be more interesting to read. The report shows the length of your sentences in a bar graph so you can see in a glance whether there’s room for improvement. It will allow you to see the sentences that are especially long, so you can determine them.
Pricing
ProWritingAid is accessible online for free. While it’s less user-friendly and doesn’t provide all the reports available, it can help you get a first impression. You can get an upgrade membership that permits users to access the desktop software and numerous add-ons for $79/year or $399 per lifetime license. ProWritingAid allows you to be patient and offers a 14-day refund guarantee.
Final Thoughts
ProWritingAid cannot (and isn’t intended to) replace an editor who is human. It can help highlight measurable aspects in a text and does an extensive job. ProWritingAid is not an alternative to editing your text. It can, however, help speed up this process.