Automatic Text Analysis
ProWritingAid will automatically analyze your text using various statistics and proprietary algorithms. The analyses are based on established guidelines for writing that can be measured. These rules are measurable for example, the usage of adverbs sparingly. These guidelines are essential if you value good writing. ProWritingAid makes these guidelines visible.
Realtime lets you quickly work through documents.
Once these mistakes are fixed, you can proceed to separate reports for detailed editing. These let you examine the word choices, sentence structure and repeated words. The Summary Report can be run to determine the areas you should concentrate your efforts to make improvements in the shortest time.
How to Utilize It
ProWritingAid offers a variety of formats. Their Web Editor can be used to edit documents in your browser. You can also use their browser extensions to fix any grammar issues on sites like Twitter or WordPress. Word addins allow you to directly edit Word documents for Windows as well as Mac.
Today we will focus on their Desktop App that is fantastic to work alongside your Ulysses files.
To access ProWritingAid.com, you will need to sign up. There are several methods to use Ulysses documents and ProWritingAid. Ulysses writers can utilize the online, free Web Editor, or download the desktop software. A premium license is required to edit more than 500 words in a session, or to make use of the desktop software.
The desktop application can read and write eight file types, Markdown as one. You can therefore export the Ulysses text as Markdown File, conduct the editing with ProWritingAid and then import it back to your Ulysses‘ library to further process. This is quick and simple, but you don’t have the option of saving your images and attachments (e.g. writing goals). After some experimentation using the app, I discovered the following workflow works well for me:
Open ProWritingAid.
Navigate to your Ulysses page, choose a text passage and then select the Edit menu option “Copy as markdown“.
Paste into ProWritingAid.
Now go through each report and then edit it the report using ProWritingAid.
Select and copy the edited text once you’re finished.
Paste back to your Ulysses sheet replacing the old version of the text passage and then select the “Paste from Markdown” option from the Edit menu.
The Reports
ProWritingAid reports show your text underlined. The explanations and/or recommendations be displayed when you move your cursor across an underlined passage. If you need an idea, click it. Click the suggestion to see a simpler word, or a synonym.
Each report includes an explanation of the report and a link to take you to more detailed details on the topic. For you to get an idea, I will discuss the report in detail and give some examples.
Writing Style The report can help you improve your writing skills. The report is based on several rules that are good for writing. For instance, the report will identify the passive voice you use in your writing, which can make it difficult to comprehend. Writing that are active in voice are simpler to read. Writing Style Check also identifies repetitions in sentence beginnings and adverbs. The report offers suggestions to improve the readability of your text.
Overused words checked This report lists words so frequently used in everyday living that they have virtually lost all meaning. These aren’t words you should avoid, however ProWritingAid will tell you if you’ve used them too often.
Verify Sentence Length
Texts that contain sentences of varying lengths are more interesting to read. This report will visualize the length of your sentences as a bar chart, so you can quickly see the areas that require improvement. It will allow you to identify the sentences that are especially long, and you will be able to determine the ones that are particularly long.
Pricing
ProWritingAid is available online for no cost. While it’s more difficult to use and doesn’t offer access to all reports, it can be useful for making a first impression. Premium memberships allow you to use the desktop app, add-ons and are available starting at $79 per annum and $399 for lifetime licensing. ProWritingAid offers a 14-day assurance that you will be happy with the purchase.
Last Thoughts
ProWritingAid isn’t intended to replace a human editor. The tool can highlight certain measurable aspects in the text and performs an extensive job. Although you’ll still have to edit your text, ProWritingAid can speed up the process and improve it.