Is Grammarly Premium Worth It?

​I’ve used the free version of Grammarly for years, but I didn't upgrade to Grammarly Premium until recently. In short, the premium version is completely worth it—if you plan to use Grammarly regularly. Which means for me, it’s invaluable. Is it always correct? No. But the editing tool is my “second opinion” for polished material. And here’s why.

Is Grammarly Premium Worth It?

​The difference between Grammarly Free and Premium

The free version of Grammarly will catch half (or less) as many errors as the premium version. The free version catches misspelled words, misused words, and missing commas (some of the time). Even if you only have the free version, it will catch small errors that your eyes casually miss. The premium version will catch many more mistakes, as well as make casual suggestions:

• antecedent confusion
  
• absent quotation marks
  
• various misused punctuation (hyphens, periods, commas, apostrophes, etc.)
  
• capitalization errors (regarding proper names in dialogue tags)
  
• comma splices
  
• removing unnecessary commas
  
• weak words (very, really, some, etc.)
  
• passive voice 

​Do editors use Grammarly?

I can’t speak for all editors, but I use Grammarly after the final version of the work is completed. In other words, whether I’m editing projects for small businesses or editing a manuscript, once I finish, I run Grammarly through the completed product. I don’t always accept the changes that Grammarly highlights, but I read through each suggestion. It’s nice to have Grammarly as my backup, my robotic assistant. Why do I use Grammarly? Because I’m human, and even I make mistakes, such as missing a misspelled word, or forgetting to include an article (the, a, an), or neglecting to include a hyphen. Not only that, but when you hire me through Yaupon Berry Press, you know I’m giving your project top-notch attention, and I have all the necessary tools already downloaded on my computer. 

​How much is Grammarly Premium? 

​Having been a Grammarly (free) user for years, I received updates when promotions were running. I purchased Grammarly Premium during one of those promotions for $69.98, which covers an entire year of service. When mine renews, I’ll pay the renewal price of $139.95. Grammarly Premium also has monthly and quarterly plans, as well as the annual plan. For more info, you can check out their website. 

​Do you still need an editor if you use Grammarly?

​Yes. Editors restructure the flow of sentences for a smoother read, understand different style guides (such as Chicago Manual Style versus AP Style), remove unnecessary fluff, check for spelling and timeline consistency, find plot holes, point out sections that need more development, locate overused words (crutch words), and much more. 

Tip: I’ve added Grammarly to my Microsoft Word, which means I don’t have to copy and paste material into the Grammarly app. This process is more efficient and a better way to edit.

If you found this blog helpful, share it with your colleagues and fellow writers. And if you need an editor, contact me. For more information about the services Yaupon Berry Press offers, click here.