Typing mistakes, syntax, spelling, confusion of words, repetitions, pleonasms, lack of fluidity, your tone too familiar ... Whatever the level of written expression of each, it is never vain to appeal to a grammatical and stylistic corrector.
It is a study that comes back every year. For nearly thirty years, the level of spelling of the Spaniards has continued to decline. However, we do not write less than in 1990. On the contrary, the rise of IT, new technologies and the development of new professions have created new editorial uses. SMS, instant messages, emails, PowerPoint presentations, blogs, social networks testify to the omnipresence of writing in professional circles as well as in the private sphere. The paradox is startling and could in part be explained by the decline in reading, the abuse of screens, the social and cultural environment, the very idea that spelling is no longer important.
However, mistakes in Spanish are always discriminating. In February 2019, Le Parisien unveiled the results of an OpinionWay survey for My Coach Bescherelle conducted among two hundred human resources directors. 52% of them said that written expression could play a role in excluding candidates. 15% believed that a low level of spelling could have slowed down a promotion.
Ideally, its fundamentals should be revised. But while waiting to perfect your mastery of Spanish, there are many tools available to help you fill your gaps. These correctors are now able to detect complex errors such as errors of agreement in gender and number, pleonasms, confusion of homonyms and paronyms, false friends. Better yet, some are able to analyze the structure of texts and rephrase wobbly sentences. From simple spell checkers, we move on to functional writing assistants who do not forget to provide their users with the resources necessary for recalling or learning linguistic rules.
Summary
1. Antidote
Download Antidote
- Corrects syntax errors, barbarism and colloquialism
- Extensions and Modules
- Low false positive rate
Antidote is really the benchmark of the genre; a spell checker more accurate than ever, quality dictionaries and comprehensive guides! The only downside is the lack of a trial version to test the software before buying it.
Antidote is really the benchmark of the genre; a spell checker more accurate than ever, quality dictionaries and comprehensive guides! The only downside is the lack of a trial version to test the software before buying it.
Antidote is obviously the benchmark par excellence in spelling correction. But not only. The tool available on Windows, macOS and GNU / Linux also tackles syntax errors, convoluted styles, barbarisms, repetitions and colloquialism. All the errors noted are justified by the software which systematically suggests elements of rectification. It would then be fairer to mention an editorial assistant rather than a simple automatic corrector.
In addition to its basic functionalities, Antidote includes a series of options and modules that effectively complement its mission as a writing coach. Definitions, synonyms, antonyms, citations, lexical fields, conjugations dictionaries are all precious aids that save a few back and forth between the drafted document, Google and the good old Larousse who sits in the library. Other essential tools: guides to the Spanish language, which allow you to easily review some rules of spelling, grammar, punctuation or typography that have been forgotten for too long.
With a very low false positive rate, Antidote has completed its legitimacy. Nevertheless, in the event of non-recognition of an existing term, repetitive use of foreign words or unknown acronyms, the corrector gives everyone the possibility of enriching a personalized dictionary.
Antidote is a commercial solution. It will take 119 euros to take advantage of the latest version which includes the software and its integration with various tools such as a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge), an office suite (LibreOffice / OpenOffice, MS Office) or an email client (Thunderbird, Gmail, Outlook). Those who juggle between Spanish and English on a regular basis will find it convenient to purchase the English module for a few euros more. It is important to know that the updates are chargeable.
2. LanguageTool
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- Word compatibility
- An open-source corrector ...
An open source corrector for LibreOffice and OpenOffice, LanguageTool effectively targets grammar and spelling errors. Nevertheless, its rigid and dated interface as well as the absence of stylistic verifications relegate it to the rank of auxiliary corrector.
An open source corrector for LibreOffice and OpenOffice, LanguageTool effectively targets grammar and spelling errors. Nevertheless, its rigid and dated interface as well as the absence of stylistic verifications relegate it to the rank of auxiliary corrector.
In the field of good speaking, the free world does not have to be ashamed. For almost fifteen years, LanguageTool has been a serious competitor to the most popular proprietary licenses. Both a web service, a Java application, a browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge) and a plugin (LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Word, Google Docs), the corrector successfully detects spelling and grammar errors. Each detection is accompanied by suggested modifications that can be applied in one click. Overall, the corrections suggested by LanguageTool are satisfactory. However, we should point out a few isolated omissions concerning accents, capitals and punctuation.
Supported by a very active community, LanguageTool is now able to identify and resume text written in around thirty national and regional languages, including Spanish, English, Spanish and German. These four languages also benefit from a possible processing by n-grams which makes it possible to effectively correct errors of homonyms and paronyms after contextual analysis of the paragraph. As this technique consumes significant system resources, LanguageTool deploys it on the server side for its web, Chrome and Firefox versions. On the other hand, to use it on a PC, you will have to download additional databases (8 GB) and ensure the power of your hard drive. SSD highly recommended.
In the free version, LanguageTool is limited to verifying 20 character texts via the website, and 000 via the browser extension. Use of the tool as an addon for LibreOffice and OpenOffice is free. On the other hand, to benefit from the integration with Word and Google Docs as well as from a more thorough correction relating to 10 characters, the style, the errors of proper names and the errors of numbers, it will be necessary to opt for the Premium version of LanguageTool available from 000 euros per month. The prices are decreasing according to the duration of the subscription.
For all intents and purposes, the checker is also available in modules for other applications like Thunderbird, Visual Studio Code, Emacs or Vim. Listed on the publisher's website, these forks are however not managed by the official LanguageTool team.
3. Grammalect
Download Grammalect
- No standalone version
- Open-source and regularly updated
Grammalect is an essential ally in the drafting of all types of documents. Easy to install, then to learn, it effectively detects errors in grammar, syntax and typography. Coupled with the LibreOffice and / or OpenOffice spell checker, it guarantees impeccable texts, both in form and content.
Grammalect is an essential ally in the drafting of all types of documents. Easy to install, then to learn, it effectively detects errors in grammar, syntax and typography. Coupled with the LibreOffice and / or OpenOffice spell checker, it guarantees impeccable texts, both in form and content.
Landed later and completely free, Grammalecte does not demerit. Originally designed as an open source plugin for OpenOffice and LibreOffice, this corrector has since come a long way. It is now found as an extension for Chrome, Firefox and Thunderbird.
Whatever its host platform, Grammalecte specializes in finding and correcting grammatical, typographical, stylistic and conjugation errors. However, its integration and methods of operation diverge from one service to another.
On OpenOffice and LibreOffice, Grammalecte inherits a custom button in the menu bar. There is a series of configurable options that allow you to detect repetitions and barbarisms, access dynamic conjugation tables, select the types of errors to report, modify the appearance of the underlining. Although the extension is based on a dictionary with 83 entries, it is still possible to edit your own lexicon. Finally, we appreciate the text formatter which improves the layout of an editorial: removal of excess spaces, addition of missing and non-breaking spaces, complete restructuring of the document.
A feature that can be found on Chrome, Firefox and Thunderbird, as well as the lexical editor and the grammar errors control panel. Despite its efficiency, Grammalecte's web plugin suffers from a dated and less intuitive interface. You will have to alternatively go through the extension menu, through a specific web page or through a dialog box linked to the text area to take advantage of the available tools.
Like LanguageTool, the Grammalecte community has developed modules for SublimeTexte, Vim, Emacs, Pluma and Sigil. Officially downloadable from the publisher's page, their distribution and maintenance is the responsibility of third-party developers.
4. Microsoft Writer
Download Microsoft Writer
- AI doped
- Free
- Works on Chromium browsers
With the undisguised desire to compete with Grammarly, Microsoft Writer for Chrome's mission is to improve the written expression of Internet users by ensuring spelling, grammar and style, regardless of the writing medium online. Not always up to its promises, the extension still needs some tweaking to really convince of its usefulness.
With the undisguised desire to compete with Grammarly, Microsoft Writer for Chrome's mission is to improve the written expression of Internet users by ensuring spelling, grammar and style, regardless of the writing medium online. Not always up to its promises, the extension still needs some tweaking to really convince of its usefulness.
Renamed Microsoft 365 last April, the former Office 365 suite has been enhanced with an online corrector supported by AI. Microsoft Editor - or Microsoft Editor in English - replaces Word's checker and aims to improve everyone's written expression. We no longer speak of simple spelling corrections, but of advanced syntactic and stylistic checks.
Unlike the old Office proofreader, Microsoft Writer deploys in a dedicated side panel. A counter summarizes the number of errors detected as well as the number of perfectible points in the text. The user with a free subscription can access suggested corrections for misspelled terms and grammatical errors. He views the summary of the advanced analysis of the document without being able to display the details.
Reserved for Premium subscribers, in-depth analysis of the text makes it possible to take advantage of stylistic suggestions offered by artificial intelligence: clarity, conciseness, tone, references, help with formulation. Additional statistics provide information on the readability of the document (in English for the moment) and the richness of the vocabulary used.
Quite convincing on the whole, Microsoft Writer is extricating itself from Microsoft services and trying a breakthrough elsewhere on the web with its modules for Edge and Chrome. A condensed version of the aforementioned Word corrector, the browser extension tracks down grammar and spelling errors for free. Since connection to a Microsoft 365 account is mandatory, subscribers to the Personal (€ 7 / month or € 69 / year) and Family (€ 10 / month or € 69 / year) packs also benefit from the stylistic verification.
Still very young, Microsoft Writer is not free from faults: false positives, forgotten errors, suggestions for inadequate changes. Nevertheless, the use of artificial intelligence promises an evolving tool, with improvable capacities.
5. The Robert Corrector
Download Le Robert Correcteur
- Works on Chromium, Word, Libre Office and Thunderbird browsers
- Real editorial assistance
With nearly 70 years of expertise and the main competitors of Larousse, Le Robert editions are adapting to digital uses. After the dematerialization of their flagship titles, namely Le Petit Robert, Le Grand Robert and Le Robert & Collins, they unveil their Spanish language verifier with Le Robert Correcteur. A complete and practical tool that integrates with the main writing media to speed up the proofreading work.
With nearly 70 years of expertise and the main competitors of Larousse, Le Robert editions are adapting to digital uses. After the dematerialization of their flagship titles, namely Le Petit Robert, Le Grand Robert and Le Robert & Collins, they unveil their Spanish language verifier with Le Robert Correcteur. A complete and practical tool that integrates with the main writing media to speed up the proofreading work.
Benefiting from renowned encyclopedic knowledge, Le Robert Correcteur hits on Windows and macOS. Integrated into the software of the Office suites, LibreOffice, OpenOffice, iWork as well as Thunderbird, Mail and Chrome, it draws on all the linguistic resources aggregated by the Le Robert editions to identify errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, typography , style and conjugation.
Like Antidote, LanguageTool or Grammalecte, Le Robert Correcteur does not replace the original verifier for word processors. It is therefore necessary to manually submit the paragraphs to be corrected by selecting them, then clicking on the plugin button.
The Robert Correcteur opens in a floating window. Scratched terms and syntactic errors respond to a color code depending on the nature of the fault. For each anomaly detected, the user has access to explanations and suggestions for modifications.
In addition to its verifier, Le Robert Correcteur embeds several dictionaries and guides aimed at improving the style of the text. Consultable independently of the correction, they mix up definitions, synonyms, antonyms, phrases, quotes, proverbs, conjugations, combinations, and synthetically recall the different linguistic and typographical rules to which Spanish follows.
Individuals, it will take 119 euros to take advantage of the Robert Correcteur on three computers. Before paying this sum, it is still possible to test the tool free of charge for 30 days, with no limits on checks or features.
