Grammarly
Status:
watch-list| Maturity:production-ready| Last reviewed: 2026-03-04
What it does
Grammarly is a widely-used AI writing assistant that provides grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, and tone suggestions. It integrates with browsers, Microsoft Office, and other writing environments. It is a general-purpose tool not specifically calibrated for academic writing.
Key capabilities
- Grammar, spelling, and punctuation correction
- Clarity and conciseness suggestions
- Tone detection and adjustment
- Plagiarism detection (paid plans)
- Browser and MS Office integration
Fit for Sheffield researchers
Broadly useful for polishing written communication but less specialised than Writefull for scholarly manuscript preparation. Most value for general research communications (reports, emails, admin writing) rather than journal manuscript submission. Researchers should note attribution requirements for any AI writing assistance.
Licensing and access
Freemium model widely used. Institutional plans available. Given the general-purpose nature, Writefull is recommended over Grammarly specifically for academic manuscript writing.
Trust and governance notes
US data residency. GDPR compliance not independently confirmed. Data training policy unclear — research content submitted through Grammarly may be used for model training unless explicitly opted out. Not recommended for unpublished research content until data handling is confirmed.
Observed limitations
- Not trained on academic literature — may give inappropriate suggestions for scholarly writing
- US data residency and unclear training policy are concerns for sensitive research content
- Less suitable for manuscript preparation than Writefull
Related tools
Sources and evidence
- Grammarly product page: https://www.grammarly.com/ (accessed 2026-03-04)