Grammar check or paraphrase? When to use each
Use a grammar checker to fix problems with spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. Use paraphrasing when you want to express the same idea more clearly or change how a sentence sounds.
Compare two edits to the same sentence
- Original — “The report include three recomendations, and the team will review it on Friday.”
- Grammar correction — “The report includes three recommendations, and the team will review it on Friday.”
- Paraphrase — “On Friday, the team will review the report, which includes three recommendations.”
The grammar correction fixes agreement and spelling while keeping the sentence’s structure. The paraphrase moves the date to the start and combines the two ideas. Both retain the team, the number of recommendations, and the review date.
Choose the edit your draft needs
- Check grammar if the wording already works and you want to catch mistakes before sharing it.
- Paraphrase a sentence if the grammar is correct and the wording still feels unclear, repetitive, or too formal for the reader.
- If you need both, revise the unclear sentence first, compare it with the original, then run a grammar check on the final draft.
Read both versions before accepting a change. Pay particular attention to negation, names, and words like “may” or “must” that change the strength of a claim.