Akash Mitra

Akash Mitra

How to use Grammarly as a PhD student/Researcher

As a PhD research student, you are expected to produce high-quality academic writing that meets the standards of your discipline. This can be daunting, especially if you are not a native English speaker or struggle with grammar and punctuation. Fortunately, there is a tool that can help you improve your writing and streamline your workflow: Grammarly.

Grammarly is a writing assistant that uses advanced algorithms to check your text for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. It also provides suggestions for improving your writing style, word choice, and clarity. Let’s dive deep into how you can use Grammarly to improve your academic writing as a PhD research student.

Install Grammarly

The first step is to install Grammarly on your computer or device. You can download the desktop app, use the browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, or use the web-based editor. Once you have installed Grammarly, you can create a free account or upgrade to a premium account for additional features.

Upload your text

To use Grammarly, you need to upload your text to the editor. You can copy and paste your text, upload a file, or use the Grammarly browser extension to check your writing as you type. Once you have uploaded your text, Grammarly will scan it for errors and provide suggestions for improvement.

Check for grammar and punctuation errors

Grammarly’s primary function is to check for grammar and punctuation errors in your writing. It uses a sophisticated algorithm that analyzes and compares your text to standard grammar rules. Grammarly will highlight any errors and provide suggestions for correcting them. You can accept or reject these suggestions or ignore them if you believe they are incorrect.

Improve your writing style

Grammarly can also help you improve your writing style. It will suggest using more concise and clear language, avoiding repetitive phrases, and using more varied sentence structures. You can use these suggestions to make your writing more engaging and easier to read.

Use the plagiarism checker

As a PhD research student, avoiding plagiarism in your writing is essential. Grammarly offers a plagiarism checker that scans and compares your text to a database of millions of web pages and academic papers. It will highlight the text and provide a link to the source if it detects any potential plagiarism. This can help you avoid unintentional plagiarism and ensure the integrity of your research.

Use the citation tool

Grammarly also offers a citation tool to help you create accurate citations and references. It supports various citation styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago. You can enter the details of your source, and Grammarly will generate a citation that you can copy and paste into your paper or bibliography.

Customize your settings

Grammarly allows you to customize your settings to suit your writing style and preferences. You can adjust the tone, formality, domain of your writing, and the type of feedback you receive. For example, you can obtain clarity, engagement, correctness, or delivery feedback.

Final wrap

In conclusion, Grammarly is a powerful tool to help you improve your academic writing as a PhD research student. It can save you time and energy by checking for grammar and punctuation errors, improving your writing style, and helping you avoid plagiarism. By using Grammarly regularly, you can ensure that your writing meets the highest standards of your discipline and communicate your research effectively.