Using Microsoft Editor to check Grammar and correct mistakes in documents
The consistency and quality of your writing can take a hit and most likely frustrate readers when complex or abstract words are used unnecessarily. Such an arrangement of words can never convey the desired meaning. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, added enhanced cloud functionality can help you produce better results. This is where the role of Microsoft Editor join the game.
How to use Microsoft Editor
Microsoft Editor helps you improve your writing in Word and Outlook for the Web by identifying words and phrases that may need more attention. The tool acts as your smart writing assistant by analyzing the text as you type and suggesting changes whenever it encounters misspelled words or places where improved syntax is needed.
If you use the Microsoft 365 Personal and Home subscription, you have access to advanced grammar and style improvements. It includes clarity, conciseness, formal language, vocabulary suggestions and much more. There are three ways to access Microsoft Editor
- Microsoft Office Documents (Word on the Web and the Office)
- Outlook .com and Outlook Client for Emails
- Everywhere else thanks to a browser extension.
You can use Microsoft Editor as:
- Browser plugin
- Microsoft Word add-in
So whether you’re writing a Word document, writing an email, or posting to a website like LinkedIn or Facebook, you can benefit from the Microsoft Editor utility. An important feature of Microsoft Editor is that it can communicate clearly in more than 20 languages. Each language and each market is unique. As such, Microsoft offers suggestions for each language in partnership with native speakers and local linguists.
1]Microsoft Editor as browser plugin
The Editor browser extension checks for grammar and spelling errors. It also makes suggestions for refining your writing, such as addressing the passive voice or verbosity.
Before installing Microsoft Editor as a browser extension, we recommend that you disable other grammar checking extensions. This will help the editor to function better! So go to your browser extension settings and disable other browser extensions that check spelling and grammar.
In Edge, choose “Settings and more“(Three points), then”Extensions“
For Chrome, go to the three dots “Customize and control Google Chrome“Then”Settings’>‘Extensions“
Once done, go ahead and add Microsoft Editor as an extension on Edge or Chromium. You can easily get it from the browser’s App Store.
Once added, a grayed-out editor icon is added to the browser toolbar. Click the icon and sign in with the account you use for Office, or sign in with your free Microsoft account.
When you choose to sign in with a free Microsoft account, the editor limits you to solving only basic spelling and grammar problems. Improvements and advanced grammar checking features are only enabled when you sign in to the Publisher with your Office 365 or Microsoft 365 subscription account.
“Settings“Lets you choose what the publisher is looking for and you can turn off the publisher for websites you don’t want to be served on.
2]Microsoft Editor Word add-in
Once you have installed the Microsoft Editor Word add-in, it will be added to the ribbon menu and will be easily visible under “Home’From the app.
Start writing. If the tool encounters errors, it will report them. For example, the editor flags,
- Spelling errors with red wavy underlines
- Grammar errors with double blue and solid underlining
- Style issues with purple dashes
Click on an underlined word to see a list of suggested revisions.
In case you need further assistance, simply open the Editor pane by clicking on the pen icon in the ribbon. The editor will quickly analyze your writing and provide you with statistics on
- Readability
- Use of separate words
- The time required to read the document
Microsoft Editor promises to further improve its usefulness by introducing more important features in the future. These included,
Similarity checker
It is both difficult and time consuming for each writer to verify and quote correctly, due to the enormous amount of reference material. Understanding this, a feature called ‘Similarity checker“In the editor will help users identify potentially non-original content and make it easier to insert relevant citations only. We will likely see this functionality in the coming months in Word for the Web.
Rewrite suggestions
Rewrite suggestions will make it easier for Microsoft Editor users to optimize their writing for smoothness, conciseness or readability. We already covered this feature in detail in our previous article – How to use rewrite suggestions. However, the functionality is limited to Word for the Web application only.
The last words
During our use, we have found that Microsoft Editor will not only quickly detect errors, but will also help you write with confidence.