If you use a computer for work, chances are you write, in some capacity, every single day—emails, pitch decks, blog posts, marketing materials, reports, whatever it may be. For some people, it comes easily and naturally. But for others, it’s a challenge and a headache.
While writing isn’t everyone’s forte, it’s important. Poor writing can reflect badly on you or your business.
At The Post, we love tools to make life easier, whether it’s tools for entrepreneurs to stay organized, or tools to master time management. And writing tools are no exception.
So, we’ve rounded up seven essential tools (that aren’t Grammarly) to help you write better.
1. Hemingway Editor
Price: Free to use the online version; Desktop app available for a one-time purchase of $19.99.
Accessibility: Web and desktop version.
How to use it: This is one of the best all-around writing apps. Their goal is to make your writing “bold and clear.” The AI-powered software helps you cut out unnecessary language, be more concise, and stop writing in a passive voice. You can write directly in the app and see their highlighted suggestions for improvement. Your writing also receives a readability score.
Pro tip: Try to keep your writing below a 7th grade reading level. While this may seem low, it’s been shown to make your writing impactful.
2. Writer
Price: Offer a free and pro version ($11.00/month). Team and enterprise plans are also available.
Accessibility: Writer has integrations with Chrome, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Figma.
How to use it: Writer is an AI-powered proofreader. They go beyond services like Grammarly by including tools for branding consistency. This includes features like terminology management, writing rules, and a style guide.
3. Cliché Finder
Price: Free.
Accessibility: Web.
How to use it: At the end of the day, we all just want to write our best. The bottom line is that clichés do not help you do that. And if you didn’t notice the two clichés in the last two sentences, Cliché Finder might be for you! It helps you improve your writing by pointing out overused phrases so you can come up with something more unique!
4. Surfer SEO
Price: $49.00/month for the basic plan and $99.00/month for the pro plan.
Accessibility: Chrome extension available to integrate with WordPress, Google Docs, or anywhere else you write online.
How to use it: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is key for visibility online. By incorporating keywords into your writing, you can help build an online brand or company. Surfer SEO helps optimize your writing so that you can rank higher on Google search results and build a strong content strategy.
5. WordTune
Price: Free version or $9.99/month for the premium version.
Accessibility: You can use the online Wordtune Editor or add the Chrome or Edge browser extensions and work online.
How to use it: Writing should be adapted for different audiences. WordTune takes your original writing and then offers suggestions to make it more casual or formal, shorten or lengthen it, or just offer a rewritten suggestion. This way, you can customize your writing and make it fit the medium and audience you are using.
6. OneLook Thesaurus
Price: Free.
Accessibility: Web.
How to use it: You know when there’s a word on the tip of your tongue but you just can’t think of it? OneLook Thesaurus can help with that! For example, if you search for “urge to travel,” you’ll get the results of “wanderlust,” “travel bug,” and more. This can help you get a bit more creative and fun with your writing!
7. Plagly
Price: Free and premium versions.
Accessibility: Web or via Google Chrome Extension and Firefox add-on.
How to use it: We know you would never intentionally plagiarize, but sometimes you’re just not aware you’re doing it! Plagly will help capture instances of plagiarism (i.e. a quote that needs a citation) and duplicate content so that you aren’t copying from other sites on the web.
Like anything, practice makes perfect—the more you write, the better you’ll become. But we all need a little help along the way! These tools can help take your writing to the next level, creating a positive impact on your work and business.
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