PDFs are widely used for sharing and presenting documents, and it’s crucial to ensure that they are error-free. Grammarly is a popular tool that can help you improve your writing by checking for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and other writing issues. In this article, we’ll explore whether Grammarly can check PDFs for grammar and spelling issues.
Grammarly Features
Grammarly is a widely-used online grammar checker tool that helps users improve their writing skills by identifying and correcting grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. The tool is known for its easy-to-use interface and advanced features, including suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and style.
One question that many users have is whether Grammarly can check PDFs for grammar and spelling issues. Unfortunately, Grammarly does not have a built-in feature to directly check PDF files. However, there are some workarounds to check PDFs with Grammarly.
Converting PDFs to Word for Grammarly Checking
While Grammarly cannot directly check PDF files, one workaround is to convert the PDF file to a Word document, which can then be checked for grammar and spelling errors using Grammarly. Here are the steps to convert a PDF to a Word document:
- Open the PDF file using Adobe Acrobat Reader or any PDF editor of your choice.
- Click on “File” and then “Save As”. Choose “Microsoft Word” as the file format and select the location where you want to save the file.
- Click on “Save” to start the conversion process. Depending on the size of the file, the conversion process may take some time.
Once the PDF file has been converted to a Word document, you can use Grammarly to check for any grammar and spelling errors. Here’s how:
- Open the converted Word document.
- Install the Grammarly extension for Microsoft Word if you haven’t already.
- Click on the “Review” tab in Microsoft Word and then click on “Spelling & Grammar” to start the Grammarly check.
- Grammarly will automatically highlight any errors and suggest corrections. You can choose to accept or reject each suggestion.
It’s worth noting that while this method can be effective, there may be some formatting changes and other issues that can arise from converting a PDF file to a Word document. It’s always a good idea to double-check the converted document for any errors or formatting issues before sending it out.
Another option is to copy and paste the text from the PDF into the Grammarly editor. This method may require some formatting adjustments, but it allows you to use Grammarly’s full suite of tools to check for grammar and spelling issues.
It is important to note that while Grammarly can be a useful tool for checking PDF content, it is not always perfect. The tool may miss some errors or suggest changes that are not necessary, so it is important to use your own judgment when reviewing the suggestions provided by Grammarly.
Limitations of Grammarly’s PDF Checking
While Grammarly is a powerful tool for checking grammar and spelling issues in written content, there are some limitations to its PDF checking capabilities. Here are some limitations to consider when using Grammarly to check PDFs:
1. Types of PDFs that may not work with Grammarly
Grammarly is not designed to handle all types of PDFs, particularly those that contain scanned images of text or handwritten text. This is because Grammarly relies on text recognition technology to analyze the content of a PDF, which is not possible with images or handwriting.
2. Issues with formatting and layout
When converting a PDF to a Word document for use with Grammarly, it is important to keep in mind that the formatting and layout of the original PDF may not be preserved. This can result in issues with the readability and overall appearance of the document. Additionally, if the PDF contains complex tables, charts, or graphics, these may not translate well to a Word document and may need to be recreated manually.
Overall, while Grammarly can be a helpful tool for checking grammar and spelling issues in PDFs, it is important to keep these limitations in mind and to consider alternative tools or methods when dealing with PDFs that may not work well with Grammarly.
Alternatives to Grammarly for Checking PDFs
While Grammarly is a popular grammar and spelling checker tool, it does not have a built-in feature for checking PDFs. However, there are other tools available that can help check grammar and spelling in PDFs.
1. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is a software that allows users to create, edit, and manage PDF documents. It also has a feature that allows users to check for spelling and grammatical errors. This feature is called “Edit PDF” and can be found under the “Tools” tab.
Pros:
- Robust PDF editing capabilities
- Built-in spellcheck and grammar checker
- Integration with other Adobe products
Cons:
- High cost for a single user license
- Steep learning curve for beginners
2. ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid is a writing tool that offers a variety of features, including grammar and spelling checks. It also offers a “Desktop App” that allows users to edit offline documents, including PDFs.
Pros:
- Comprehensive grammar and spelling checks
- In-app editing of PDFs
- Integrates with popular writing software like Microsoft Word and Google Docs
Cons:
- Limited features in the free version
- Desktop App is only available for Windows
3. Ginger Software
Ginger Software is a writing tool that offers grammar and spelling checks, as well as a “Sentence Rephraser” feature that suggests alternative sentence structures. It also has a feature called “Ginger Page” that allows users to import and edit PDFs.
Pros:
- Sentence Rephraser can help improve writing style
- In-app editing of PDFs
- Offers a free browser extension
Cons:
- Limited features in the free version
- Premium version is relatively expensive compared to other options
