ProWritingAid ~ The Writing Tool That 'Really' Gets It

I plot my novels in Scrivener and then convert them through a compile into a Word document to finish my editing process. Despite trying everything I searched and read about converting straight quotes to curly quotes for dialogue, I couldn't do it in Scrivener or Word and eventually gave up. And trust me, I tried EVERYTHING. Forums, YouTube tutorials, that one blog post from 2015 that promised it was "super easy" BUT nothing worked.

So, you can imagine my delight when I installed ProWritingAid to help me with editing my final drafts, and it found these issues and then, ProWritingAid automatically started correcting all those pesky straight quotes that I couldn't turn into curly ones!

My frustration with Scrivener and Word might stem from either not knowing where to find the setting, or specific compile settings within Scrivener that override Word's smart quotes. ProWritingAid offers a dedicated "Convert to Curly Quotes" feature, which is very helpful for consistency.

By the way, Scrivener allows smart quote settings under Preferences > Corrections, and Word usually converts straight quotes to curly ones automatically via Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. But did mine work? Nope! Refused. Point blank.

If only I had known about ProWritingAid's cleverness before wasting all that time trying to do it in Scrivener and Word.

But here's the thing... that quote revelation was just the beginning.

(Hold on, confession two is coming)

ProWritingAid has this uncanny ability to call out clumsy phrasing in a way that feels less like criticism and more like having a really smart friend peek over your shoulder. It'll suggest rewrites for awkward sentences that you KNOW sound off, but can't quite figure out why.

For instance, I had written: "The character felt a sense of overwhelming dread wash over her as she approached the ominous-looking building." ProWritingAid basically said, "How about just 'Dread overwhelmed her as she approached the building'?"

Here's an example. I wrote:
ProWritingAid is known for its in-depth stylistic suggestions, going beyond basic grammar to help with flow, conciseness, and impact. The example provided ("Dread overwhelmed her...") is typical of the kind of suggestions ProWritingAid offers to strengthen weak phrasing.

And ProWritingAid suggested:
ProWritingAid offers in-depth stylistic suggestions that go beyond basic grammar to help with flow, conciseness, and impact. The example provided ("Dread overwhelmed her...") is typical of the suggestions ProWritingAid offers to strengthen weak phrasing.

Is one of these sentences better in this example? Perhaps not a make-or-break situation, but it could be in fiction where every word counts.

Unlike other tools that just flag obvious errors, ProWritingAid actually explains WHY something is wrong. Is it a Grammar Snob, Nerd, or Guru?

A key differentiator for ProWritingAid is its detailed explanations for grammatical and stylistic suggestions. I hear it often provides links to articles or internal resources that delve deeper into the specific rule or concept, which is excellent for learning. I'm yet to see that but I'm still a newbie and guess I will encounter many things in the future as I continue exploring.

I've learned more about certain grammatical issues from this software than I can recall in my days of having teachers bash grammar over my head.

The readability reports are simultaneously encouraging and terrifying. ProWritingAid offers various readability scores (Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, etc.) which can indeed be humbling. It identifies complex sentences and paragraphs, helping writers gauge their text's accessibility for different audiences.

Nothing humbles a writer quite like discovering what level your writing reaches.

ProWritingAid flags when you're repeating words or phrases too close together—something I never noticed until it started highlighting my manuscript like a Christmas tree. Turns out I have a habit of using "suddenly" three times in one chapter. Who knew?

ProWritingAid has robust reports for highlighting repeated words, phrases, and even sentence starts, which is a common blind spot for writers. The "suddenly" example could be a classic with thousands, if not millions of writers! Be warned, 'suddenly' will suddenly trip you up!

Every writer has their crutch words. Mine, apparently, are "just," "really," and "that." The overused words report shows exactly which words you're leaning on too heavily in each document. It's like holding up a mirror to your writing habits—sometimes unflattering, but always useful.

I hear that this is one of ProWritingAid's most celebrated features. It identifies crutch words and common intensifiers ("just," "really," "that," "very," "so") that can weaken writing. It helps writers realise their unconscious habits. Like when you're in autopilot mode and scribbling away, not aware of how beautiful or erm... ugly your words are sounding to the reader.

Character names spelled differently, repeated information, formatting inconsistencies. I discovered I'd been calling my antagonist "van Zyl" in some chapters and "Van Zyl" in others. Small detail, but the kind that makes you look sloppy if it slips through.

Consistency Report that flags inconsistencies in spelling (e.g., UK vs. US English), hyphenation, capitalisation, and even character names as described ("van Zyl" vs. "Van Zyl"). This is extremely valuable, especially for longer works, such as a long series you may be writing. This will come in handy when you have lots of characters from different cultures and they all want their names spelt correctly. Who doesn't?

A note here: I had this:
Let's face it, who doesn't?

And ProWritingAid popped up and suggested to only keep the last part of the sentence. It's clearer, cleaner and less cluttered. As writers, we ALL want that - clear, clean and uncluttered prose!

Another note: Scrivener would not allow me to use Van Zyl for my character. No matter what I did, it kept changing the spelling, even though I added it to the dictionary. Maybe one day I will teach Scrivener (as much as love that piece of software too) that I'm the boss of my character's names, not it!

ProWritingAid breaks down your writing patterns—sentence length variety, dialogue balance, paragraph structure. I discovered my action scenes were drowning in long, contemplative sentences while my quiet moments were all short, choppy phrases. Sometimes you need the data to see what you're actually doing versus what you think you're doing.

The science bit: ProWritingAid provides many style reports that analyse sentence length variety, dialogue balance, paragraph structure, and more. My quip about action scenes having long sentences and quiet moments having short ones is a good example of the insights these reports can provide. So, don't overlook the science-y bit, even if you are not into that genre.

ProWritingAid is incredibly thorough. It’s the tool that doesn’t just catch glaring errors—it gently taps you on the shoulder about those sneaky little habits you didn’t even realise were there. For writers new to editing software, this wealth of feedback can feel like a lot at first—but that’s actually part of its strength.

My approach? I let myself write freely in early drafts and save the detailed ProWritingAid reports for the self-editing stage. That’s when I really appreciate the depth of insight it offers—without losing momentum during drafting.

Another note: "Word count" could be misspelled as "wordcount," and there are many similar examples, but ProWritingAid handles these typos.

Occasionally, ProWritingAid flags stylistic choices or character dialogue as errors, even when the voice is authentic.

You still need your writer brain engaged.

No automated writing tool is perfect, and ProWritingAid is no exception. It can sometimes misinterpret context or flag stylistic choices as errors when they are intentional and effective. Writers absolutely need to keep their critical thinking engaged and not blindly accept every suggestion. Especially when it comes to character voice and dialogue.

Ultimately, while ProWritingAid is incredibly insightful, it's a tool, not a replacement for human judgment. There will be times when your writer's instinct tells you to override a suggestion, and trusting that intuition is crucial.

ProWritingAid isn't just a grammar checker—it's like having a writing coach who's brutally honest but genuinely wants you to improve. It catches the technical stuff (hello, curly quotes!), but more importantly, it makes you a more conscious writer.

I've been using it for a few months, and I genuinely (I would say really but decided not to) notice the improvement in my sentence structure and word choice. Not because the software writes for me (oh, how I wish it would take the thoughts in my head and turn them to words on the page), but because it's training me to spot my own weaknesses.

Will it make you a better writer overnight? No. But will it save you from the technical headaches that make you question your word choices? Absolutely.

And honestly, after the Great Curly Quote Disaster of 2025, that alone makes it worth every penny.

Many Devices
On a practical note, I also love how versatile ProWritingAid is. Whether I'm working directly in my desktop app, using the browser extension for quick checks, or running reports on my Word document, it seamlessly fits into my writing workflow. This is a big plus for many writers.

ProWritingAid integrates with Google Docs, Microsoft Word (via plugin), and has a standalone desktop/web editor. This adds more credibility for writers across platforms.

Self-Editing Self-Published Books
It's more than just a tool that fixes things; it's a constant learning experience. ProWritingAid has truly helped me internalise complex grammatical rules and recognise my own writing quirks, making me a much more effective self-editor in the long run.

That's not to say I will replace my human editor. No way! A final edit through my editor is a must but it makes his job easier and quicker by having less mistakes to edit. Possibly even a lower quote than previously? Hope so! And it makes me look like a more accomplished writer. What's not to love?

If you're a serious writer who wants to improve your craft (and avoid embarrassing formatting fails), ProWritingAid is worth the investment. Just be prepared to come face-to-face with your own writing habits. Trust me—it's therapeutic.

Rating: 4.9/5 stars
Okay fine, it’s really a 5. Honestly, this writing software deserves full marks. I’m just not ready to admit how I sometimes write like a breathless teenager. Or that it caught my embarrassing love affair with the word “really.” That kind of insight is equal parts brutal and brilliant. Give me time to really get over my really addiction, and I’ll come clean with a perfect 5.

(Erm… yes, I know how many times I used the word “really.” And no, you’re not allowed to count them. That would be cheating.)

Want to see what ProWritingAid catches in your own writing? Try it for free and see how many “suddenlies” sneak into your prose.

Have you used ProWritingAid? What surprised you most about your writing habits when you started using editing software? In the comments, I'd love to hear about your own technical disasters and how ProWritingAid came to your rescue.