AI proofreaders can catch typos, untangle long sentences and flag passages that may need a citation in minutes. Used the wrong way, they can also get you into an academic-integrity meeting. This guide shows how to use tools like Grammarly, QuillBot and ProWritingAid to polish an essay that is still your own work.
Write every argument and paragraph yourself before opening any AI tool. Editing a draft you wrote is very different from asking AI to write one.
Policies vary by course: some ban paraphrasers or generative AI while allowing grammar checks. If the syllabus is unclear, email your instructor and keep the reply.
Accept fixes one at a time so you understand each change. Reject suggestions that change your meaning or your subject's technical terms.
Use a readability tool or your checker's clarity suggestions to spot long, wordy or passive sentences. Rewrite the flagged sentences in your own words instead of pasting in AI rewrites.
Grammar checkers can't confirm that a source says what you claim or that your formatting matches the style guide. Compare each citation against the official APA, MLA or Chicago guide and against the source itself.
Reading aloud catches awkward phrasing that software misses. Keep your Google Docs or Word version history in case anyone asks how your essay was written.
Best for: an all-round grammar, clarity and tone check
Grammarly's free plan checks spelling, grammar and tone and includes 100 AI prompts a month, and it works in your browser, Google Docs, Word and many learning platforms. Grammarly Pro costs $12/month billed annually ($144/year) or $30 month-to-month and adds full-sentence rewrites, a plagiarism checker and more AI prompts. Its Authorship feature can record how a document was written, which can help show your work is your own — Grammarly says basic Authorship tracking is available to all users.
Why students use it:
Grammarly is our top pick for proofreading because its free plan covers the basics and it works where you already write, but no AI tool replaces your own final read-through. Follow your instructor's AI policy.
Best for: a budget grammar check and free AI detector
QuillBot includes a grammar checker, paraphraser, summarizer, citation generator, plagiarism checker and an AI detector that is free for everyone. The free plan limits the paraphraser to 125 words in 2 modes. QuillBot Premium costs $19.95/month or $99.95/year ($8.33/month) and adds unlimited paraphrasing, more modes and plagiarism checking, and verified students can get up to 25% off through Student Beans.
Why students use it:
Best for: in-depth style reports on long papers
ProWritingAid goes beyond grammar with detailed reports on style, readability, repetition and sentence structure, which is useful for long papers and theses. The free plan checks up to 500 words at a time. Premium costs $30/month, $120/year or $399 for a lifetime license, and Premium Pro costs $36/month, $144/year or $699 lifetime.
Why students use it:
Best for: students who already use Word through school
Microsoft Editor is built into Word and checks spelling and grammar, with more advanced refinements on Microsoft 365 subscriptions (Personal is $9.99/month or $99.99/year). Many students can get Office 365 A1, including Word on the web, free with an eligible school email. It also includes a Similarity checker that flags text matching online sources so you can cite it.
Why students use it:
Best for: a clarity and concision pass
Hemingway highlights long sentences, adverbs, passive voice and complex words so you can tighten your writing yourself. The desktop app is a one-time $19.99 purchase with no AI features, and Hemingway Editor Plus adds AI rewrites for $10/month or $100/year.
Why students use it:
Using AI to check grammar and spelling is usually allowed, but using it to rewrite or generate your essay often isn't. Check your syllabus, disclose AI use where required, and make sure the final essay reflects your own ideas and words.
Choosing between proofreading and tutoring? Read our Grammarly vs ChatGPT for students.
Choosing a proofreading tool? Read our Grammarly vs ProWritingAid for students.
Proofreading by ear? Compare Speechify vs NaturalReader for students.