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How to Use Hemingway Editor Efficiently

• 6-minute read
• 3rd October 2023

Hemingway Editor is an AI writing tool designed to help improve the clarity and readability of written content. It’s named after author Ernest Hemingway, known for his concise, straightforward writing style. In this post, we’ll show you how to make the most of Hemingway Editor and how you can use it to streamline your content production process. We’ll discuss:

• What Hemingway Editor is.
• What its most useful features are.
• How to use Hemingway Editor efficiently.

What Is Hemingway Editor?

Hemingway Editor is an online application that uses AI technology, for example, natural language processing and text analysis techniques, to evaluate a text using a color-coded highlighting system that targets different areas to make suggestions on how to improve quality. It primarily focuses on readability, passive voice, sentence complexity, and word choice in its assessment – and can even provide real-time feedback to users as they edit their text. 

After you enter your text in Hemingway Editor, the app also analyzes it using an algorithm called the Automated Readability Index , which determines the “readability” of your writing. In other words, it evaluates how clear and easy to understand your writing is. It then assigns a “grade level” to your writing – however, a low grade doesn’t necessarily mean the writing is poor and vice versa. It simply gives you an idea of the audience your content is most likely to reach. Hemingway has two modes: write and edit. The write mode provides a distraction-free writing space, and switching to editing mode allows you to view Hemingway’s highlighted recommendations. 

Hemingway also includes a toolbar that allows you to apply formatting elements to your text, such as bolding, italics, bullets, hyperlinks, and heading styles.

What Hemingway Editor Does

Hemingway’s readability assessment and suggestions focus on a range of common issues, including the following.

Adverb Overuse

Hemingway suggests limiting adverbs (e.g., softly , gracefully , quickly ) because too many can weaken your writing. The app highlights adverbs in blue so you can review them and potentially replace them with stronger, more vivid word or phrase choices. For example, if Hemingway highlights speaking softly in blue and suggests you omit the adverb or use a more forceful word, you may want to replace the phrase with whispering to make your writing more impactful. 

Sentence Clarity

It’s usually best to use plain language in your content to ensure you reach a wide audience. Simpler, more straightforward language better conveys your message and helps you meet your content goals. Hemingway pinpoints overly complex words and phrases by highlighting them in purple and showing you alternatives that are easier to understand. For example, it might highlight utilize and suggest the simpler synonym use as a replacement.

Hemingway also uses yellow highlighting on sentences that may be difficult to read and red highlighting on particularly dense, complex sentences. If you see these, consider breaking up the sentence or reworking it entirely. 

Passive Voice Overuse

In passive voice sentences, the focus is on the action itself, not the doer of the action (e.g., Dinner was made by the chef .) The active voice focuses on the subject of the sentence (e.g., The chef made dinner .) Too much passive voice can make you sound uncertain or indecisive. It’s not always easy to identify the passive voice, especially in your own writing. Therefore, Hemingway highlights instances in green so you can consider changing them to the active voice. It also gives you a suggested number of passive voice sentences below which to stay in your writing. 

Hemingway Editor provides you with a lot of information about your writing – but how can you make the most of it to improve the quality of your work ? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when using Hemingway:

• Write First, Edit Later : Start by writing your content before having Hemingway assess any of your work. The highlighted suggestions can be distracting as you write, so get all your ideas on paper before worrying about refining and editing your work. 
• Experiment and Revise : The suggestions that Hemingway provides are just that – suggestions. Experiment with different sentence structures and word choices to see what sounds best before deciding what to keep. 
• Read Out Loud : After implementing Hemingway’s suggestions, try reading your writing out loud to get a feel for what works. 
• Use the Formatting Tools : Use the formatting tools included in Hemingway Editor to apply features such as headings and font styles to your content. Doing this allows you to see an example of what the finished product will look like.
• Consider the Desktop Version : Hemingway Editor is available as a free online site and a paid desktop app . The desktop version has more features and allows you to work offline and import text from Microsoft Word files.
• Learn From the Suggestions : Pay attention to the suggestions that Hemingway makes for your content. Over time, you’ll know how to identify and correct common writing issues.

Keep in mind that although Hemingway Editor can be a valuable tool, “breaking the rules” or rejecting its suggestions may sometimes be appropriate. Using your judgment and considering the context of your content and the tone you want to convey are always best. For example, Hemingway may not pick up certain creative or humorous stylistic elements, so consider it a complement to your writing and look at all the relevant factors before accepting a suggestion.

Proofread Your Content

Unlike some other AI-powered writing tools, Hemingway Editor will not proofread your content. Its main objective is editing – targeting ways you can improve sentence structure, clarity, and concision so that your content better conveys your message. Therefore, you will still have to manually proofread your writing after Hemingway has completed its assessment. Proofread only after you’ve finished editing your content and implementing all the suggestions from Hemingway. When proofreading, check for surface-level issues, such as:

• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors
• Capitalization issues
• Style guide elements
• Correct subject–verb agreement
• Tense inconsistencies

A thorough proofread is always necessary after an edit, even if you proofread your content before importing it to Hemingway. The last thing you want is for distracting errors to detract from your content’s objective after all your hard work!

If you’re using Hemingway Editor or another AI writing tool for your business’s content, Proofed’s business services can help ensure everything you publish reaches your target audience and stands out from the competition. Schedule a call and get started today! 

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Home » Blog » Content Creation » Hemingway Editor: How to Quickly Increase Content Readability

Hemingway Editor: How to Quickly Increase Content Readability

*This article was last updated on 20/10/2023

Content readability has become more critical than ever. With so much information available, readers often skim through content. One tool that has gained traction among writers is the Hemingway Editor. 

This digital tool analyzes your content’s readability and offers actionable suggestions to make it more reader-friendly. It helps writers craft easily digestible pieces.

Hemingway Editor Features and User Interface

The Hemingway Editor offers a user-friendly, uncluttered interface that’s even for less tech-savvy people. 

Some of its standout features include:

Color-Coding System: As you input text, the editor highlights sentences and phrases in different colors based on potential issues, such as length, complexity, and passive voice.

Readability Grade Level: It provides an estimated U.S. school grade level required to understand the text, allowing writers to target their content to a specific audience.

Word Count and Reading Time: Writers can see at a glance how long their content is and estimate how long it might take a reader to go through it.

Formatting Tools: Basic formatting options like headers, bold, and italics are available to structure the content.

Direct Feedback: Beyond highlighting potential issues, Hemingway offers suggestions for improvement, such as simpler word alternatives or sentence restructuring.

The Color-coding System Explained

The Hemingway Editor’s most striking feature is its vivid color-coding system, which instantly communicates areas of concern in your text. Here’s what each color signifies:

• Yellow : Sentences that are highlighted in yellow are complex to read. They may be too long or structurally complex. Consider breaking them down or simplifying them.
• Red : If a sentence is marked in red, it’s tough to read. It’s advisable to rephrase or split these sentences for better clarity.
• Purple : Words that appear in purple have simpler alternatives. Hovering over them will often provide a suggestion for a more common word.
• Blue : Indicates the use of adverbs or weakening phrases. While not always bad, whether they can be omitted or replaced for more robust, direct language is worth considering.
• Green : Sentences in green use passive voice. Though passive voice has its place, active voice often makes your writing more precise and direct.

Understanding The Grade Level Ratings

The Hemingway Editor provides a grade level for the readability of your text, calculated based on sentence length and word complexity. This grade refers to the U.S. school grade a person would typically be in to understand the text comfortably. For instance:

• If your content gets a grade of 8, an eighth-grader (or anyone above that educational level) can comprehend it.
• A lower grade doesn’t mean the content is “dumbed down”; instead, it indicates wider accessibility.

Understanding this grade helps writers tailor their content to their target audience, ensuring messages are effectively received.

How Word Count, Reading Time, and Letter Count Help

These metrics give writers an immediate overview of the length and depth of their content:

• Word Count: Displays the total number of words in the text.
• Reading Time: It estimates the average reader’s time to review the content. This is particularly useful for online content with short reader attention spans.
• Letter Count: Offers a count of the total characters used. This can be handy for platforms with character limits or for SEO considerations.

How to Use The Hemingway Editor

Now that you know what Hemingway offers let’s break down its use into a simplified process structure. (i.e., This is how to use Hemingway).

1. Copy and Paste Your Content in Hemingway

Copy your content from your primary writing platform (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs) and paste it into the Hemingway Editor. This will provide an immediate overview of potential areas for improvement.

2. Address Red and Yellow Highlights First

These colors typically indicate hard-to-read sentences. Consider the following:

• Break up long sentences: Often, dividing a lengthy sentence into two or more shorter sentences can enhance clarity.
• Rephrase: Sometimes, rewording a complex sentence structure can make the content more digestible.

3. Tackle Adverbs and Weakening Phrases

Blue highlights suggest that you might be using too many adverbs or weakening phrases. To address these:

• Replace adverbs: Try using stronger verbs instead. For instance, instead of “ran quickly,” you might use “sprinted.”
• Remove unnecessary qualifiers: Phrases like “probably,” “somewhat,” or “just” can often be removed without changing the message.

4. Shift from Passive to Active Voice

Green highlights denote the use of passive voice. While not always inappropriate, an active voice is typically more unmistakable. For example:

Change “The ball was thrown by him” to “He threw the ball.”

5. Simplify Language with Hemingway’s Suggestions

Purple highlights offer simpler alternatives to complex or less-common words. Hover over these highlights to see Hemingway’s suggestions:

• Replace “utilize” with “use.”
• Swap “commence” for “start.”

6. Aim for Your Target Readability Grade

Hemingway provides a grade level based on the readability of your content. If your audience is general, aim for a lower grade to ensure wider accessibility. Adjust sentence length and word choice until you hit your target grade.

7. Use Formatting Tools

Your content structure can significantly influence readability:

• Break up text: Segment information using headers, bullet points, and paragraphs.
• Emphasize key points: Utilize bold or italics to draw attention to essential information.

8. Double-Check After Editing

Once you’ve made changes in Hemingway, copy the revised content into your primary writing platform. Then, reread it to ensure the flow and coherence remain intact.

The more you use Hemingway, the more you’ll begin to internalize its guidance. Over time, strive to naturally adopt clearer writing habits, reducing your dependency on post-writing edits.

Tips for Using Hemingway Editor Effectively

Before diving into Hemingway, starting with a rough draft of your content is beneficial. This lets you get your thoughts down without being immediately influenced or potentially discouraged by the editor’s feedback. 

Once your ideas are in place, Hemingway can help refine and polish them.

Pay Attention to Recommendations, Not Rules

While Hemingway’s feedback is invaluable, it’s essential to remember that its suggestions are just that—suggestions. Every piece of writing has its unique voice and tone, and sometimes, it’s okay to have a complex sentence or an adverb if it fits your narrative’s intent.

Use Hemingway in Tandem with Other Tools

Hemingway Editor enhances readability but is not the only tool in a writer’s arsenal. Pairing it with other grammar and style checkers, like Grammarly or ProWritingAid , can ensure your content is grammatically sound.

Find a Balance Between Readability and Style

While clear and concise writing is crucial, maintaining your unique voice and style is equally vital. Use Hemingway as a guide, not a strict teacher. 

If a sentence is highlighted as “hard to read,” but you feel it’s crucial for your piece’s tone or style, it’s okay to keep it. Aim for a balance between Hemingway’s recommendations and your stylistic choices.

Revisit Your Work After Initial Edits

After making changes based on Hemingway’s feedback, take a break, then revisit your content. Reading it with fresh eyes will help you see if the edits maintain the flow and coherence of your message.

Why Content Readability is Important

Readability refers to the ease with which a reader can understand written text. It’s not merely about using simple words; it encompasses sentence structure, complexity, length, and flow. 

High readability ensures the intended audience can quickly grasp the information or message, leading to better comprehension and engagement.

Factors that Influence Content Readability

Several factors play into how readable a piece of content is:

• Sentence Length: Shorter sentences are typically easier to understand than longer ones.
• Complexity: Using straightforward vocabulary and avoiding jargon can make a text more accessible.
• Word Choice: Opting for simple, familiar words can enhance clarity.
• Paragraph Structure: Breaking up large chunks of text can make it more digestible for readers.
• Subheadings: These guide readers through the text and highlight key points.

Final Thoughts

Inspired by one of literature’s most influential figures, the Hemingway Editor emerges as a beacon for those seeking clarity and precision in their writing. It’s an indispensable asset for writers of all calibers. 

From bloggers and novelists to technical writers and marketers, embracing Hemingway’s principles can transform content from merely readable to genuinely impactful. As with any tool, its power lies in how it’s used. 

By integrating Hemingway’s insights thoughtfully and recognizing its role as a guide—not an absolute authority—you can ensure your unique voice shines through, resonating deeply with readers.

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What's the Hemingway Editor All About?

Readability grade levels, write and edit modes, words that can be simpler, passive voice.

• What formatting can I do?

Keyboard Shortcuts

• But What If I Want To Break The Rules?

Does buying the desktop version give me access to updates?

I bought the desktop app but i need the link to download it again, can i get a copy of my receipt, when i double-click a hemingway file, it opens to a blank page, how do i paste into microsoft word or elsewhere without the hemingway highlights, how do i copy and paste in hemingway, hemingway is running slowly, what do i do, can i install hemingway on my mac and my pc, can i get a refund, is hemingway a subscription, need more help contact us., how to use hemingway.

Hemingway makes your writing bold and clear. It's like a spellchecker, but for style. It makes sure that your reader will focus on your message, not your prose.

Too often, our words are like our thoughts — innumerable and disorganized. Almost any bit of writing could use some cutting. Less is more, etc.

So, the Hemingway Editor will highlight (in yellow and red) where your writing is too dense. Try removing needless words or splitting the sentence into two. Your readers will thank you.

Hemingway builds on the innovations of researchers of a field called “Readability.” These researchers study how understandable a piece of writing is. Part of that work involves trying to decide which U.S. grade level is required to understand your text.

Hemingway judges the “grade level” of your text using the Automated Readability Index. It's a reliable algorithm used since the days of electronic typewriters.

Now, when we say “grade level,” we aren't saying that's who you're writing for. In fact, Ernest Hemingway's work scores as low 5th grade, despite his adult audience. What our measurement actually gauges is the lowest education needed to understand your prose. Studies have shown the average American reads at a tenth-grade level — so that's a good target.

Writing that scores at a 15th grade level is not better than writing at an 8th grade level. In fact, a high grade level often means it is confusing and tedious for any reader. Worse, it's likely filled with jargon. After all, unless you're writing a textbook (and even then) you don't want it to sound like a textbook.

To help you notice sentences that are difficult to read, Hemingway highlights them in yellow. For the most difficult sentences, it uses a red highlight. Don't fret if your text lights up like a Christmas tree, though. With just a few changes, you can get your writing ready for even the toughest critics.

Begin your document by clicking the "Write" button. This will fade out the editing tools, transferring Hemingway into distraction-free writing mode. Here, you can work out your first draft free from our highlighting.

Once you're finished, click "Edit" to transition back to editing mode. Now you can make changes with real-time Hemingway feedback. Tighten up your prose, clear the highlights, and then share your work with the masses.

Adverbs are like verbs' kryptonite (for non-nerds, they weaken them.) Instead of these verbal atrocities, switch over to a more powerful verb. For instance, instead of saying that someone is “walking slowly” you can say they “tip-toed” or they “crept.” That way, your writing is more vivid.

To help you cut the adverb scourge from your work, Hemingway highlights them in blue.

One of the best ways to make your writing easier on readers is by eliminating words that are too complicated. While many people “utilize” big words to sound more educated, you should “use” more common synonyms if they exist. If you don't believe me, just take Papa's word for it:

“Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He thinks I don't know the ten-dollar words. I know them all right. But there are older and simpler and better words, and those are the ones I use.”

If your “objective” is to make your writing less verbose, you can reach your “goal” by checking our purple highlights. Mouse over those little bits of pomposity and we'll give you a better alternative.

When it comes to writing, confidence is key. AND YOU DON'T GET IT FROM WRITING IN ALL CAPS. Instead, removing passive voice can give your writing James Bond levels of swagger. Ensure that the subject of your sentence is doing the action, not being acted upon. For instance, “John threw a ball” is better than “the ball was thrown by John.” The first one has classic elegance; the second sounds like a Jeopardy clue.

While passive voice can deflate your writing, it can also hide deep within. To help you smoke it out, Hemingway highlights every instance in green.

Text Formatting

Hemingway comes equipped with a utility belt of formatting goodies. When you click on your writing, you'll see a formatting bar appear at the top.

You can bold, italicize, bulletize, numberize(?), and even turn your a highlighted bit of text into a link. You can also turn paragraphs into different heading sizes.

There are several paragraph styles you can apply, which correspond to their HTML equivalents:

• P: A standard paragraph.
• H1: The largest heading. Used for document titles.
• H2: The second-largest heading. Used for major sections.
• H3: The smallest heading. Used for minor sections.

Yup, we've got 'em.

• Cmd/Ctrl + J : Toggle between Write and Edit mode
• Cmd/Ctrl + L : Toggle on/off the right sidebar
• Cmd/Ctrl + K : Insert a link
• Cmd/Ctrl + [ : Outdent a bulleted paragraph
• Cmd/Ctrl + ] : Indent a bulleted paragraph

But what if I want to break the rules?

Rules are meant to be broken. If you know what you're doing, don't let us stop you. View our suggestions as just that.

But, don't think you're above sloppy sentences. They happen to all of us, and a helpful nudge can be all we need to get it right.

Hemingway Desktop Questions

We've always made Hemingway available for free via the web. If you buy the desktop version, you also get free upgrades whenever we release a new version.

Your order receipt will give you access to download the app again. Check your email for your receipt.

If you can't log in to Gumroad, email us and we'll handle it. Make sure you let us know the email address you typed in when purchasing.

We use Gumroad for our checkout process. You should have received an email receipt from them when you purchased. Search your inbox for messages from @gumroad.com

If you can't find it, email us and we'll handle it. Make sure you let us know the email address you typed in when purchasing.

If you're opening by double-clicking, try opening the Hemingway App first and using the File > Open menu to open the file.

By default, most computers will copy all the formatting when you copy and paste text from one app to another. To fix this, paste by going to the Edit menu in the other program, and choose "Paste and Match Style."

You can copy and paste via the Edit menu, or by using keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl + C for copy, Ctrl + V for paste). If you're on Mac, Command + C to copy, Command + V to paste.

While Hemingway doesn't have a hard limit of how much text it can edit at one time, we have seen some computers run into trouble with very large amounts. In these cases, we recommend breaking up your work and editing one chapter at a time.

Each license of the Hemingway Editor is limited to the operating system you purchased it for. Unfortunately, we don't have a method available to switch licenses, so you will need to purchase Hemingway for both operating systems to use it twice.

No problem. Email us and we'll handle it. Make sure you let us know the email address you typed in when purchasing.

Nope, Hemingway is a one-time purchase. There are no recurring fees.

Send us an email and we'll do our best to help as soon as we can.

Tech Tools for Writers

Write smarter

Hemingway Editor: A Proofreading Tool for Writers

Updated May 30, 2023

Proofreading tools are an easy way to help you see and fix potential problem areas in your writing. For years I’ve been using the Hemingway Editor  created by Adam and Ben Long. It’s a standalone program that costs $20 US, and you can download it to a PC or a Mac computer. You can also try the free online version . It’s most helpful if your aim is to make your writing clear.

How it Works

The Hemingway Editor highlights common problems that can get in the way of clear writing:

• Complex words or phrases
• Extra-long sentences
• Long sentences
• Too many adverbs
• Too many instances of passive voice

It colour codes each potential error type, so you can address them one at a time. You can see an explanation of each error type here .

The app won’t tell you

• how to fix long sentences (shorten them),
• what to do with adverbs (delete most of them), or
• how to handle too many instances of passive voice (rewrite the sentence in the active voice—sometimes), but…

…it will suggest simple words for complex ones.

The Hemingway Editor (and other revision tools like it), will give you something to correct in your first draft, just minutes after you’ve written it. This makes it a terrific tool for on-demand writing with tight deadlines.

Quick Steps

To use the Hemingway Editor, copy your text from your word processor and paste it into the text editor. Click on the Edit view to see areas that may need your attention.

Alternatively, you can write right in the app, in the Write view.

You can make corrections in the Hemingway Editor, and copy and paste your corrected text back into your word processor. Or, you can go back to your original text in your word processor and make changes there.

The newest version of Hemingway (2.0) will now allow you to add headings and paragraph styles, and if you decide to save the file as a Word doc, the heading and paragraph styles will show up in Word. You can also export your file in markdown .

Note: I use the PC version of the Hemingway Editor, and I’ve found that it works well for short texts, such as articles, newsletters, and blog posts.

Keep in mind, the Hemingway Editor is a simple text editor with proofreading features. Hyperlinks, bulleted lists, and images will not transfer as-is. You will lose some of the formatting.

The Hemingway Editor is an excellent tool, especially for the price (you can’t beat the free version!).

If you don’t want to use a separate program to revise your writing, and you already use Microsoft Word for editing and proofreading, try some of the revision macros on this blog. They’re free, and so is the 20-Minute macro course that will teach you how to use them.

Image by Thor

20 thoughts on “Hemingway Editor: A Proofreading Tool for Writers”

There’s now a Chrome Extension that’s very similar to Hemingway and lets you use it in Gmail, WordPress, etc

Thanks, Dan. I will check that out!

The Hemingway app is great and the chrome Orwell App is even better because it’s embedded in the browser. This makes editing WordPress articles much easier.

I have been using Grammarly, and will compare the two, over the course of a couple weeks.

I’d love to hear what you think about Grammarly and the Orwell app, Dmitri. I recently removed the Orwell app from my browser because I found that it wanted to edit my wriing when I wasn’t quite ready to edit (I work better if I can keep drafting and editing as separate processes). Perhaps I should have a look again.

This app can also be used online for free (a good way to try before you buy). The price for the downloadable desktop version has gone up to $9.99 (US), though.

Iggy, An online try-before-you-buy feature. Fabulous! Adam and Ben Long have been busy. I’ve changed the price in the post. Thanks for the update!

Thank you for sharing this wonderful article! Four years ago I also left my job as a marketing manager in Sydney to do something I’d always dreamed of: writing and editing romance novels full time. Anyways, here are also my 8 best tips and tricks for those wanting to follow a similar path http://catehogan.com/tools_for_writers/

That’s a nice list of free tools for writers, Cate. Thanks for sharing!

The Hemingway Editor is certainly one of the best writing tools in the market. You want your writing to be more prolific and accurate, it’s one of the best platforms available to help you in that.

Years of extensive personal use indicate that Hemingway Editor is effective in conditioning the brain when it comes to problematic adverbs and phrases. Writing becomes easier and automatic.

What a gift to writers!

I’m a developmental editor, so I’ve had the privilege of working with lots of writers. I do recommend that writers try Hemingway, to see what they can learn about their writing. I found that it’s a wonderful teaching tool.

Hemingway hasn’t been around all that long, but writing feedback has. So whether you use a writing tool, and/or work with a editor, feedback can most definitely lead to writing growth!

My only problem is how it demands I write somewhere below Grade 10. I tried to use it for my writing class but I was reprimanded because I was supposed to write in college level. Many of my words were dumb down.

It’s actually a good app when I’m writing for my story.

I see where you’re coming from. Keep in mind that good writing is clear writing. And if you can find a simpler way to say something, that’s better for the reader. So, who’s your reader?

When writing for an academic environment, the key is to know your reader. Is it a prof? Students in your discipline? Then go ahead and use the terminology of your discipline because your readers will understand that. (In fact, your prof may be assessing your ability to use the vocabulary of your discipline). Depending on your audience, it doesn’t always make sense to use the vocabulary that Hemingway suggests.

As with any writing tool, it’s important to use your judgement. For academic writing, Hemingway shines at helping you break up long sentences and reduce the use of unnecessary words and passive voice, so your writing is clear and easy to understand. Any prof should appreciate that.

I recently came across the Hemingway Editor and am giving it a try on my newest novel. I decided to check online to see what others thought of the tool. This is how I happened upon your article. Thank you for the detail. One extra bit of information that I ran across that I thought I would share is the program Ginger. It is similar to Grammarly, but in my opinion superior because it’s free version can run on Word so you can make changes right on your document. Or, maybe I am just using Grammarly wrong. In any case, just thought I would share.

Deanna, Thanks for much to the tip! You’re right: there are definite advantages to tools that work in Word. I’ll add Ginger to my list of tools to explore.

Best, C. K.

I hate it that it keep wanting me to write at the 5th-grade level! it means simple vocabulary and short sentences.

Marta, Are you writing fiction or nonfiction? What do you know about your intended audience’s reading level? You can use that as a guide….

Write an entry into it, select the whole text, accidentally hit any key to cause an unwanted edit, and bang! that text is gone and command-Z won’t bring it back!

I wrote a long piece in Hemingway, edited the piece till Hemingway thought it was clean writing. And I decided I loved the piece and wanted to share it. So I highlighted the whole text to copy and paste in my journal and save it forever. But I accidentally tapped a key and that replaced all I’d written. I thought a Command-Z would undo the accidental edit. Nope. All I’d written was now completely gone.

I’ve tested this again, wondering how a text editor can disallow you to Undo an edit. It will allow edits if you change a few words within your text. But change the whole entry at once and it seems to assume you have started a new entry, and there’s no going back. I resent learning this the hard way, and don’t understand why this is a feature. Now I’m looking for a text editor that autosaves every couple minutes. And no, Text Edit doesn’t suit; it has its own dangerous quirks which is why I was writing my thoughts into Hemingway.

I like Hemingway otherwise.

I wrote “I like Hemingway otherwise”.

But not entirely. Another issue came to mind. It should let you select grade level. If I write for adults instead of 5th graders, I should be able to do it without seeing a wall of color.

Chris, I see the potential of your idea. I’d recommend contacting the creators of Hemingway to see what they think.

Chris, Ouch. Are you using the free online version of Hemingway or the $20 desktop version? You should be able to compose a text in the desktop version without losing your work. If you’re using the free online app, I’d recommend writing in another app on your computer (I work in Word or Scrivener), saving the file, and then and copying and pasting to Hemingway for your language check.

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May 4, 2021, ernest hemingway's true and lasting writing lessons, a new documentary by ken burns and lynn novick explores the complexity of the man, and the legacy of his work.

By Dale Keiger

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Much of the revived discussion has been about the man, who from one week to the next could be gentle, cruel, generous, spiteful, a sentimental romantic, a mean misogynist, an anti-fascist, an anti-Semite, a true friend, a betrayer of friends, a cat-lover, a hunter, a vigorous outdoorsman, and a sad and battered suicidal depressive. Turns out his macho persona papered over an inner Hemingway who was more gender-fluid than most of us ever imagined. Who knew?

Though Burns and Novick concentrated on the man behind the guise, there was some routine discourse about his prose: plaudits in the documentary from writers including Edna O’Brien, Tobias Wolff, Mary Karr and Tim O’Brien, and in written commentaries the usual loose tossing about of “Hemingway forever changed American fiction.”

Well, maybe some American fiction. Tracing literary influence is a tricky business. Mainstream fiction, what most American fiction is by definition, has not changed much post-Hemingway, but for an increase in cussing and sex.

But where Hemingway surely has been influential is in what serious, artistically ambitious writers have learned from close attention to his work. The Hemingway who wrote the stories “Indian Camp,” “The Killers,” “Big Two-Hearted River” and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” and the books “The Sun Also Rises,” “A Farewell to Arms” and “A Moveable Feast,” was a superb writer, subtle and profound and courageous. Anyone who aspires to fine narrative storytelling, be it fictional or factual, has much to learn from the complicated gentleman from Oak Park.

Writing true sentences

When I taught literary nonfiction at Johns Hopkins University, I frequently admonished my students to “write like you mean it.” (So frequently that at the end of one semester, my graduate class presented me with a binder blazoned with that phrase on the front cover; they called it a “Keigerism.”) I urged them to work with conviction — this story needs to be told and it needs to be told this way. I wanted them to make it real, make it true, and make it their own.

Hemingway’s best prose exemplifies what I preached. In “A Moveable Feast” he wrote, “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” This passage has been mocked as pretentious by people who miss the point. To write the truest sentence that you know requires you, the writer, to be rigorous with yourself about facing what you actually do know, what makes you believe it to be true, and the limits of what you know versus what you merely suppose. It takes no small discipline to write only true sentences — to be true to yourself and to your story.

And it takes unwavering conviction. As he told an interviewer from The Paris Review, “Once written you have to stand by it.” I believe this conviction (plus his training at the Kansas City Star) lies behind Hemingway’s famously lean prose. He believed truth ought to be asserted in direct and unequivocal statements. If you were in the truth game, you committed yourself to concrete and precise language. This is what is true, right here . Hemingway was wary of tiptoeing toward the truth through qualifying subclauses and the equivocation of adverbs and the imprecision of adjectives. He put absolute faith in nouns and the naming of things.

When you name something (and all nouns are names), you swear to its truth. It’s no accident that investigations aim to “name names.” Nouns do not hedge and are not subject to opinion. A ball is a ball. We can argue whether it’s red or closer to orange or really maroon or scarlet, but there’s no argument about it being a ball.

The stories that matter are built from the tangible and anchored in the concrete. Hemingway once responded to some of the reviews of “The Old Man and the Sea:” “There isn’t any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish. The sharks are all sharks, no better and no worse. All the symbolism that people say is shit.” He’s protesting too much, I think; I’d bet a daiquiri that he was not that oblivious to symbolism. But I do believe he meant it when he argued for the truth residing in the nouns, in the sea and the old man and the boy. Hemingway’s sentences land with conviction because we sense his discipline and integrity in stating only what he knows to be true, and all that he knows to be true, whether it’s beautiful or ugly.

Stealth exposition

Another of his remarkable skills was his ability to tell a full story by telling only part. At his best, he knew exactly how much to tell us and how much to withhold. Reading Hemingway, we feel like we create the story with him, and that’s a profound level of engagement. We’re not being told the story, we’re discovering a story, or so it feels, and he was so good at it he could be confident that we would discover the very story he meant to tell. I think of it as stealth exposition.

Most of the dialogue in “The Sun Also Rises” is banal on the surface, as is most real conversation. But the attentive reader understands all that’s unsaid, all the emotion lurking beneath the banality, and all that the characters reveal by what they can’t bring themselves to say. In “Death in the Afternoon” he wrote, “If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them.” There you have it — it’s all right there.

Leaving 80 percent of the story up to the reader, which was how Hemingway once described his technique, is a trickier proposition when you are writing nonfiction. Nobody gets hurt if the reader of a novel misconstrues what lies below the surface of the author’s prose. Journalists and other nonfiction authors can’t leave that much to implication. They need to provide more information and more corroborated fact to be conscientious and credible and responsible. But I think there are two lessons here for factual writers.

One is to gauge carefully how much information you pack into your story. A story flounders from too much detail, too much description, too much attention to the inconsequential by a writer who either has too little confidence in his or her own skill, too much fear of being challenged or doesn’t trust the reader to get the story right unless every last detail is spelled out. I usually bail out of such stories long before they end.

The other lesson — maybe not a lesson so much as an example worth following — was Hemingway’s integrity toward the story and his way of telling it. This was a man desperate to be not just a writer, but a literary lion ranked with the masters. He risked it all by investing years in developing a unique prose style and then insisting that his stories could be told no other way. Had he not enjoyed so much critical and popular affirmation early in his career, he might have surrendered and resorted to writing to please conventional taste. We’ll never know. But because he didn’t, we have Hemingway. Out of similar conviction, we have Annie Dillard and Joan Didion and Tracy Kidder and John McPhee. Tom Wolfe and Geoff Dyer. Gay Talese.

All of whom have spent their adult lives writing like they mean it.

Dale Keiger is the retired editor of Johns Hopkins Magazine and author of “The Man Who Signed the City: Portraits of Remarkable People.”

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Ernest Hemingway’s Influence on Modern Writing: Why His Work Still Resonates Today

Ernest Hemingway is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His unique style and approach to storytelling revolutionized modern literature and continue to inspire writers today. Hemingway’s minimalist prose, emphasis on authenticity and exploration of complex human emotions set him apart from his contemporaries and cemented his place in literary history.

But what about Hemingway’s work still resonates with readers and writers alike? This article will delve into Hemingway’s legacy and explore how modern writing can still feel his influence. From his iconic characters to his powerful themes, we will examine why Hemingway’s work remains relevant and impactful decades after his death. So please sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and join us as we explore the enduring influence of one of the greatest writers ever.

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Tina turner’s story chronicles her journey to success, why hemingway’s work is still relevant today.

Hemingway’s work is still relevant today because it speaks to universal human experiences that transcend time and place. His writing is timeless because it captures the essence of the human condition in a way that is both relatable and profound. Hemingway’s stories are not just about the events that take place but about the emotions and motivations that drive them.

For example, in “The Old Man and the Sea,” Hemingway tells the story of an old fisherman who goes to sea to catch a giant marlin. While the story is about fishing, it is also about the human spirit’s struggle and the power of determination. This theme is universal and resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds.

Another reason why Hemingway’s work is still relevant today is because it influenced modern literature. Hemingway’s style and approach to storytelling have inspired countless writers over the years, and his legacy can be seen in the works of authors like Cormac McCarthy, Raymond Carver, and J. D. Salinger. Hemingway’s impact on modern literature is undeniable, and his influence will continue to shape how we write and tell stories for years.

Hemingway’s writing style

Its simplicity and economy of language characterize Hemingway’s writing style. He believed a writer should “show, not tell,” and its spare, unadorned style marks his prose. Hemingway’s writing is also notable for its use of short, declarative sentences and its focus on action and dialogue.

One of the reasons why Hemingway’s writing style is so effective is because it allows the reader to fill in the gaps and use their imagination. Hemingway doesn’t tell the reader what to think or feel; he presents the facts and allows them to conclude. This storytelling approach is engaging and empowering and has helped make Hemingway’s work enduringly popular.

Hemingway’s impact on modern literature

Hemingway’s impact on modern literature is difficult to overstate. His minimalist prose and emphasis on authenticity have been a major influence on writers across genres and generations. Hemingway’s writing style is particularly well-suited to the modern era, where readers have shorter attention spans and are looking for stories that are both engaging and accessible.

One of the ways in which Hemingway has influenced modern literature is through his focus on character development. Hemingway’s characters are often flawed and complex, struggling with their mortality and the world around them. This focus on character development has become a hallmark of modern literature, and it can be seen in the works of authors like Toni Morrison, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Zadie Smith.

The themes and motifs in Hemingway’s work

Hemingway’s work is notable for exploring themes like loss, love, and the human condition. His stories often deal with characters struggling to come to terms with their mortality and the fragility of life.

One of the recurring motifs in Hemingway’s work is the idea of the “code hero.” Hemingway’s code hero is a character who lives by a strict set of moral principles and values, even in the face of adversity. This idea of the code hero has become a staple of modern literature, and it can be seen in the works of authors like Cormac McCarthy and Tom Wolfe.

Another prevalent theme in Hemingway’s work is the idea of the “lost generation.” Hemingway was part of a group of writers and artists who came of age during World War I, and his work reflects the disillusionment and despair that characterized that era. The Lost Generation was marked by a sense of aimlessness and disconnection, and Hemingway’s writing often reflects these themes.

Hemingway’s influence on modern journalism

Hemingway’s influence on modern journalism is also significant. His emphasis on authenticity and his use of concise, declarative sentences have become hallmarks of modern journalism. Hemingway believed that a journalist should be objective and impartial, and he brought this same approach to his own writing.

Hemingway’s influence on journalism can be seen in the works of writers like Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe, who have both been influenced by Hemingway’s approach to storytelling. Hemingway’s legacy in journalism is a testament to his impact on how we tell stories and report the news.

Hemingway’s role in the Lost Generation

Hemingway was a key figure in the Lost Generation, a group of writers and artists who came of age during World War I. The Lost Generation was marked by a sense of disillusionment and despair, and Hemingway’s work reflects these themes.

Hemingway’s role in the Lost Generation was as a writer and a cultural icon. His larger-than-life persona and his love of adventure made him a hero to many, and his influence can still be felt in popular culture today.

Hemingway’s legacy in popular culture

Hemingway’s legacy in popular culture is significant. His larger-than-life persona and his love of adventure have made him a cultural icon, and his influence can be seen in everything from literature to film to fashion.

Hemingway’s work has been adapted into numerous films, including “The Old Man and the Sea” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” His influence can also be seen in the works of filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, who Hemingway’s approach to storytelling has inspired.

Hemingway’s contributions to the literary world

Hemingway’s contributions to the literary world are immeasurable. His unique style and approach to storytelling have inspired countless writers over the years, and his legacy can be seen in authors’ works across genres and generations.

Hemingway’s influence on modern literature is particularly noteworthy. His minimalist prose and emphasis on authenticity have become hallmarks of modern storytelling, and his focus on character development has helped to shape the way we write and tell stories today.

Ernest Hemingway is a writer whose legacy continues to resonate today. His unique style and approach to storytelling have inspired countless writers over the years, and his influence can be seen in everything from literature to film to journalism. Hemingway’s work speaks to universal human experiences that transcend time and place, and his stories continue to captivate readers of all ages and backgrounds. In a constantly changing world, Hemingway’s legacy reminds of the enduring power of great storytelling.

Esther Lombardi

Esther A. Lombardi is a freelance writer and journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for an array of publications, online and offline. She also has a master's degree in English Literature with a background in Web Technology and Journalism. 

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Last updated on Jan 06, 2023

Hemingway App Review: Read This Before Using It!

The Hemingway app is a distraction-free writing and editing tool to help you polish your writing. Taking its name from Ernest Hemingway’s iconic writing style , the app focuses on identifying common errors that bring down the quality of your prose: confusing sentence construction, overuse of weak adverbs, excessive passive voice , and the like.

You can use a free version of the app right on the website. Or, if you’d rather work offline (and gain a few more options, which we’ll get into in a moment), you can buy a standalone version for a one-time purchasing fee of $19.99.

But does this work? And more importantly, should you use this app over any of the other writing apps like Scrivener and the Reedsy Book Editor ? Let’s break it down and see exactly what this book-writing platform offers writers:

Writing mode lets you get on with the job at hand

The writing mode is designed to be unobtrusive, with a minimalist interface. Formatting buttons along the top allow you to make your text bold or italic, set your headings, add a blockquote or a list (either in bullet point or numbered), as well as create links. There are no page breaks, or detailed formatting options to create print layouts — this app is truly about writing, and writing only.

Editing mode is where the app shines

Switch to editing mode, and you’ll see most of the Hemingway features come into play. In addition to a summary of your work’s readability level, estimated reading time, and length, Hemingway analyzes your work and highlights a variety of potential problem areas.

• Blue highlights mean it’s identified an adverb or a qualifier.
• Purple highlights show it’s found a complex word that can be replaced with a simpler one.
• Green highlights are for passive voice.
• Yellow highlights denote complex sentences.
• Red highlights indicate an  extremely complex sentence.

Mousing over these highlights will remind you of which type of problem has been identified, though only a few types of errors offer suggestions for fixes. You can remove adverbs, for instance, with the click of a button, but you’ll have to change to active voice on your own.

The editing highlights, while helpful, could use a few more suggestions for how to improve the text. On the other hand, merely working with the Hemingway Editor for an extended period would likely train you to spot these types of mistakes as you’re writing — improving your self-editing skills , and hopefully raising the overall quality of your first drafts.

You can export directly to your website

Once you’ve finished drafting, the desktop version can export your work in a few different ways. You can even publish straight to Medium or WordPress. Hemingway can also import from Word .docx files. This, plus the emphasis on tight writing, makes it a solid tool for web content.

But you'll need another app to format your book

It’s worth noting, however, that only the desktop version has any save or export/import functionality at all — if you want to use the free one, you’ll have to copy and paste your work into and out of Hemingway yourself and save it somewhere else.

However, there are no formatting options for making books , so if you're writing a longer piece, this won't help you get your file ready for publication. (For this, you may want to check out our post on other platforms for novel writing !) And it certainly isn't feasible to use the free version for larger work.

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So what's the bottom line?

Hemingway has some nice features and is a good way to check the readability of your work, so it’s useful for something like a blog post, essay, or article, but less useful for a whole book. The estimated read time and reading level are helpful metrics, depending on the medium you’re writing for.

The deciding factor will be how closely your writing style follows the Hemingway standards. If you’re aiming for short, tight sentences, this app will help you trim down your work. But if you’re not writing to the Hemingway ideal — such as crafting a “voicey” piece of fiction, or certain types of nonfiction where passive voice is appropriate — this app won’t have much to offer you.

It’s free to test out, so if it sounds like something you’d like, there’s no reason not to play around with it. So give it a try and let us know what you think!

Reedsy rating:  4/5

3 responses

Daphne Gray-Grant says:

17/03/2020 – 23:44

The biggest problem with the Hemingway App is that it regards EVERY long sentence as a problem. This is just plain wrong. Experienced writers understand that sentence length AVERAGE is a way more useful metric. Long sentences are okay as long as they are balanced by shorter ones. As a writing coach, I was initially excited by the Hemingway App. Once I got under the hood, however, I found it disappointing for it's lack of sophistication. I strongly prefer ProWritingAid.

Jeremy Rozen says:

19/03/2020 – 12:53

One thing that I've heard and read consistently is this: No app is going to make you a better writer. Distraction-free, clean interface, full functioned, etc. None of it will improve your writing. It may help correct your grammar, spelling and some of your prose, but ultimately, you still have to be able to craft the story and no app can help you do that.....yet.

Giff MacShane says:

22/03/2020 – 20:55

I tried it, found it much too basic for me. It "identified" any word over 3 syllables as "unusual" (see how that works?), and routinely identified nouns ending in "ly" as adverbs (up to and including a character named Nelly), while ignoring any adverbs that didn't end in "ly". As for sentence structure, it seemed to be geared to 6th grade reading level. I get that advice for journalists as it's unfortunately the average reading level in the US, but IMO it makes for a pretty boring novel.

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Ernest Hemingway's Best Tips on Writing

Write what you know, leave out unnecessary words, and don't do it to be famous..

Ernest Hemingway was one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. His most popular work, The Old Man and the Sea , earned him a Pulitzer Prize in 1953, and in 1954 Hemingway won the Nobel Prize for Literature "for his powerful, style-forming mastery of the art of narration."

While Hemingway never codified his writing strategies into a single volume like Stephen King , Ray Bradbury, or other writers have, he did document his approach to writing in his letters to agents, publishers, other writers , and friends, and through commissioned articles on the subject.

Ernest Hemingway on Writing  is a compilation of his reflections on his writing process, and provides a fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of the world's greatest authors.

Though Hemingway was a novelist, these tips are still very useful for business owners, whether you're writing a book on management strategies or just trying to improve your daily business correspondence.

Here are just a few of the many inspiring nuggets of advice Hemingway shares in this book:

1. What writing is and does.

All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you; the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse and sorry, the people and the places and how the weather was.

Nobody really knows or understands and nobody has ever said the secret. The secret is that it is poetry written into prose and it is the hardest of all things to do...

2. The qualities of a writer.

All my life I've looked at words as though I were seeing them for the first time... ...real seriousness in regard to writing being one of the two absolute necessities. The other, unfortunately, is talent. The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shockproof, shit detector. This is the writer's radar and all great writers have had it. A writer without a sense of justice and of injustice would be better off editing the yearbook of a school for exceptional children than writing novels. A great enough writer seems to be born with knowledge. But he really is not; he has only been born with the ability to learn in a quicker ratio to the passage of time than other men and without conscious application, and with an intelligence to accept or reject what is already presented as knowledge. 

3. The pain and pleasure of writing.

I believe that basically you write for two people; yourself to try to make it absolutely perfect; or if not that then wonderful. Then you write for who you love whether she can read or write or not and whether she is alive or dead. ...writing is something that you can never do as well as it can be done. It is a perpetual challenge and it is more difficult than anything else that I have ever done?--?so I do it. And it makes me happy when I do it well. I have to write to be happy whether I get paid for it or not. But it is a hell of a disease to be born with. I like to do it. Which is even worse. That makes it from a disease into a vice. Then I want to do it better than anybody has ever done it which makes it into an obsession. An obsession is terrible. Hope you haven't gotten any. That's the only one I've got left.

4. What to write about.

You see I'm trying in all my stories to get the feeling of the actual life across?--?not to just depict life?--?or criticize it?--?but to actually make it alive. So that when you have read something by me you actually experience the thing. You can't do this without putting in the bad and the ugly as well as what is beautiful. Because if it is all beautiful you can't believe in it. Write about what you know and write truly and tell them all where they can place it...Books should be about the people you know, that you love and hate, not about the people you study about. ...whatever success I have had has been through writing what I know about.

5. Writer's block.

...sometimes when I was starting a new story and I could not get it going, I would..stand and look out over the roofs of Paris and think, "Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." So finally I would write one true sentence, and then go on from there. It was easy then because there was always one true sentence that I knew or had seen or had heard someone say. 

6. Knowing what to leave out.

If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an ice-berg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water. A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing. It wasn't by accident that the Gettysburg address was so short. The laws of prose writing are as immutable as those of flight, of mathematics, of physics.

7. Daily word count.

I loved to write very much and was never happier than doing it...And days of 1200 or 2700 were something that made you happier than you could believe. Since I found that 400 to 600 well done was a pace I could hold much better was always happy with that number. But if I only had 320 I felt good.

8. Reading.

I think you should learn about writing from everybody who has ever written that has anything to teach you. Ordinarily I never read anything before I write in the morning to try and bite on the old nail with no help, no influence and no one giving you a wonderful example or sitting looking over your shoulder. When I was writing, it was necessary for me to read after I had written...afterwards, when you were empty, it was necessary to read in order not to think or worry about your work until you could do it again. I had learned already never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.

9. On fame.

I think we should never be too pessimistic about what we know we have done well because we should have some reward and the only reward is that which is within ourselves... Publicity, admiration, adulation, or simply being fashionable are all worthless... You must be prepared to work always without applause. When you are excited about something is when the first draft is done. But no one can see it until you have gone over it again and again until you have communicated the emotion, the sights and the sounds to the reader... 

A refreshed look at leadership from the desk of CEO and chief content officer Stephanie Mehta

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• Article about Ernest Hemingway: A case of identity: Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway

A case of identity: Ernest Hemingway

by Anders Hallengren *

The recognition of Hemingway as a major and representative writer of the United States of America, was a slow but explosive process. His emergence in the western canon was an even more adventurous voyage. His works were burnt in the bonfire in Berlin on May 10, 1933 as being a monument of modern decadence. That was a major proof of the writer’s significance and a step toward world fame.

To read Hemingway has always produced strong reactions. When his parents received the first copies of their son’s book In Our Time (1924), they read it with horror. Furious, his father sent the volumes back to the publisher, as he could not tolerate such filth in the house. Hemingway’s apparently coarse, crude, vulgar and unsentimental style and manners appeared equally shocking to many people outside his family. On the other hand, this style was precisely the reason why a great many other people liked his work. A myth, exaggerating those features, was to be born.

Hemingway in our time

After he had committed suicide at Ketchum, Idaho, in 1961, the literary position of the 1954 Nobel Laureate changed significantly and has, in a way, even become stronger. This is partly due to several posthumous works and collections that show the author’s versatility – A Moveable Feast (1964), By-Line (1967), 88 Poems (1979), and Selected Letters (1981). It is also the result of painstaking and successful Hemingway research, in which The Hemingway Society (USA) has played an important role since 1980.

Another result of this enduring interest is that many new aspects of Hemingway’s life and works that were previously obscured by his public image have now emerged into the light. On the other hand, posthumously published novels, such as Islands in the Stream (1970) and The Garden of Eden (1986), have disappointed many of the old Hemingway readers. However, rather than bearing witness to declining literary power, (which, considering the author’s declining health would, indeed, be a rather trivial observation even if it were true) the late works confront us with a reappraisal and reconsideration of basic values. They also display an unbiased seeking and experimentation, as if the author was losing both his direction and his footing, or was becoming unrestrained in a new way. Just as modern Hemingway scholarship has added immensely to the depth of our understanding of Hemingway – making him more and more difficult to define! – these works reveal and stress a complexity that may cause bewilderment or relief, depending on what perspective one adopts.

The “hard-boiled” style

The slang word “hard-boiled”, used to describe characters and works of art, was a product of twentieth century warfare. To be “hard-boiled” meant to be unfeeling, callous, coldhearted, cynical, rough, obdurate, unemotional, without sentiment. Later to become a literary term, the word originated in American Army World War I training camps, and has been in common, colloquial usage since about 1930.

Contemporary literary criticism regarded Ernest Hemingway’s works as marked by his use of this style, which was typical of the era. Indeed, in many respects they were regarded as the embodiment and symbol of hard-boiled literature.

However, neither Hemingway the man nor Hemingway the writer should be labeled “hard-boiled” – his style is the only aspect that deserves this epithet, and even that is ambiguous. Let us get down to basics, concentrate on one main feature in his literary style, and then turn to the alleged hard-boiled mind behind it, and his macho style of living and speaking.

A hard-boiled mind?

An unmatched introduction to Hemingway’s particular skill as a writer is the beginning of A Farewell to Arms, certainly one of the most pregnant opening paragraphs in the history of the modern American novel. In that passage the power of concentration reaches a peak, forming a vivid and charged sequence, as if it were a 10-second video summary. It is packed with events and excitement, yet significantly frosty, as if unresponsive and numb, like a silent flashback dream sequence in which bygone images return, pass in review and fade away, leaving emptiness and quietude behind them. The lapidary writing approaches the highest style of poetry, vibrant with meaning and emotion, while the pace is maintained by the exclusion of any descriptive redundancy, of obtrusive punctuation, and of superfluous or narrowing emotive signs:

IN the late summer of that year we lived in a house in a village that looked across the river and the plain to the mountains. In the bed of the river there were pebbles and boulders, dry and white in the sun, and the water was clear and swiftly moving and blue in the channels. Troops went by the house and down the road and the dust they raised powdered the leaves of the trees. The trunks of the trees too were dusty and the leaves fell early that year and we saw the troops marching along the road and the dust rising and leaves, stirred by the breeze, falling and the soldiers marching and afterwards the road bare and white except for the leaves.

At the end of the sixteenth chapter of Death in the Afternoon the author approaches a definition of the “hard-boiled” style:

“If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things.”

Ezra Pound taught him “to distrust adjectives” ( A Moveable Feast ). That meant creating a style in accordance with the esthetics and ethics of raising the emotional temperature towards the level of universal truth by shutting the door on sentiment, on the subjective.

A macho style of living and speaking.

The unwritten code

Later biographic research revealed, behind the macho façade of boxing, bullfighting, big-game hunting and deep-sea fishing he built up, a sensitive and vulnerable mind that was full of contradictions.

In Hemingway, sentimentality, sympathy, and empathy are turned inwards, not restrained, but vibrant below and beyond the level of fact and fable. The reader feels their presence although they are not visible in the actual words. That is because of Hemingway’s awareness of the relation between the truth of facts and events and his conviction that they produce corresponding emotions.

“Find what gave you the emotion; what the action was that gave you the excitement. Then write it down making it clear so the reader will see it too and have the same feeling as you had.”

That was the essence of his style, to focus on facts. Hemingway aimed at “the real thing, the sequence of motion and fact which made the emotion and which would be as valid in a year or in ten years or, with luck and if you stated it purely enough, always” ( Death in the Afternoon ). In Hemingway, we see a reaction against Romantic turgidity and vagueness: back to basics, to the essentials. Thus his new realism in a new key resembles the old Puritan simplicity and discipline; both of them refrained from exhibiting the sentimental, the relative.

Hemingway’s sincere and stern ambition was to approach Truth, clinging to an as yet unwritten code, a higher law which he referred to as “an absolute conscience as unchanging as the standard meter in Paris” ( Green Hills of Africa , I: 1).

Hemingway’s near-death experience

Though Hemingway seems to have seen himself and life in general reflected in war, he himself never became reconciled to it. His mind was in a state of civil war, fighting demons inwardly as well as outwardly. In the long run defeat is as revealing and fundamental as victory: we are all losers, defeated by death. To live is the only way to face the ordeal, and the ultimate ordeal in our lives is the opposite of life. Hence Hemingway’s obsession with death. Deep sea fishing, bull-fighting, boxing, big-game hunting, war, – all are means of ritualizing the death struggle in his mind – it is very explicit in books such as A Farewell to Arms and Death in the Afternoon, which were based on his own experience.

Escaping death during World War I.

Modern investigations into so-called Near-Death Experiences (NDE) such as those by Raymond Moody, Kenneth Ring and many others, have focused on a pattern of empirical knowledge gained on the threshold of death; a dream-like encounter with unknown border regions. There is a parallel in Hemingway’s life, connected with the occasion when he was seriously wounded at midnight on July 8, 1918, at Fossalta di Piave in Italy and nearly died. He was the first American to be wounded in Italy during World War I. Here is a case of NDE in Hemingway, and I think that is of basic importance, pertinent to the understanding of all Hemingway’s work. In A Farewell to Arms, an experience of this sort occurs to the ambulance driver Frederic Henry, Hemingway’s alter ego, wounded in the leg by shellfire in Italy. (Concerning the highly autobiographical nature of A Farewell to Arms, see Michael S. Reynolds’s documentary work Hemingway’s First War: The Making of A Farewell to Arms, Princeton University Press 1976). As regards the NDE, we can note the incidental expression “to go out in a blaze of light” (letter to his family, Milan Oct. 18, 1918), and the long statement about what had occurred: Milan, July 21, 1918 ( Selected Letters, ed. Carlos Baker, 1981).

Hemingway touched on that crucial experience in his life – what he had felt and thought – in the short story “Now I Lay Me” (1927):

“my soul would go out of my body … I had been blown up at night and felt it go out of me and go off and then come back”

– and again, briefly, in In Our Time in the lines on the death of Maera. It reappears, in another setting and form, in the image of immortality in the African story The Snows of Kilimanjaro, where the dying Harry knows he is going to the peak called “Ngàje Ngài”, which means, as explained in Hemingway’s introductory note, “the House of God”.

The coyote and the leopard

Hemingway’s seeming insensitive detachment is only superficial, a compulsive avoidance of the emotional, but not of the emotionally tinged or charged. The pattern of his rigid, dispassionate compressed style of writing and way of life gives a picture of a touching Jeremiad of human tragedy. Hemingway’s probe touches nerves, and they hurt. But through the web of failure and disillusion there emerges a picture of human greatness, of confidence even.

Hemingway was not the Nihilist he has often been called. As he belonged to the Protestant nay-saying tradition of American dissent, the spirit of the American Revolution, he denied the denial and acceded to the basic truth which he found in the human soul: the will to live, the will to persevere, to endure, to defy. The all-pervading sense of loss is, indirectly, affirmative. Hemingway’s style is a compulsive suppression of unbearable and inexpressible feelings in the chaotic world of his times, where courage and independence offered a code of survival. Sentiments are suppressed to the boil.

The frontier mentality had become universal – the individual is on his own, like a Pilgrim walking into the unknown with neither shelter nor guidance, thrown upon his own resources, his strength and his judgment. Hemingway’s style is the style of understatement since his hero is a hero of action, which is the human condition.

There is an illuminating text in William James (1842-1910) which is both significant and reminiscent, bridging the gap between Puritan moralism, its educational parables and exempla, and lost-generation turbulent heroism. In a letter written in Yosemite Valley to his son, Alexander, William James wrote:

“I saw a moving sight the other morning before breakfast in a little hotel where I slept in the dusty fields. The young man of the house had shot a little wolf called coyote in the early morning. The heroic little animal lay on the ground, with his big furry ears, and his clean white teeth, and his jolly cheerful little body, but his brave little life was gone. It made me think how brave all these living things are. Here little coyote was, without any clothes or house or books or anything, with nothing but his own naked self to pay his way with, and risking his life so cheerfully – and losing it – just to see if he could pick up a meal near the hotel. He was doing his coyote-business like a hero, and you must do your boy-business, and I my man-business bravely, too, or else we won’t be worth as much as a little coyote.” ( The Letters of William James, ed. Henry James, Little, Brown and Co.: Boston 1926.)

The courageous coyote thus serves as a moral example, illustrating a philosophy of life which says that it is worth jeopardizing life itself to be true to one’s own nature. That is precisely the point of the frozen leopard close to the western summit of Kilimanjaro in Hemingway’s famous short story. That is the explanation of what the leopard was seeking at that altitude, and the answer was given time and again in the works of Ernest Hemingway.

Jeopardizing life itself to be true to one’s own nature.

But what about the ugliness, then? What about all the evil, the crude, the rude, the rough, the vulgar aspects of his work, even the horror, which dismayed people? How could all that be compatible with moral standards? He justified the inclusion of such aspects in a letter to his “Dear Dad” in 1925:

“The reason I have not sent you any of my work is because you or Mother sent back the In Our Time books. That looked as though you did not want to see any. You see I am trying in all my stories to get the feeling of the actual life across – not to just depict life – or criticize it – but to actually make it alive. So that when you have read something by me you actually experience the thing. You can’t do this without putting in the bad and the ugly as well as what is beautiful. Because if it is all beautiful you can’t believe in it. Things aren’t that way. It is only by showing both sides – 3 dimensions and if possible 4 that you can write the way I want to.

So when you see anything of mine that you don’t like remember that I’m sincere in doing it and that I’m working toward something. If I write an ugly story that might be hateful to you or to Mother the next one might be one that you would like exceedingly.”

Hemingway family photo, 1909.

Merging gender in Eden

Like many other of his works, True at First Light was a blend of autobiography and fiction in which the author identified with the first person narrator. The author, who never kept a journal or wrote an autobiography in his life, draws on experience for his realism, slightly transforming events in his life. In this sense, the posthumous novel Islands in the Stream is in some places neither fictional nor fictitious. The Garden of Eden , however, a book brimming with the author’s vulnerability just as A Farewell to Arms is, treats intimate and delicate matters. It is a story told in the third person, as are all his major works. Thus we get to know the writer David Bourne, assuredly an explorer like Daniel Boone, on his adventurous Mediterranean honeymoon.

The anti-hero’s wife in The Garden of Eden, Catherine Bourne, is one of the most persuasive and lively heroines in Hemingway’s works. She is depicted with fascination and fear, like Marcel Proust’s Albertine and, at least in name, she reminds us of the strong and attractive Catherine Barkley (alias the seven-year-older Agnes Von Kurowsky), the Red Cross heroine in A Farewell to Arms. The former character is much more complex and difficult to define, however, and her ardor and the fire of marital love prove consuming and transmogrifying.

Living at the Grau (“canal”) du Roi, on the shores of the stream that runs from Aigues-Mortes straight down to the sea, the newly wedded couple in The Garden of Eden live in a borderland where “water” and “death” are key words, and where connotations like L’eau du Léthe present themselves: Eros and Thanatos, love and death, paradise and trespass.

In this innocent borderland, moral limits are immediately extended, and conventional roles are reversed. Sipping his post-coital fine à l’eau in the afternoon, David Bourne feels relieved of all the problems he had before his marriage, and has no thought of “writing nor anything but being with this girl,” who absorbs him and assumes command. Then the blond, sun-tanned Catherine appears with her hair “cropped as short as a boy’s,” declaring:

“now I am a boy … You see why it’s dangerous, don’t you? … Why do we have to go by everyone else’s rules? We’re us … Please understand and love me … I am Peter … You’re my beautiful lovely Catherine.”

From that moment the tables are turned. David-Catherine accepts and submits, and Catherine-Peter takes over the man’s role. She mounts him in bed at night, and penetrates him in conjugal bliss:

“He had shut his eyes and he could feel the long light weight of her on him … and then lay back in the dark and did not think at all and only felt the weight and the strangeness inside and she said: ‘Now you can’t tell who is who can you?”

Ernest Hemingway, 1901.

The father in the garden

Women with a gamin hairstyle, lovers who cut and dye their hair and change sexual roles, are themes that, with variations, occur in his novels from A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, to the posthumous Islands in the Stream. They culminate in The Garden of Eden. When writing The Garden of Eden he appeared as a redhead one day in May 1947. When asked about it, he said he had dyed his hair by mistake. In that novel, the search for complete unity between the lovers is carried to extremes. It may seem that the halves of the primordial Androgyne of the Platonic myth (once cut in two by Zeus and ever since longing to become a complete being again) are uniting here. Set in a fictional Paradise, a Biblical “Eden”, the novel is perhaps even more a story about expulsion, the loss of innocence, and the ensuing liberation, about knowledge acquired through the Fall, which is the basis of culture, about the ordeals and the high price an author must pay to become a writer worthy of his salt. Against a mythical background, the voice of Hemingway’s father is heard, challenging his son, as did the Father in the Biblical Garden. Slightly disguised, Hemingway’s dear father, who haunted his son’s life and work even after he had shot himself in 1928, remained an internalized critic until Ernest also took his life in 1961. Hemingway’s père pressed his ambivalent son to surpass himself and produce a distinct and lively multidimensional text, – “3 dimensions and if possible 4”:

“He found he knew much more about his father than when he had first written this story and he knew he could measure his progress by the small things which made his father more tactile and to have more dimensions than he had in the story before.”

After they had committed honeymoon adultery with the girl both spouses equally love passionately, David exclaims: “We’ve been burned out … Crazy woman burned out the Bournes.” This consuming and transforming fire of love and its subsequent trials and transgressions, in the end has a purging effect on the writer, who finally, as if emerging from a chrysalis stage, rises like the Phoenix from his bed and sits down in a regenerated mood to write in a perfect style:

“He got out his pencils and a new cahier, sharpened five pencils and began to write the story of his father and the raid in the year of the Maji-Maji rebellion … David wrote steadily and well and the sentences that he had made before came to him complete and entire and he put them down, corrected them, and cut them as if he were going over proof. Not a sentence was missing … He wrote on a while longer now and there was no sign that any of it would ever cease returning to him intact.”

Maji-Maji and Mau Mau

But why is Maji-Maji so important to the author when he has attained perfection?

When Tanzania gained independence in 1961-62, President Julius Nyerere proclaimed that the new republic was the fulfillment of the Maji-Maji dream. The Maji-Maji Rebellion had been a farmers’ revolt against colonial rule in German East Africa in 1905-1907. It began in the hill country southwest of Dar es-Salaam and spread rapidly until the insurrection was finally crushed after some 70,000 Africans had been killed. The farmers challenged the German militia fearlessly, crying “Maji! Maji!” when they attacked, believing themselves to be protected from bullets and death by “magic water”. Maji is Swahili for “water” – one of the key words in Hemingway’s novel.

The conviction and purposefulness of the Maji-Maji in The Garden of Eden, corresponds to the Kenyan Mau-Mau context of the novel True at First Light, which Hemingway started writing after his East African safari in 1953. Mau Mau was an insurrection of Kikuyo farm laborers in 1952. It was led by Jomo Kenyatta, who was subsequently held in prison until he became the premier of Kenya in 1963 (and the first President of the Republic in 1964). For Kikuyo men or women (and there were several women in the movement), to join Mau Mau meant dedicating their lives to a cause and sacrificing everything else, it meant taking a sacred oath that definitely cut them off from decorum and ordinary life.

In Hemingway’s vision, Maji-Maji and Mau Mau blend with his notion of the ideal committed writer, a man who is prepared to die for his art, and for art’s sake.

In the private library of Dag Hammarskjöld , who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after his death in the Congo (Africa) in 1961, the year Hemingway died, a copy of the beautiful original edition of A Farewell to Arms (Charles Scribner´s Sons, 1929) may still be seen (now in the Royal Library, Stockholm). In a way it is significant that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who was dedicated to peacemaking, should have been a Hemingway reader.

* Anders Hallengren (1950-2024) was an associate professor of Comparative Literature and a research fellow in the Department of History of Literature and the History of Ideas at Stockholm University. He served as consulting editor for literature at Nobelprize.org. Dr. Hallengren was a fellow of The Hemingway Society (USA) and was on the Steering Committee for the 1993 Guilin ELT/Hemingway International Conference in the People’s Republic of China. Among his works in English are The Code of Concord: Emerson’s Search for Universal Laws; Gallery of Mirrors: Reflections of Swedenborgian Thought; and What is National Literature: Lectures on Emerson, Dostoevsky and Hemingway and the Meaning of Culture.

First published 28 August 2001

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Home / Book Editing / The Best Proofreading Software To Use: 2024 Edition

The Best Proofreading Software To Use: 2024 Edition

As a prolific author and online content writer, I’ve found the best proofreading software is a toss-up between Grammarly’s free version or ProWritingAid’s premium version.

However, each proofreading tool has its own pros and cons. To see which one works best for your unique situation, I’ve compiled a list of pros and cons for 12 different proofreading tools.

Proofreading tools give you an edge over your competition. They help you work faster and write better.

Built-in spell checkers can catch some mistakes, but they’re nothing compared to modern alternatives, such as ProWritingAid, Grammarly, Ginger, and Hemingway.

Poking around the internet, I noticed that most online reviews of these tools are woefully outdated. So I decided to do my homework and write recommendations of my own.

This article will compare and contrast what’s available to help you find the best proofreading software for your unique situation.

Spoiler alert: ProWritingAid is my top choice for long-form writing, i.e. what most authors would need, although Grammarly is extremely powerful and works as well. But we give the edge to ProWritingAid because it has a lifetime subscription option. And if you use the code KINDLEPRENEUR20 in your checkout process, you'll get 20% off with this link:

Want to know more about editing besides software? You can learn all about editing yourself, hiring an editor, or more on the software, at this link .

• ProWritingAid
• Tell you which ones to avoid

Table of contents

• What is proofreading in writing?
• Best Proofreading Software to Use for Writing
• Pros of ProWritingAid
• Cons of ProWritingAid
• Pros of Autocrit
• Cons of Autocrit
• Pros of Grammarly
• Cons of Grammarly
• Pros of Ginger
• Cons of Ginger
• Pros of Hemingway
• Cons of Hemingway
• Pros of Quillbot
• Cons of Quillbot
• Others You May Have Heard Of
• Pros of Fictionary
• Cons of Fictionary
• Proofreading Software vs. Human Proofreader

I’ll also tell you if proofreading software can replace a human editor. (Spoiler: It can’t.)

Links in this article may give me a small commission if you use them to purchase any proofreading software. There’s NO extra cost to you.

Proofreading in writing means making sure that your spelling and grammar are correct. This may be in an essay, a novel, a manual, a website, or any other medium.

It is crucial to proofread your writing. Proper spelling and grammar give off a professional air and ensure your reader understands you. Poor proofreading may lead to embarrassment, miscommunication, and even fewer job opportunities.

Why Am I Qualified to Talk about Proofreading Software?

Let's face it, there are many people out there that write these kind of articles by just doing some research on what others say, and regurgitating it out without firsthand knowledge of the tools in question (or worse, have AI write it for them). That's not the case here.

As someone who's been publishing books for over 13 years, I've seen a lot proofreading tools go up and down. Some have been revolutionary game-changers, while others haven't lived up to the hype.

However, choosing the right proofreading software isn't just about picking the most popular one. Each writer has unique requirements and preferences. What works wonders for me might not for you. For example, Grammarly is hugely popular, but it's not what I recommend for long-form content.

So, in order to create a top-notch overview of the best tools for proofreading, I sent out surveys to my readers, and talked to some heavy-hitting authors in the industry – many of which I have been a consultant to as well.

Based on my observations, the results from those surveys, and talking with some of the most well-known authors out there, I feel very strongly that this is a subject I can truly tackle.

So, with that, let's jump into a list of what I think are the best proofreading tools for authors.

The best proofreading software to use for writing novels is a combination of ProWritingAid and Hemingway, which check different things. For blogs, emails, memos, social media posts, and shorter projects, Grammarly is a robust proofreading tool — even the free version.

Bottom line: These proofreading tools work better than the native spell checkers in word processors like MS Word.

In this table are the 5 leading proofreading apps/software (because they’re the best). After the table, I’ll talk about the pros and cons of these plus 3 additional proofreading tools.

Ultimately for me, ProWritingAid comes out on top. But I'll let you come to your own conclusions…

1. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid looks for grammatical and punctuation mistakes. What I find particularly impressive is its ability to also check for structural issues like repetition, cliches, and a lack of variety in sentence length.

It is also my #1 recommended tool for proofreading long-form work like novels. And it's pretty good with short-form too.

Its browser extensions are free. You can use ProWritingAid’s limited online editor for free. Also, their premium versions come with a 30-day free trial and 14-day money-back guarantee.

How much does ProWritingAid Premium cost? If you use my Kindlepreneur link to buy ProWritingAid Premium, you can get 20% off the lifetime price.

• $79/year ($6.58/month value)
• $399 one-time payment

There is another premium version: ProWritingAid Premium Plus, which includes 50 plagiarism checks a year.

How much ProWritingAid Premium Plus cost?

• $89/year ($7.42/month value)
• $499 one-time payment

For businesses and groups, ProWritingAid offers bulk discounts.

A truly powerful editing software, ProWritingAid creates a detailed report for every piece you evaluate in its online editor.

• Big-picture feedback
• A graph of sentence lengths
• Vocabulary comparison
• A list of most used words to help you avoid unnecessary repetition

ProWritingAid offers browser extensions for:

The premium version of ProWritingAid comes with desktop apps for Mac and Windows, which allow you to work offline and are great for writers working in Scrivener or Microsoft Office.

ProWritingAid is best suited for writers seeking detailed feedback on longer pieces, like mystery novels , lengthy blog posts, memoirs , and academic essays. Using ProWritingAid’s browser extension for Facebook posts or casual emails may help but may feel like overkill.

Is there anything better than Grammarly? Yes, ProWritingAid is better than Grammarly to a lot of writers and proofreaders. ProWritingAid offers a more detailed, data-driven approach to online proofreading that appeals to many professionals. Plus, its free version is far more robust than Grammarly’s.

Read my full review of ProWritingAid .

• Features more writing reports than any other proofreading service
• Has a contextual thesaurus and style suggestions to strengthen your writing
• Available in different forms of English (American, Australian, British, etc.)
• Encourages you to vary sentence lengths to maintain reader interest
• Lets you know how dynamic your vocabulary is compared to other PWA users
• Shows you phrases you use multiple times, so you can decide if they are overused
• Compatible with most browsers, Google Docs, Scrivener, and Microsoft Office
• Works with Mac and Windows
• Premium Plus version comes with a robust plagiarism checker, or you could purchase plagiarism checks separately
• Catered to writers, not ordinary people just writing social media posts and emails
• No mobile app
• Premium version can get expensive
• Premium Plus version (that includes plagiarism detection) is costly and much less extensive than Grammarly’s plagiarism checker
• Steeper learning curve than other proofreading tools

2. Autocrit

Autocrit is an editing software built specifically for authors of fiction. It is unique in that it digests millions of fiction books to help Autocrit's algorithm analyze your book to see how it compares. Then it creates interesting and useable reports that will help you with your fiction writing. You can see a full breakdown on my review here, but generally I feel its a bit pricey based on what it does.

However, it gets my #2 spot because out of all the reporting systems and analysis tools for improving writing, I do think it does the best at this. Overall, I use it together with ProWritingAid to edit my books.

You will find the following critiques with Autocrit:

• Pacing and Momentum
• Strong Writing
• Word Choice
• Compare to Fiction

How much does Autocrit cost?

• Basic plan: Free
• Professional plan: $30/month
• Annual plan: $180/year

Is there a free version of Autocrit?

Yes, there is a free version of AutoCrit was some useful reports. However, to get the most out of AutoCrit, you will need to pay for it.

• Excellent for fiction authors
• Focuses on fiction-specific editing that you can't get anywhere else
• Really great community and additional courses
• Not as good at grammar when compared to ProWritingAid
• A little pricey considering what it does

3. Grammarly

With over 10 million users, Grammarly is one of the most popular online proofreading softwares on the market. It’s easy to use, beautifully designed, and widely considered one of the best tools for catching spelling and grammar mistakes.

It was also the tool I used the most before ProWritingAid came along. I still use it for some short-form content.

Whether you’re writing a book, a blog article, an email, or a social media post ( Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn, etc.), this handy tool has you covered.

Grammarly offers free browser extensions for:

• Google Chrome

You can also install the Grammarly desktop app for Windows and Mac. There’s even a mobile app to improve your writing on the go!

How much does Grammarly cost?

• The free version offers a massive number of features
• $29.95 per month
• $59.94 per 3 months ($19.98/month value)
• $139.95 per year ($11.66/month value)
• $12.50/month per member (minimum 3 members) with Grammarly Business

If you encounter a program or website Grammarly is not compatible with, you can simply paste your writing into Grammarly’s online editor, correct it there, and paste it back.

Grammarly’s premium version comes with double the suggestions (often more than double), a sentence structure checker, a plagiarism detector (great if you hire ghostwriters ), and genre-specific feedback.

Read my full review of Grammarly for more info, as well as my list of Grammarly alternatives .

• Free version has a robust suite of features
• Conforms to your writing style (academic, casual, creative, etc.)
• Adjustable formality levels: formal, neutral, and informal
• Grammarly works great for everyone, not just professional writers
• Premium version has a plagiarism checker
• Easy to use with a variety of browsers and websites
• Integrates with MS Word (and MS Outlook on Windows only)
• App available on iOS and Android
• Only works with English, not other languages
• Still in beta with Google Docs (works well, but not perfectly)
• Doesn’t offer much feedback on big picture writing
• Website editor only allows documents up to 4 MB and 100,000 characters
• Premium version charges a monthly fee (no one-time purchase option)
• Doesn’t integrate with most writing softwares, like Scrivener, yWriter, or Apple Pages
• Their marketing pushes you to buy the premium version (you can unsubscribe from their emails)

Ginger has been a proofreading powerhouse since 2007. Recent updates have made Ginger one of the best proofreading tools on the market.

And the thing I like about Ginger is its focus on an audience where English is not their first language. It's extremely useful for them.

How much does Ginger cost?

• Its free version has a few useful features
• $29.96/month
• $59.88/year ($12.48/month value)
• $95.76/24 months ($9.99/month value)

Ginger occasionally runs sales that save you up to 60%, so watch for those special deals.

What really sets Ginger apart are the cool advanced features that come with its premium version.

The most useful is Ginger’s text reader, which reads text aloud from Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook emails, and some websites opened with Google Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

This lets you hear how your writing sounds and helps you find opportunities to strengthen your syntax and word choice. It’s a handy productivity tool, allowing you to listen to articles or blog posts while you fold the laundry or walk on the treadmill.

Ginger Premium also includes a translator that will easily translate your writing into over 60 languages. This can be great for day-to-day communication but has many more applications for fiction writers.

Want the character in your novel to overhear a secret phone call in French? To discover a scandalous old letter written by the hero’s Russian grandmother? Ginger can help you make it happen!

Grammarly is probably a more robust option over Ginger for general grammar and spell check use. For a more measurable comparison, Ginger’s free Chrome extension has a 3.72 star-rating after 1,388 reviews, while Grammarly’s free Chrome extension has a 4.62-star rating with 29,650 total reviews.

In the example below, you’ll notice Grammarly suggesting I change “more good” to better. That’s a smart catch that Ginger seems to be missing.

• Great for catching spelling and grammar errors
• Easy to use with multiple browsers (but not Firefox)
• Offers a lot of value in its free version
• Available on Windows , Mac , iOS , and Android
• Premium version can translate into more than 60 languages
• Free version is not as robust and user-friendly as Grammarly
• Doesn’t offer much big-picture feedback on writing
• Premium version charges a monthly fee

5. Hemingway

Hemingway stands apart from the other tools on this list in that its goal isn’t to catch misspelled words or grammar mistakes. Instead, it’s designed to make your writing “bold and clear,” more like the writing of Ernest Hemingway.

This was also the free tool that I used the most before I invested in one of the paid tools. Strapped for cash at college perhaps? Then this is your godsend.

How much does Hemingway cost?

• Hemingway’s online editor is a free online proofreading tool
• Hemingway’s desktop app costs $19.99 for Windows or macOS

Hemingway will strengthen your writing by helping you avoid too many adverbs, slipping into passive voice, being overly wordy, or writing complicated sentences that are hard to read.

Unlike Grammarly or Ginger, the Hemingway editor generally doesn’t make specific suggestions. It just points out problematic areas in your writing and nudges you in the direction of stronger alternatives.

To be clear, I don't think Hemingway will magically turn terrible writing into the work of Ernest Hemingway. And it’s worth noting that good writing is more than a set of rules.

In fact, The New Yorker has a great piece where it shows that even Hemingway himself doesn’t always pass the Hemingway test (sometimes the best writing comes from breaking the rules).

However, while this software won’t make your writing perfect, it can make your writing more effective. It’s a smart tool to have in your arsenal.

Hemingway does not come with any browser extensions. You simply copy and paste into the online editor, which is free, easy to use, and requires no signup or installation.

Admittedly, I feel this is a hassle for longer pieces. If you’re writing a book or plan to use this tool frequently, you might want to purchase the desktop app, available for Mac and Windows.

The app allows you to import your writing, perform edits , then export to text, PDF, or DOC. If you’re a blogger, the app can also export as HTML or Markdown — it even lets you publish directly to WordPress or Medium.

• Big-picture feedback, including style and formatting
• Easily identifiable color-coded errors
• Online editor is free
• Desktop app is a one-time fee: an affordable $19.99
• Can export from desktop app to TXT, PDF, DOC, HTML, or Markdown
• Makes more indirect suggestions, allowing you to maintain a feeling of control over your writing
• Does not catch spelling errors
• Does not make specific suggestions
• No browser extension
• Not meant for Gmail or Facebook , like other proofreading apps on this list
• Even Hemingway doesn’t always pass the Hemingway test, showing that following the many rules of writing shouldn’t ever be a hard-and-fast rule

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6. Quillbot

Quillbot is unique as a proofreading software, in that it uses AI for many of it's tools.

And it has a lot of different tools, some of which you won't find on other items on this list. For instance, you can use Quillbot to paraphrase short phrases so you're not plagiarizing, or if you just want to say something a different way.

Funny enough, I thought Quillbot was the first AI-powered tool that I reviewed here, but turns out all of these tools use an AI engine in one form or another, but Quillbot makes it more obvious. It's got a couple of great AI-powered features that I enjoyed playing with.

You will find the following with Quillbot:

• Paraphraser
• Grammar Checker
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

How much does Quillbot cost?

• $19.95/month
• $13.33/month, billed semi-annually
• $8.33/month, billed annually

Is there a free version of Quillbot?

Yes, there is a free version of Quillbot, and it comes with the following:

• up to 125 words in the Paraphraser
• Limited modes for the grammar checker
• 3 synonym options
• 1,200 words on the Summarizer

Note that the premium version offers much more for each of these, and also includes faster processing speed, advanced grammar rewrites, and the plagiarism checker.

Quillbot has an excellent grammar checker , and while I think the program caters better to students and academic papers, it still has some nifty AI tools that come in handy.

• A paraphraser
• A summarizer
• A plagiarism checker
• A citation generator
• Affordable pricing
• There is a free version
• Limited options in the free version
• No lifetime purchase option
• Better at short documents and academic papers than long-form writing

You may have heard of some of the following. While some have their good sides, most of these we don't recommend. Here is a bit about each of them and links to our reviews.

• WhiteSmoke: WhiteSmoke is a highly-rated Natural Language Processing proofreader with one-click correction, translation, and plagiarism detection, but has a 10,000 character limit, inaccurate suggestions, no free trial, slow support, and high yearly cost with no monthly billing. See our review .
• LanguageTool: LanguageTool is an affordable proofreading tool for teams with grammar, style, and number checks, but has strict character limits, no Safari support, and limitations for long-form writing. See our review.
• PaperRater: PaperRater is a proofreading software emphasizing its free plagiarism checker, and also offers spelling, grammar, style, and readability checks, along with premium document upload options, but it's not the best because of its English-only limitation, outdated website, slow online editor, ad-filled free version, and restrictive word count checks (1,500 for free users, 6,000 for premium). See our review.
• Slick Write: Slick Write is a free but limited proofreading tool with useful features but subpar usability compared to premium alternatives like Hemingway Editor and ProWritingAid. See our review.
• PerfectIt: PerfectIt is a proofreading program designed specifically for professional editors with useful formatting consistency checks but limited to Microsoft Word with no grammar or spelling checks, best for editing technical documents rather than book manuscripts. See our review.
• Wordtune: Wordtune is an AI-powered sentence rewriting tool with a free version and useful suggestions to improve clarity and concision, but an unintuitive interface, nonsensical recommendations, and expensive premium version limit its value. See our review.

BONUS: Fictionary

Fictionary is another platform that I highly recommend, but for different reasons than other options on this list. Fictionary is a web-based editing software designed to simplify the developmental editing process for writers and editors.

Did you catch that? It's a “developmental” editing program, not a grammar/spelling editing program. That's why I'm including it as a bonus here instead of a true competitor with the rest. It's in a league of its own.

How much does Fictionary cost?

• Storyteller:  $19/month or $14/month with annual billing
• Storyteller Premium:  $29/month or $21.58/month with annual billing
• StoryCoach:  $49/month or $33.25/month with annual billing (editors only)

Is there a free version of Fictionary?

There is not a free version of Fictionary, but you can try the tool out for a 14-day free trial.

• Unique take on editing
• Ease of use and design
• Good documentation
• Great visual tools
• A lot of legwork required of the author
• Not subplot tracking
• Limited sentence-level editing

Can proofreading software replace a human proofreader? No, a proofreading checker cannot replace a human editor.

When you use Grammarly or ProWritingAid or any of the proofreading tools we’ve talked about, your writing may improve. But this does not mean you should skip hiring an editor before publishing.

Every author needs to have their work professionally edited by a qualified human editor before it is released to the public, bar none. Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, Nora Roberts — they all use editors, and for good reason.

If you don’t think a proofreading tool can meet your unique needs, then hiring a professional proofreader is a viable option. It will cost a pretty penny (about $0.01 per word, which adds up quickly). But if this is what works for you, then great!

How do you become a certified proofreader? You can become a professional proofreader by earning a certificate in Editing and/or Proofreading through various institutions. There are long-distance learning opportunities for at-home learners.

What software do professional proofreaders use? Professional proofreaders use various softwares to check their clients’ work. Many use native spell checkers and grammar checkers alongside their own skills. Others may use Grammarly, Hemingway, or PerfectIt to catch any mistakes they might miss.

Which online proofreading software is best for you?

The results of my hunt for the best proofreading software are ProWritingAid vs. Grammarly vs. Ginger vs. Hemingway . Each tool has its strengths and weaknesses, and some authors will want to invest in more than one.

• ProWritingAid proofreads grammatical errors and spelling mistakes in real-time, as well as big picture feedback for strengthening your writing. It also comes with a one-time payment option, which can help you save money in the long run.
• Grammarly is an excellent tool for everyday life (think emails, Facebook posts, comments on a blog). And it can also help people writing books, blogs, or essays catch spelling and grammar mistakes in their writing — more so than a default text editor.
• Ginger is a reliable alternative to Grammarly, with some cool extra features such as the text reader and translator.
• Hemingway is a handy software for people writing longer or persuasive pieces, like a nonfiction book or essay. Although Hemingway is by no means a magic wand, using a combination of this tool and your own brain can make you a stronger writer.

If I had to pick one tool from the list, it would be ProWritingAid. That's because it does better with long-form content, and has a lifetime subscription option.

And one of the cool things about that lifetime subscription is that you can get a 20% discount when you buy ProWritingAid through my link and with the code KINDLEPRENEUR20.

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

Related Posts

How to self-edit a children’s picture book: ultimate guide, prowritingaid coupons and discount codes (updated for 2024), masterwriter review: pros, cons, and what i recommend, sell more books on amazon, standardized editorial test.

Picking the right editor for your book can be hard. We authors don’t really know how to compare two editors and see which one is better…until now. When you go to hire an editor, have them take this test sample article. Then look at our answer key and see which editor scored the best. That way you know their level of quality.

11 thoughts on “ The Best Proofreading Software To Use: 2024 Edition ”

This review was extremely helpful. I am a medical writer and have used the free version of Grammarly. I found the premium version was recommending their style of writing as opposed to a style that is more commonly used and acceptable in creating science-related articles. So I do use Grammarly free version. I did not find PerfectIt to be sympatico with my writing style and I did not purchase it after the 14-day free trial.

I am sufficiently curious about the quality of translation from English into other languages to try Ginger or ProWritingAid. I have shared this URL with colleagues because it is very complete and easy to read. Thank you so much. Stephen

Thanks Stephen. That means a lot to hear, and if you get any info back, let me know.

It’s interesting to paste your post “best meal delivery services for one person” to ProWritingAid and see the report.

Interestingly for the following sentence, “Finding recipes and high-quality ingredients for these popular diets can be time consuming, but Factor 75 makes it simple by sending out delicious, fully prepared, single-serving meals every week.”

It says “Possible missing a hyphen” in “time consuming”. Then you click on “Realtime” twice to force it off and on and do a recheck, it then says “Don’t use a hyphen when this follows a verb”. This is really confusing.

That is interesting. I haven’t encountered this before. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I’ll look for ways to address this the next time I update the article!

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Ernest Hemingway fans celebrate the author’s 125th birthday in his beloved Key West

Ernest Hemingway spent the 1930s in Key West, Florida — and more than six decades after his death, fans, scholars and relatives continue to congregate on the island city to celebrate the author’s award-winning novels and adventure-filled life. (AP Video/David Fischer)

A second-floor balcony at the Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Ernest Hemingway and his then-wife, Pauline, bought the home in 1931. It was turned into a museum in 1964. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

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Curator Cori Convertito shows off Ernest Hemingway’s World War I ambulance driver uniform and other belongings at Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House in Key West, Florida, on July 15, 2024. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

Curator Cori Convertito shows off a model of Ernest Hemingway’s fishing boat, Pilar, at Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House in Key West, Florida, on Monday, July 15, 2024.

A polydactyl cat at the Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. About 60 cats with a genetic mutation for extra toes continue to live at the estate. Some of these cats are descendants of the original white six-toed cat that Ernest Hemingway was gifted from a ship’s captain. Hemingway and his then-wife, Pauline, bought the home in 1931. It was turned into a museum in 1964. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

Former Hemingway Look-Alike Contest winners prepare to judge the 2024 contest at Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

Stephen Hemingway Adams, right, a great-grandson of Ernest Hemingway, speaks with 2023 Hemingway Look-Alike Contest winner Gerrit Marshall at Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

A view of the Key West Lighthouse from the grounds of the Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Ernest Hemingway and his then-wife, Pauline, bought the home in 1931. It was turned into a museum in 1964. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. The bar was a favorite hangout of Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s and has hosted the Hemingway Days festival since 1981. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

Historian Corey Malcom shows off an early draft of Ernest Hemingway’s 1937 novel, “To Have and Have Not,” with Hemingway’s handwritten notes in the margins at the Florida Keys History Center in Key West, Florida, on Monday, July 15, 2024. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

The Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Ernest Hemingway and his then-wife, Pauline, bought the home in 1931. It was turned into a museum in 1964. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

Hemingway Look-Alike Contest hopefuls take the stage at Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

Historian Corey Malcom shows off some of Ernest Hemingway’s old school papers at the Florida Keys History Center in Key West, Florida, on Monday, July 15, 2024. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

Ernest Hemingway’s office at the Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Hemingway and his then-wife, Pauline, bought the home in 1931. It was turned into a museum in 1964. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

The stairs leading to Ernest Hemingway’s office at the Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Hemingway and his then-wife, Pauline, bought the home in 1931. It was turned into a museum in 1964. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

The swimming pool at the Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Ernest Hemingway and his then-wife, Pauline, bought the home in 1931. It was turned into a museum in 1964. (AP Photo/David Fischer)

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Ernest Hemingway spent the 1930s in Key West, Florida, and more than six decades after his death, fans, scholars and relatives continue to congregate on the island city to celebrate the author’s award-winning novels and adventure-filled life.

Hemingway Days started in 1981 with a short-story competition and a look-alike contest. This year’s celebration concluded Sunday on the 125th anniversary of Hemingway’s birth on July 21, 1899.

As a novelist, short-story writer and journalist, Hemingway’s spot in the pantheon of American literature is undeniable and his legacy permeates the culture and character of Key West.

Hemingway’s great-grandson, Stephen Hemingway Adams, was born nearly three decades after Hemingway died. Adams said working with his grandfather, Patrick Hemingway, who was Ernest Hemingway’s second son, helped him gain a deeper understanding of his famous ancestor.

“I got to work with my granddad, and we put out a book called ‘Dear Papa,’ which was all of the letters between Ernest and my grandfather,” Adams said.

The difference between the public perception and the documented reality of Hemingway can be fuzzy. He loved big-game fishing in the Caribbean and hunting in Africa. He loved bullfighting, baseball, boxing and barhopping. But he also was a serious artist who won Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. He put so much of his life experiences into his writing that it can be tricky to separate the man from the myth.

Adams said he’s fine with some people loving the adventurer more than the writer.

“I think it’s a split, and I think that’s what’s fun,” Adams said of the throngs of look-alikes who visit Key West every year.

The Key West that Hemingway first visited in 1928 was a rustic fishing village, not a bustling tourist destination. Hemingway and his second wife, Pauline, had only planned a brief stop to pick up a car during their move from Paris to Arkansas, where Pauline’s family lived. But the car wasn’t ready and they had to wait several weeks.

Hemingway quickly made friends with local business owners and fishermen. The couple made frequent visits to the island, and Pauline’s uncle eventually bought the couple a French Colonial home on a 1.5-acre (0.61-hectare) lot in 1931.

After spending most of his 20s in Paris, Hemingway embraced the vastly different island lifestyle, according to Cori Convertito, a curator at Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House.

“He doesn’t come here to act like a recluse and just write,” Convertito said. “He’s out at the bars all the time. He’s out fishing with people. He’s interacting in boxing matches.”

Convertito pointed out that Hemingway was in his 30s for most of the time he lived in Key West, not the white-bearded “Papa Hemingway” most look-alike contestants emulate. “A Farewell to Arms” was finished shortly after he began visiting Key West and that book’s reception, along with his coverage of the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, increased his fame.

Much of Hemingway’s time in Key West was devoted to big-game fishing with friends. Convertito said Hemingway began to pioneer new techniques after getting his own boat, the Pilar, in 1934.

“He was desperate to land a fully intact marlin,” Convertito said.

The slow process of reeling in a trophy fish left them vulnerable to sharks, similar to the giant marlin caught in Hemingway’s 1952 novel, “The Old Man and the Sea.”

Hemingway focused on catching fish and removing them from the water quickly. He was an early member of the International Game Fish Association and named a vice president in 1940.

He also became an advocate for the Florida Keys and the people who lived there. “To Have and Have Not,” which was published in 1937, is set in a Key West ravaged by the Great Depression.

Hemingway was a vocal critic of how the federal government responded to the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. The official death toll was 423, but more than 250 of the fatalities were World War I veterans hired through a federal jobs program to build the Overseas Highway, which connects the Florida Keys to mainland Florida.

Hemingway drove an ambulance during World War I and felt a particular kinship with the veterans. Corey Malcom, a historian with the Florida Keys History Center, said Hemingway joined the recovery efforts and used his own boat to pull bodies out of the ocean.

Michael Morawski, CEO of the Hemingway Home & Museum , credits his great-aunt, Bernice Dixon, as one of the first people to help preserve Hemingway’s legacy in Key West. The local jewelry store owner bought the house for $80,000 in 1961, shortly after Hemingway’s death. The home became a museum in 1964 and eventually was designated a National Historic Landmark.

“The only reason that she did it was to create a living memorial to Ernest Hemingway,” Morawski said.

Besides the historical and literary significance of the home, the museum also is famous for housing the Hemingway cats. About 60 polydactyl cats with a genetic mutation for extra toes continue to live at the estate. Some of these cats are descendants of the original white, six-toed cat that Hemingway was gifted from a ship’s captain.

The Hemingway Days festival started as a promotional stunt for Sloppy Joe’s Bar, one of Hemingway’s favorite hangouts. Michael Whalton was working as a manager at the bar in 1980 when he read about a Bad Hemingway Contest, where writers parodied Hemingway’s sparse, blunt style.

Whalton decided a look-alike contest and other activities around Hemingway’s July birthday might be a great way to attract customers during the island’s slow season, when hot and humid weather scares many tourists away.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Whalton said. “I was getting nervous because we didn’t have anybody signed up for the look-alike contest, so I called everybody I knew in Key West who had a beard.”

The turnout was better than expected. The author’s younger brother, Leicester Hemingway, contacted Whalton and agreed to judge the look-alike contest with his wife and daughters. Whalton convinced another granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, Lorian Hemingway, to judge a short story contest.

David Douglas, president of the Hemingway Look-Alike Society , began attending the competition in 2000 and won in 2009. The 70-year-old Houston resident continues to return every year as a judge.

“I love the contest, I love the camaraderie all the contestants,” Douglas said.

David “Bat” Masterson, of Daytona Beach, became the newest “Papa” on Saturday. The retired pilot beat out 121 others in this year’s look-alike contest.

The look-alike group has evolved over the years into a service organization with hundreds of members around the world that has funded more than $350,000 in scholarships for Florida Keys students. The organization also sponsors a youth baseball team in Cuba , where Hemingway moved after leaving Florida.

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If A.I. Is Coming for Comedy Writers, Simon Rich Is Ready

The author of humorous short stories finds emotional connections in tales that engage with tech. But he’s more interested in the ties between humans.

By Jason Zinoman

The author Simon Rich believes it’s only a matter of time before artificial intelligence will be able to outwrite any human. Specifically, four years. So, what’s the twist?

That’s what you wait for in a Simon Rich story, one of pop culture’s most consistently funny genres, with a foundation built like a classic joke: a tight premise developed in clear language, some misdirection, and then a pivot, delivered as quickly as possible.

Rich, whose 10th collection of short stories, “ Glory Days ,” was released this week, said his dark view of the future was informed by a longtime friendship with an A.I. scientist, who recently showed him a chatbot the public hasn’t seen. It’s more raw, unpredictable, creative.

“Even though I don’t know anything about A.I. really, I’ve been processing it emotionally for several years longer than everyone,” he told me in his Los Angeles home office one afternoon in May.

He considered the implications of artificial intelligence displacing human creativity in “ I Am Code ,” a book he helped edit last year that featured A.I.-crafted poetry. The theme is also deeply woven into his new collection, his most mature effort yet, which includes some regular obsessions like “Back to the Future”-style encounters between generations, dystopia and the inner life of video game characters.

“The whole book is basically about different types of obsolescence,” he said of “Glory Days,” whose other organizing theme is early midlife crisis. There’s a story about Super Mario turning 40 (Rich just did, too) and a spiky rant from the perspective of New York City itself. It’s about “the great migration when an entire generation discovers they are too old to live in New York,” he said.

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