My Favorite Editing Tools (and Why I Don’t Trust Them Alone)

If you’ve ever run your manuscript through Grammarly and thought, Great—this is basically edited now, you’re not alone.

Editing tools are powerful, helpful, and absolutely worth using. I use them myself. But they’re exactly that—tools, not editors.

Here’s a look at my favorite editing tools, what they’re great at, and why none of them can replace a human copyeditor.

1. Spellcheck (Yes, the Basic One)

Let’s start with the classic. Built-in spellcheck is often overlooked, but it’s excellent at catching:

  • Simple typos

  • Double words

  • Missing punctuation

  • Obvious spelling errors

Why I don’t trust it alone:
 Spellcheck can’t understand context. It won’t catch homophones (their/there/they’re), misused words, or sentences that technically work but sound awful.

2. Grammarly

Grammarly is one of the most popular tools for a reason. It’s great for:

  • Catching grammar and punctuation issues

  • Flagging passive voice

  • Spotting wordiness

  • Helping non-native English writers

Why I don’t trust it alone:
Grammarly often “corrects” things that are stylistic choices—especially dialogue, creative sentence fragments, or voice-driven prose. Blindly accepting suggestions can flatten your writing fast.

3. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is a favorite among fiction writers. It excels at:

  • Identifying repeated words and phrases

  • Highlighting sentence length variety

  • Spotting pacing issues

  • Offering style-based reports

Why I don’t trust it alone:
It generates a lot of feedback—some of it helpful, some of it unnecessary. Without experience, it’s easy to over-edit and strip away voice.

4. Hemingway Editor

Hemingway focuses on readability and clarity by:

  • Flagging long or complex sentences

  • Highlighting adverbs and passive voice

  • Assigning readability scores

Why I don’t trust it alone:
Not all good writing is “simple.” Literary, emotional, or nuanced prose often needs complexity. Hemingway can push everything toward the same blunt, minimal style.

5. Style Guides & Checklists

Tools don’t always come with software. Style guides (like Chicago or AP) and editing checklists are invaluable for:

  • Consistency

  • Formatting rules

  • Industry standards

Why I don’t trust them alone:
Rules can conflict, evolve, or need interpretation. A human editor knows when to follow the rule—and when to break it.

So…Why Use Editing Tools at All?

Because they’re fantastic at:

  • Speeding up the editing process

  • Catching surface-level errors

  • Helping writers revise more confidently

I often encourage writers to use tools before hiring an editor. A cleaner manuscript allows the editor to focus on clarity, flow, and nuance instead of fixing obvious errors. This can also decrease the cost because your editor will have to spend less time on your manuscript.

Why Human Editors Still Matter

Editing tools can’t:

  • Understand tone, voice, or intention

  • Evaluate dialogue realism

  • Track character development

  • Spot inconsistencies across chapters

  • Make judgment calls about style

They don’t know your audience.
They don’t know your goals.
They don’t know when breaking a rule is the right choice.

A human editor does.

The Best Approach: Tools + Human Expertise

The strongest manuscripts come from a combination of:

  • Smart tool usage

  • Careful self-revision

  • Professional editing

Think of editing tools as your first line of defense—not the final authority.

If you want help polishing your manuscript beyond what software can offer, I’m happy to help. Tools can catch errors, but an editor helps your writing shine.