I will go into more detail in a minute, but basically it works by displaying your text in a new window that you will probably keep on top of your Word window. So, I can use it on a laptop in my garden! Basic Usage It does not rely on an internet connection to operate and there is no online version. Unlike systems like the Grammarly add-in, StyleWriter works as an independent application in conjunction with Word, rather than trying to just extend Word's capabilities. Like many tools of its kind, it appears to be initially aimed at corporate writers rather than those writing novels, but it is so ridiculously customizable that this doesn't have to be an issue. It does not attempt to be a grammar checker, suggesting comma placement, for instance, but to be honest, those programmes I have tried that attempted that feat produced very inconsistent results anyway. StyleWriter analyses your document looking at the text for everything from long sentences to use of jargon, spelling issues, overuse of common words and so on. I am not going into an in-depth review of StyleWriter, but am going to concentrate on looking at it from my own point of view as an author. So, here is a short guide and some thoughts aimed at novelists rather than journalists! What it does - more or less Out of the box, it can be an eyeful for the author who is more interested in their sentences, and less interested in a huge pile of statistics. Note, however, that the prices on the website are EXCLUDING VAT, but this is not made clear on the purchase web page, so the prices quoted are misleading - it is $180 for the standard edition.
#Stylewriter 4 free trial#
I have just finished the 14-day trial and have found it useful enough to purchase the standard edition. StyleWriter 4 is an add-in for Microsoft Word that analyses your document to help improve your writing style. There are tons of useful bits in there, including for double spacing after sentences. Then open up the additional grammar settings to fine tune. Go to options, proofing, and select Grammar and More from the dropdown. I strongly suggest that you use Word's better grammar tools instead of spending more money on ANY third-party grammar tools. I am happy about only allowing one installation per user or only on one machine, but limiting the number of activations is, to my mind, pure greed, nothing else. Also, when I did try to re-install it for curiosity, it said I had exceeded the number of activations. Certainly, I am not sure it is worth the price any longer. I am also unsure how active development is now. UPDATE: Since I wrote this, the grammar tools in MS Word have improved considerably, so I no longer use StyleWriter.