For writing help, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of online services offering various proofreading functions, including spellchecking, grammar checking and more.  I’ve used many of them and, for the most part, their results are acceptable.  They’re neither perfect nor exceptional – but a slightly corrected copy is always better than nothing.

Desktop-based grammar checkers like WhiteSmoke, on the surface, work much the same way  as their online equivalents.  Use both for any amount of time, though, and the difference will be apparent.

Since online services are largely limited by server resources, you can bet that they’ll only perform the most basic of grammar features.  It will probably catch spelling, punctuation and a few other blatant faults, items that can be verified without using too much intensive processing.  An English grammar software, on the other hand, won’t carry the same limitations.  As such, it can perform the same functions that online checkers will do, while having the ability to do a lot more.

Apart from regular spelling and grammar checks, computer-based English writing software can also analyze writing styles, give suggestions in comprehensibility and facilitate advanced proofreading functions that can sometimes mimic a live editor.  There’s really no comparison.  If you need a grammar checker, ditch the online services and stick to desktop-based solutions – it will pay off better in the long run.

The use of commas can prove a tricky trap when writing in English.  Used too much, sentences can feel disjointed and rambling.  Used too sparingly, they can feel like an exhausting discourse.

When are the right times to use a comma?

• separating items in a sentence (e.g. You can buy a Nokia, Samsung, Motorola or LG phone.)
• separating descriptions (e.g. It features long battery life, quiet operation and an extended warranty.)
• when a statement is intended for a person (e.g. Do you agree with that, Jim?)
• when writing dates and addresses
• when using introductory words and phrases (e.g. Apart from the hardware, the new phone packs an assortment of software bundles.)

A common mistake is using a comma instead of a period, even when a sentence-ending punctuation is appropriate.  As a rule, if you can end a statement with a period then don’t hesitate to do so.  If you want to be sure you’re not using too much or too little commas in your writing, always run your written piece through a software for grammar and vocabulary such as WhiteSmoke.   With a thorough and exhaustive system that will run through your writing, you can sit back and be confident that your paragraphs don’t bear any commas that are out of their right place.

Most school essays are, for the most part, opinion articles with a modicum of facts peppered in as supporting ideas.  When writing an essay, follow these steps and you might just save yourself a couple of hours of unnecessary work.

1. When researching the topic of your essay, focus on important facts.  Every subject has a multitude of facets, which can make research more work than is necessary.  Focus on the major details and base your eventual essay from there.

2. Gather other people’s opinions on the subject.  This is easier than ever with the web providing countless amounts of review and opinion pieces on almost everything under the sun.

3. Once you’ve decided on which position you will write your essay (e.g.  you want to contend that Whitesmoke is the best English writing software), pick out all the opinion pieces that support your conclusion.

4. Create an outline detailing the most important points you want to get across.  Use the research facts as well as opinion pieces as your basis for this.  All essay outlines will need an Introduction, a Body and a Conclusion.  In the Introduction, list down three major facts about the subject of your research that are most relevant to your essay.  In the Body section of your outline, list down the major arguments made in the opinion pieces you researched that support your position.  You can leave the Conclusion blank for the outline as it will essentially be a summary of everything you’ve written up to that point.

Part II of the article on the actual composition and presentation coming tomorrow!

WhiteSmoke is writing software that helps writers in the writing process. Ideally, the software helps you, by analyzing their spelling, language use and punctuation and suggesting alternatives aimed at improving your written work. For writers that use English, as a second language the infusion of English software into the program is an added advantage as it helps them with all aspects of the English language.

The use of WhiteSmoke writing software and English software does not affect the programs compatibility with Microsoft Windows operating systems. In fact, you can complete your original work on any text application, for instance Ms Word, Ms Excel and web-based programs and later use WhiteSmoke to check for grammar and spelling errors.

To use WhiteSmoke effectively, first install it onto your PC, and then type out the text in whichever application you choose to use. After completing this, select the text and prompt WhiteSmoke to scan it for errors. The active writing software makes suggestions on any sentence construction errors. For advanced writers, the range of vocabulary available from WhiteSmoke caters for all their writing needs. For beginners, the English software helps them out with their spelling, punctuation and general sentence construction.

Generally, the WhiteSmoke spell checker highlights all misspelled words in red, while grammatical errors are highlighted in green. Moving the cursor over the highlighted areas suggests a wide range of corrections that appear at the foot of your screen. You as the writer have the liberty of either accepting the suggestions or rejecting them. After going through all the suggestions provided by both the writing software and the English software, you can choose to read your written work again to check the flow and consistency and then close WhiteSmoke.

Having gone through these stages, I think that WhiteSmoke passes the test as good writing software, the only downside being that you would need the internet to be running throughout the time you need to use the program. This is mainly because the Program’s database is updated constantly. Using the software offline could therefore be frustrating.

Overall, WhiteSmoke is the ideal writing software for people seeking a fresh perspective in their written work because it has a variety of suggestions that writers could use to improve their written work. For beginners, WhiteSmoke offers a variety of grammatical and punctuation suggestions that could aide them realize their dream of be coming renowned writers in the world.

If yu want to know more about WhiteSmoke, please visit bestenglishsoftware.com

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