Online writing support

Marking Mate

Marking Mate

For proofreading and finding stylistic errors in your writing, Marking Mate is an excellent resource. Please note, however, that sometimes Marking Mate will tell you that you are repeating words and phrases too much. This may not be true - you have to make the decision about how often you should repeat things.

In your ESAC IWAs (23-24), for example, phrases such as 'property prices', 'intercultural communicative competence' and 'offshore wind turbines', will be repeated and should be repeated.

The picture below is linked to the website. Please click on the picture or use the link below.

 

Please note that this is not the same as 'MarkingMate' or 'Mark Mate'

Marking Mate website

Enter Text Here

Common Error Detector

Common Error Detector

This is an excellent resource from the Centre for Independent Language Learning (Hong Kong PolyU) which allows you to think about common errors that are made by Chinese writers of academic English.

Moreover, you can check your own writing to see how many of the common errors you have included. Copy and paste into the box at the bottom of the page:

I also recommend that you look through all the links that are available on this excellent resource

Both images are links to the Common Error Detector webpage. Click on the image to go to the webpage.

We would like to thank the creators of this valuable resource and to confirm that we do not have, nor do we claim to have, any copyright to this material.

Common Error Detector

Lingnan University Common Error Detector

Lingnan University have a very similar one to the Common Error detector. It may actually be exactly the same!

The picture below is a link to the website, or use the actual link below.

Lingnan University ELSS Common Error Detector

Write and Improve

Write and Improve is a free tool created by the University of Cambridge. There is a free version and a paid version which is specifically aimed at exam practice for IELTS and one of the Cambridge exams. We do not encourage you to use the paid version.

The picture below is a link to the website, or use the actual link below.

Write and Improve

Why are these 'not approved'?

These websites, such as Grammarly rely too much on AI and we therefore cannot recommend them. They do all the work for you.

The final product is not your work, it is mainly the work of the AI.

Caveat emptor means 'buyer beware'

These sites are commercial. They want your money or your personal information.

Anything on the internet that says that it is free, is not really free. By registering for and using ANY website, you are giving away some of your personal details. 

We do not endorse or promote any of these websites. They are here for your information only. If you choose to use them, and to pay for the service, we do not receive any payment.

 

Grammarly

PLEASE NOTE - GRAMMARLY IS NO LONGER RECOMMENDED FOR STUDENT USE

The website states that it can help you compose bold, clear, mistake-free writing by using Grammarly’s new AI-powered desktop Windows app. This suggests that it is restricted to Windows uses and clearly admits that it promotes the use of AI. Please remember that AI is only as good as the underlying algorithms and the writing style that we are teaching here may not be part of that algorithm. 

The picture below is linked to the website. Please click on the picture or use the link below.

 

 

Grammarly

Paper Rater

PaperRater.com also states that if can check grammar and spelling - but also states that it checks for plagiarism. It uses an AI system, so please be aware that the underlying algorithm might not match the academic style that we want you to learn here.

The picture below is linked to the website. Please click on the picture or use the link below.

 

 

Paper Rater

Slick Write

Slickwrite.com also states that if can check your grammar (especially) and also your style and it has extensions for Firefox and Chrome. It also uses an AI system, so please be aware that the underlying algorithm might not match the academic style that we want you to learn here.

The picture below is linked to the website. Please click on the picture or use the link below.

 

Link to Slickwrite website HERE

Slick Write