In today’s world, it’s not surprising to encounter artificial intelligence (AI) at almost every corner of our daily lives. From our smartphones to our homes, AI has become a prominent factor in our tech-savvy society.
One of the ways that it is being used, by students, teachers, and employees, is for proofreading purposes. So, the question is: how reliable are these tools and should you, no matter if you’re a writer, student, teacher, or office worker, utilise these tools to proofread?
Let’s explore the answer to this very question below.
What Do AI Proofreading Tools Do?
AI proofreading tools are software applications that deploy AI to check the spelling, grammar, punctuation and other literary errors in written (digital) text. With the importance of accuracy and clarity in written texts like emails and reports, AI proofreading tools can appear as saviours for those who simply don’t have the time (or energy) to read through paragraphs.
We all know how tiring it can be having to read pages of text after a long day – a fresh pair of eyes, or in this case, innovative software, can be better than your own tired ones.
An AI proofreading tool can also be useful for individuals who aren’t particularly familiar with the nuances of the English (or other) language and various style guides, making it ideal for those who aren’t fluent/native to the language or have a degree or qualification in linguistics.
The Unreliability of AI
While the influence and dominance of AI shouldn’t be overlooked – after all, the UK AI market is forecasted to grow to £803.7 billion by 2035 – this doesn’t mean that you should shed all of your concerns about the technology.
AI is powerful and useful, but you have the right to be slightly afraid. Not the ‘robots will rise against us’ type of fear (though still very valid), but the fear that the AI proofreading tool doesn’t proofread your work properly.
AI’s Limitations
Some AI proofreading tools aren’t able to proofread more than one language at a time, and others are simply monolingual, with the only option being US English – which, by the way, is different to UK English.
This means that if you’re a copywriting professional catering to a UK audience for a UK brand, your AI proofreading tool is likely to favour US English, resulting in a copy that’s not localised and less likely to engage your target audience.
Complex sentence structures and context can also be difficult for AI proofreading tools to comprehend, leading to inaccurate or unnecessary suggestions that disrupt the flow of your writing.
AI as a Tool, Not the Solution
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t overly depend on AI proofreading tools for correcting and clarifying your work. Proofreading is a key skill that any individual should have, especially for writers, journalists, and students.
With proofreading, you can easily enhance other skills such as:
– Attention to detail – proofreading allows you to check every detail, correcting minor mistakes that could’ve been easily missed
– Time management – with deadlines to meet, you’ll have to learn how to manage your time efficiently to ensure that you can finish and proofread your work
As you can see, proofreading doesn’t have to be a chore for you to do – it’s also an excellent opportunity for you to grow your skills.
Instead of relying on AI proofreading software solely for editing and proofreading, it’d be wiser to simply utilise them as a tool, rather than the final solution. This means that while you can put your work through AI proofreading software, make sure to also proofread and check your writing yourself.
If you’re a business owner looking for human-led services in copywriting, our talented team at Precise English has got you covered. Although AI continues to evolve, and we’re likely to see the emergence of newer and better AI proofreading tools, human-led proofreading, copyediting, and copywriting won’t be going anywhere anytime soon either.
Take advantage of our human-led services and enhance your brand messaging with Precise English. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
