How to download and use Grammarly in Google Docs to improve your writing

• You can use Grammarly in Google Docs by installing a browser extension.
• Grammarly makes spelling, grammar, and punctuation suggestions for free, though there's a premium subscription that adds additional features.
• If you set goals within your document for audience, formality, and tone, Grammarly makes custom recommendations to help you achieve your desired writing style.

Every one of us needs some help with our writing, which is why many people turn to spelling and grammar checkers. Microsoft has spent years honing the tools built into Microsoft Office, but what if you use Google Docs? A popular option is Grammarly, a free spelling and grammar checker that integrates into your browser and can correct your work everywhere you type online, including Google Docs.

Even though Grammarly for Google Docs is still in beta mode, it's easy to install and start using. It works in all common browsers, including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge - but the fullest experience with advanced suggestions are only available in Chrome.

How to install Grammarly for Google Chrome

1. Start Google Chrome and, if you haven't already installed the Grammarly for Chrome extension, go to the Grammarly for Chrome page and click Add to Chrome.

2. Confirm you want to install the extension by clicking Add extension.

3. The Grammarly web page should open. Log in to your Grammarly account or create a new free account.

4. Go to Google Docs in your browser and open a document. You should see the Grammarly icon (an arrow that curves into the shape of the letter G) or the total number of suggested edits in the document in the lower-right margin of the page. Click it to open the Grammarly sidebar.

Quick tip: You can install the Grammarly extension for other popular browsers, including Safari, Firefox, and Edge. Grammarly works largely the same in each of those browsers, though you'll get the fullest experience with the most suggestions in Chrome.

How to enable Grammarly in Google Docs

Once you have installed the Grammarly extension, you should be able to use it in Google Docs. If you don't see the Grammarly icon or the number of suggested edits, Grammarly might be disabled. To check:

1. Click the Extension icon in the toolbar at the top of the browser.

2. In the drop-down, click Grammarly.

3. Make sure Check for writing suggestions on Google Docs is turned on. The button should be swiped to the right.

How to use Grammarly sidebar in Google Docs

To start using Grammarly in Google Docs, open a Google Doc (or create a new document).

There are two ways to review the suggested edits:

• You should be able to see suggested edits in the document by looking for text with a red underline. You can hover your cursor over the red underlined text to see suggestions, and accept or reject them one by one.

• You can review your edits in the Grammarly sidebar. To do that, click the Grammarly icon in the lower-right margin of the page to tell Grammarly to display the number of suggested edits in the document. If you already see the number of suggested edits, click that number. The sidebar should appear and display all the suggested edits in a list. You can now work your way through the list, one item at a time, accepting or rejecting edits as you go. To accept a change, click the item you want to use. You can reject a suggestion by clicking the Dismiss icon shaped like a trashcan. To see additional context and details about the grammar rules behind a suggestion, click Learn more.

Quick tip: You might see an entry for Premium suggestions at the top of the sidebar. These are suggestions generally related to improving the style, clarity, and tone of your document, and you need to pay for a subscription to Grammarly to unlock these suggestions.

One advantage of using the sidebar is that it's easy to see at a glance how well your document scores in four categories Grammarly uses to assess your document: Correctness, Clarity, Engagement and Delivery. At the top of the sidebar you can see a fuel gauge score for each.

How to set goals on Grammarly in Google Docs

While Grammarly is a powerful tool for ensuring your spelling and grammar are correct, many people also rely on Grammarly to ensure their tone and presentation matches the document's intended audience. Grammarly can customize the suggestions it gives you based on how you set your document's goals. Here's how to use it:

1. If necessary, click the suggested edit counter at the bottom of the document to open the Grammarly sidebar.

2. Atop the sidebar, click the Adjust Goals button, which looks like an archery target.

3. In the Set goals window, choose the settings you want for this document. You can pick the audience, level of formality, tone and intent. If you're a premium subscriber, you can also choose the domain, such as academic, business, creative, and so on.

4. When you're finished, click Done.

You might now see the number of suggested edits change; the specific suggestions will vary depending on what document settings you choose. Grammarly will have a different suggestion for word choice, for example, depending on whether you're trying to appeal to a general audience or experts in this field.

Quick tip: The suggested edits you see may vary depending on whether you're using the free or premium version of Grammarly. You can't select Domain options using the free version. Moreover, Grammerly won't make suggestions related to engagement or delivery unless you're a premium user.