ChatGPT vs Grammarly – Free ChatGPT for Grammar Checks Prompts

In this guide, we will show you exactly how to use ChatGPT to fix your spelling and grammar mistakes. We have compared ChatGPT vs Grammarly in terms cost and ease of use for daily grammar needs.

We have all been there. You send an important email or post a status update, only to realize seconds later that you made a silly typo. It is embarrassing! Good grammar is important because it helps people understand you clearly.

For a long time, tools like spellcheck or Grammarly were the only options. But now, there is a new tool in town: ChatGPT. It is not just for answering questions or writing stories; it is also an amazing, free grammar checker. Let’s dive in.

Why Use ChatGPT for Grammar?

You might be wondering, “Why should I use ChatGPT when I have spellcheck?”

The answer is context.

Regular spellcheckers only look at one word at a time. They often miss mistakes where you used the wrong word. For example, using “their” instead of “there” might be missed. This happens because the word itself is spelled correctly.

ChatGPT is different. It reads your whole sentence to understand what you meant to say. It can fix:

  • Spelling errors (fixing “teh” to “the”)
  • Grammar mistakes (fixing “I has” to “I have”)
  • Punctuation (adding commas where they belong)
  • Awkward phrasing (making your sentences sound smoother)

Best of all? The basic version is completely free to use.

How to use ChatGPT for grammar check?

Follow these simple steps to turn ChatGPT into your personal editor.

Step 1: Open ChatGPT

First, you need to access the tool.

  • Open your web browser (like Chrome or Safari).
  • Type in chat.openai.com or go to the app if you have it on your phone.
  • Make sure you are signed into your account. If you don’t have one, sign up for free.
A screenshot of the ChatGPT home screen interface. The central text reads "Ready when you are." Below the input field, there are quick-action buttons for "Attach," "Search," "Study," and "Create image," serving as the starting point for grammar tasks.

Step 2: Prepare Your Text

Go to your document, email, or social media post. Highlight the text you want to check and copy it (Ctrl+C on Windows, Command+C on Mac).

Step 3: Enter the Grammar Check Prompt

A screenshot of the ChatGPT input screen where the user has typed a paragraph full of errors: "I want to plan a routeine where i can be consistent..." and ends with the direct command "please correct the grammar and spelling."

This is the most important part. You need to tell ChatGPT exactly what to do.

  • Paste your text into the message box in ChatGPT.
  • Before or after the text, type a specific command.

The Best Basic Prompt:

“Correct my grammar and spelling.”

Example:

Imagine you have a sentence with errors like: “this morning I were making the tour”

You would type:

Correct my grammar and spellings: “this morning I were making the tour”

Step 4: Review the Results

Hit Enter and watch ChatGPT work. In just a few seconds, it will give you the corrected version.

A screenshot of ChatGPT's response to the basic prompt. It displays the text: "Here is the corrected version with proper grammar and spelling," followed by a clean, error-free version of the user's paragraph about planning a routine and diet plan.

In our example, ChatGPT fixed the mistake perfectly:

  • Original: “I want to plan a routeine where i can be consistent for my workout study time and some time fro hobbies , Also make a diet plan with a tracker to keep  this routine simple yet effective repective of my old habbits as well as new to adopt also starting from today morning ill be taking tour

please correct the grammar and spellings”

  • Correction: “I want to plan a routine where I can be consistent with my workouts, study time, and some time for hobbies. Also, please create a diet plan with a tracker to keep this routine simple yet effective, considering both my old habits and the new ones I want to adopt.

Starting this morning, I’ll be taking a tour.”

It figured out that “routeine” should be “routine” and that “fro” was likely a typo for “for” That is smart!

Step 5: Copy and Paste

Once you are happy with the correction, copy the new text from ChatGPT. Then paste it back into your document.

ChatGPT vs. Grammarly: Which is Better for Grammar Checks?

You might be asking, “Should I cancel my Grammarly subscription?” Here is a quick comparison:

FeatureChatGPTGrammarly (Free)
CostFree (Basic)Free (Basic)
RewritingCan rewrite entire paragraphsLimited and Manual
ContextExcellent (understands meaning)Good
ConvenienceCopy-paste requiredWorks in browser
ExplanationsCan explain “why” in detailLimited explanations

Verdict: For quick, heavy rewriting or understanding why you made a mistake, ChatGPT is better. For simple, on-the-fly checks while you type in Google Docs or email, Grammarly is faster because it is automatic.

When You Should NOT Use ChatGPT for Grammar

While ChatGPT is powerful, it is not always the right tool for the job. Here are three scenarios where you should stick to other techniques:

  • Sensitive or Private Data: ChatGPT saves your conversations to train its models (unless you turn off history). Never paste confidential legal documents, medical records, or passwords into the chat for a grammar check.
  • Highly Creative or Stylistic Writing: If you are writing a poem or dialogue where you intentionally break grammar rules for effect, ChatGPT might “fix” the soul out of your writing. It tends to flatten unique voices into standard corporate English.
  • Plagiarism Checking: Do not try to use ChatGPT to check if your grammar correction is plagiarism-free. It is a text generator, not a plagiarism database.

How ChatGPT Improves Writing Over Time (Learning Angle)

One of the biggest advantages of ChatGPT over a simple “red underline” spellchecker is that it can actually teach you how to write better. Don’t just accept the fix—learn from it.

  • Ask “Why?”: If ChatGPT changes a sentence and you don’t understand why, ask it: “Why did you remove the comma in that sentence?” It will give you a mini grammar lesson.
  • Recognize Repeated Mistakes: After using it for a while, you might notice it keeps correcting “effect” to “affect.” Use this feedback to spot your own weak points.
  • Improve Rhythm and Clarity: Sometimes your grammar is perfect, but the sentence is boring. You can ask ChatGPT to “Improve the flow and rhythm of this paragraph.” It acts as a writing coach. It does more than just proofreading.

Common Mistakes People Make When Using ChatGPT for Grammar

Preemptive troubleshooting prevents frustration. Here is how to avoid the most common pitfalls:

  1. Pasting Huge Blocks of Text: If you paste a 50-page document, the AI will likely cut off halfway through or lose focus. Fix: Break your text into chunks of 500–1,000 words.
  2. Using Vague Prompts: If you just paste text without instructions, ChatGPT might think you want it to continue writing the story rather than fix it. Fix: Always start with “Proofread this:” or “Fix grammar:”.
  3. Forgetting to Specify Tone: If you don’t say otherwise, ChatGPT defaults to a formal, robotic tone. Fix: Specify “Keep the tone casual” or “Make it professional but friendly.”
  4. Blindly Copying Without Review: Sometimes ChatGPT includes conversational filler like “Here is the corrected text:” at the start. Fix: Always read the output before you hit send on that email!

Quick Comparison Table: When to Use ChatGPT vs Grammarly

To make your decision easier, here is a breakdown of when to use which tool.

ScenarioUse GrammarlyUse ChatGPT
Explaining the “Why”LimitedExcellent Tutor
Quick Typo FixesBest (Instant)Too Slow
Live Typing (Docs/Email)Best (Browser Extension)No Integration
Heavy RewritingLimitedBest (Total Overhaul)
Tone AdjustmentPaid Feature OnlyFree

Verdict: For quick, on-the-fly checks while you type, Grammarly is faster. For heavy rewriting or understanding why you made a mistake, ChatGPT is superior.

Advanced Tips: Get Even Better Results

The basic prompt works well, but you can do even more with these advanced tricks.

  1. The “Change Log” Request: It is annoying when the AI rewrites your text but doesn’t tell you what it changed. Always add this to your prompt: 

“Correct this text and list the changes you made in bullet points at the end.” This helps you learn from your mistakes.

A screenshot of a more advanced correction request. The user asks to "list the changes... in bullet points." The output shows the "Corrected Text" followed by a section titled "Changes Made (with explanations)," which breaks down specific fixes like "routeine → routine" (spelling) and "fro → for" (typo fix).
  1. Dialect Targeting: Grammar rules change depending on where you are. Be specific. Tell ChatGPT: 

“Check this for British English spelling (e.g., ‘colour’ instead of ‘color’) and Oxford punctuation rules.”

A screenshot showing a specific style request. The header reads "Corrected Text (British English + Oxford style)." The "Changes Made" section details adjustments like applying the "Oxford comma" to the list of "workouts, study time, and also have some time for hobbies" and ensuring British phrasing ("Starting from this morning").
  1. Tone-Based Correction: A sentence can be grammatically correct but sound rude. Ask for a “Tone Check” alongside the grammar check.

Prompt: “Fix the grammar in this email, but also ensure it sounds polite and empathetic, not robotic or cold.”

A screenshot of an email rewriting task. The user inputs a demanding email ("I need the update immediately") and asks to make it "polite and empathetic." ChatGPT transforms it into a professional message with phrases like "I hope you're doing well" and "I'd appreciate an update."
  1. The “Audience” Filter: Grammar isn’t one-size-fits-all. A text for a PhD professor needs different grammar than a text for Instagram.

Prompt: “Edit this text for an audience of high school students. Keep the grammar perfect but make the vocabulary simple and engaging.”

A screenshot of a tone adjustment task for academic text. The user asks to rewrite a paragraph about AI in education to sound "polite and empathetic, not robotic." The output changes formal words like "transforming" to "changing" to make the text sound more natural and approachable.
  1. The “Roast My Writing” Method: If you want to improve your skills, ask for harsh feedback.

Prompt: “Act as a strict book editor. Critique my sentence structure and tell me exactly why my writing feels weak in this paragraph.”

A screenshot of a "Strict Editor" persona. The user asks ChatGPT to "Act as a strict book editor" and critique a weak paragraph. The AI responds with "Blunt Editorial Critique," pointing out that the user's sentence "Writing well is important..." states the obvious and lacks insight ("This sentence says nothing new").

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can ChatGPT be used for grammar checks?

    Yes! ChatGPT is excellent at checking grammar. Because it is a “Large Language Model,” it has read millions of books and websites, so it knows exactly how correct English sentences should sound. It can fix spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.

    Does ChatGPT help improve grammar?

      Absolutely. Unlike a normal spellchecker that just fixes things, ChatGPT can act like a tutor. You can ask, “Why did you add a comma there?” or “How can I make this sentence sound more professional?” By reading its explanations, you can actually learn to write better over time.

      Is ChatGPT grammar check online free?

        Yes, the standard version of ChatGPT (GPT-3.5 or GPT-4o mini) is completely free to use online. You just need to sign up for an account at chat.openai.com. There is a paid version (Plus) that is faster and smarter. Still, the free version is more than enough for grammar checking.

        Will ChatGPT rewrite my whole sentence?

          It might! If your sentence is very confusing, ChatGPT might rewrite it completely to make it clear. If you don’t want this, make sure to use the prompt: “Fix grammar only, do not rewrite the sentence.”

          Is ChatGPT better than Grammarly?

            It depends. Grammarly is better for quick, clickable fixes inside your browser while you type. ChatGPT is better for heavy rewriting and stylistic changes. If you need to rephrase a clumsy paragraph entirely, ChatGPT wins. If you just want to catch typos as you type, Grammarly is faster.

            Can ChatGPT check for plagiarism while fixing grammar?

              No, not reliably. ChatGPT generates text based on patterns. It does not have a live database of all student essays or books to check for plagiarism. Do not rely on it to “clear” your work for Turnitin. You need a dedicated plagiarism checker for that.

              Will ChatGPT rewriting make my text sound AI-generated?

                It can, if you are not careful. If you just say “Fix this,” ChatGPT often strips away your personality and uses “corporate” words (like “delve” or “ensure”). To avoid this, add instructions like: “Keep my original tone” or “Do not use complex words.”

                Does ChatGPT understand technical or medical jargon?

                  Yes, often better than standard spellcheckers. If you are writing a medical paper, you can prompt: “Correct the grammar but do not change the specific medical terminology.” This prevents the AI from “autocorrecting” a rare drug name into a common word.

                  Can I paste an entire 50-page thesis at once?

                    No. ChatGPT has a “context window” (a limit on how much text it can read at once). If you paste too much, it will cut off the end. You should break your document into smaller chunks (like 1,000 words at a time) to ensure it checks every single sentence thoroughly.

                    Can ChatGPT check grammar in other languages?

                      Yes! Unlike many standard spellcheckers that are English-only, ChatGPT is multilingual. You can paste text in Spanish, French, German, or Japanese and ask it to correct the grammar. It can even explain the grammatical rules of that specific language to help you learn.

                      Check out more ChatGPT Hacks on AppliedAI Tools

                      Make the most of ChatGPT for your personal or workplace productivity:

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