While most attorneys write often, many do not write well. Poor legal writing is a time-honored tradition passed down from partner to associate. It is full of archaic terminology, redundant phrases, and unnecessary words. While striving for precision, it lacks clarity.
Impending deadlines compound the issue. Editing is most effective after stepping away from the document for hours or even days. If you finish the initial draft just before it is due, there is no time to step away before editing.
In an ideal world, everyone would have time to step away from their writing before editing, and a great writer would review the language. Barring that, technology can help. Technology, at least at this juncture, is not a complete replacement for human eyes, but it can help. Just be sure to take everything recommended by software with a grain of salt.
WordRake
When most people think of software making edits, WordRake comes to mind. WordRake includes a very impressive demo on its website, showcasing all that it has to offer. WordRake has add-ins available for both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook. It works on both Windows and macOS.
It does not, however, work on iOS or Android. There are no browser extensions, and there is no option to copy and paste text into a browser for analysis. Further, you are limited to installing the software on one computer per license.
The Word add-in installs in its a separate WordRake ribbon. It quickly analyzes your text with the click of a button. Recommended changes appear inline with buttons to accept or reject the changes, much like Word’s built-in redline features. It does not offer any context or guidance with its recommendations; the recommendations stand alone. The author must determine whether to accept the proposed change, manually edit the text in another manner, or reject the suggestion altogether.
Generally, the add-in proposes helpful revisions. Although it is not perfect, for a writer struggling with writing clearly and concisely, the recommendations can be a gamer changer.
Grammarly
Personally, as a Windows and iPad user, I prefer Grammarly to WordRake. Grammarly has a Word add-in for Windows users only; there is no Word add-in avoid for macOS users. However, both macOS and Windows users can use a stand-alone program installed on their computers. One Grammarly license can be installed on up to 5 devices, allowing you to edit from your desk or on the go.
Grammarly also has browser extensions available for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. The browser extensions only work on Windows and macOS devices; they do not work on iOS or Android devices. However, Grammarly has a keyboard app available for mobile devices. Unfortunately, this app does not work if you have an external keyboard connected to your mobile device.
When all else fails, Grammarly has a web portal where text can be copied and pasted for analysis. While this solution is less than ideal, I’ll take typing on iPad with my external keyboard and copying and pasting into a website for recommendations over typing with onscreen keyboard any day of the week. The onscreen keyboard is better suited for drafting quick emails from cellphones.
While I like the ability to analyze text on my iPad quickly, I love how Grammarly explains the suggestions. Grammarly doesn’t just make recommendations; it tells you why it is making the recommendation. Armed with their explanation, writers have a better chance of making the right decision when it comes to accepting or rejecting the proposal.
Grammarly’s edits do not appear like tracked changes; instead, the offending language is color-coded, but the type of offense and a pane on the side of the documents proffers a rewrite (or multiple suggestions on how to rewrite the language at issue). However, for sentences that Grammarly views as wordy, it often doesn’t suggest how to rewrite the sentence. It leaves that up to the author’s discretion. WordRake would rewrite that sentence for you, for better or worse.
Accepting or rejecting changes is easy with Grammarly. To accept the change, simply click on the proposed change in the Grammarly pane; to reject it, click on the trash can icon in the pane.
In Summary
Both WordRake or Grammarly are great ways to supplement your own editing. Which one makes the most sense for you depends on how you draft and the amount of information you want to receive with your proposed edits. While there are other alternatives out there, these two are the most popular with the legal profession for their ability to make complex writing clear and concise.
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