Hemingway Editor
By Stephanie Trautman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Editing tool finds common errors, lacks any explanations.
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Hemingway Editor
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Terrible, waste of money
Just Okay
What’s It About?
HEMINGWAY EDITOR is a website (and an app) used to help writers identify ways to improve their writing. The site allows writers to write on it or copy and paste previously written pieces. Once turned onto editing mode, it will identify common writing mistakes. The writer doesn't need to heed all the advice provided, but the changes made to submissions can be used to think about one’s writing and how to improve it in ways a user may not have thought about on her own.
Is It Any Good?
The site is designed to help improve writing, but if you're not aware of grammar or editing processes, you may walk away slightly confused. Hemingway Editor is easy to use: You can cut and paste your writing into the editor or write on the space provided on the site. The Editing mode color-codes aspects of a submission that need editing. It's helpful for young writers (especially teens) because it provides document information, such as how many paragraphs are included, along with the sentence, word, character, and letter counts. It even states how long it takes to read the piece of writing.
Hemingway Editor also gives a sense of readability, rating a submission with a grade level with which it would coincide. The largest problem, which hampers the effectiveness of the site, is that the editor only tells writers what to change, not why to change it. It's important that young writers not only edit and revise their writing but also know why they're changing things. Students who aren't well-versed in grammar rules may find themselves more confused about the edits provided than enlightened by them. As a result, Hemingway Editor is a decent tool to check how strong a completed written piece may be, but its lack of explanation keeps it from being the best site for budding writers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the editing and revision process of writing. Why is editing important? Can you see how accurate writing is important in everyday life?
Talk about developing your own writer's voice. Why is it important that your voice and perspective stand out in your writing? Why should it be unique to you?
Website Details
- Subjects: Language & Reading : writing, writing clearly
- Skills: Self-Direction : academic development, Communication : conveying messages effectively
- Genre: Educational
- Pricing structure: Paid, Free (The website is free to use, but the desktop app (called Hemingway Editor 2.0) is $9.99 to download.)
- Last updated: September 15, 2020
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