I wrote my master's thesis in 2018, and here is my honest evaluation of today's English tools
by Shitsukan (MSc in Museum Studies, University of Leicester, Merit)
I'll be honest.
When I was writing my master's thesis in the UK in 2018, the only tool I could really use was Google Translate.
DeepL's Japanese support was still weak, and ChatGPT didn't even exist. I knew about Grammarly, but almost no other international students I knew were using it.
Writing an 80,000-character master's thesis as a non-native English speaker was that kind of era.
Seven years later, when I looked into the tools available to international students today, I honestly felt envious.
At the same time, I also felt that I was in a position to properly evaluate which ones are actually useful.
In this article, I will provide a flat comparison of four tools for international students writing English academic papers.
What are the actual difficulties in writing English academic papers?
When non-native speakers write English academic papers, they generally get stuck in three areas.
1. Grammar and spelling errors. Simple typos or missing the 's' in third-person singular. These are easy to overlook and definitely lower the grader's impression.
2. Academic tone. Everyday English and academic English are different things. Instead of 'I think,' use 'It can be argued that.' Controlling this tone on your own is difficult for non-native speakers.
3. Logical flow and connections. Even if the sentences are correct, the connections between paragraphs can be strange. The reader doesn't understand 'what you are trying to say.'
The strengths and weaknesses of each tool are clearly divided.
Comparing 4 tools
1. Grammarly
Strengths: High accuracy in grammar and spell checking. The free version is sufficient. Works everywhere with browser extensions.
Weaknesses: The paid version (Premium) is required for academic style support. The free version only provides superficial corrections.
Best use case : Real-time checking while typing. Final check before submission.
2. LanguageTool
Strengths: Feature-rich even in the free version. Excellent style checking (word repetition, overuse of passive voice, etc.). Also suitable for those concerned about privacy.
Weaknesses: The UI is more plain than Grammarly. Lower recognition among Japanese users.
Best use case : The top choice if you don't want to pay for Grammarly. Also works as an add-in for LibreOffice, Google Docs, and Word.
3. DeepL Write
Strengths: Excellent at rewriting entire sentences. If you translate what you wrote in Japanese into English, using DeepL Write to polish it improves the flow.
Weaknesses: More of a 'style improvement' tool than a grammar checker. Grammarly or LanguageTool are better for pointing out specific grammatical errors.
Best use case : A workflow where you think about the structure in Japanese and then convert it to English. When you want to polish a draft written in English.
4. ChatGPT (as an English writing assistant)
Strengths: Detailed feedback. You can use it by saying, 'Rewrite this paragraph academically' or 'Explain what is wrong with this sentence.'
Weaknesses: Risk of hallucinations (generating non-existent references). You need to consider the risk of information leakage when pasting the content of your thesis.
Best use case : Use it as a 'consultant for English expressions' rather than for grammar checking. However, 'having ChatGPT write' your thesis and 'having it correct' your thesis are different things. Regulations regarding AI usage vary by university and program, so check before using.
The realistic solution is to use them in combination
Honestly, there is no single tool that solves everything. The combination I wish I had in 2018 is as follows:
Real-time check while typing → Grammarly (free version) or LanguageTool
Japanese to English translation/polishing → DeepL
Consultation on English expressions/paragraph improvement → ChatGPT (within the scope of not pasting too much content)
Since everything can be used for free, I recommend starting by installing these three.
Furthermore, for the final draft before submission, having a human proofread your English provides a different level of peace of mind.
For unnatural context that machine checks cannot pick up and fine-tuning the academic tone, human eyes are still necessary.
IDY allows you to choose between a point system or a flat-rate system, so you can use it according to the length of your thesis.
If you want to run AI proofreading by chapter, there is also a way to process it file by file with Languise.
The three-stage approach of Grammar check with LanguageTool → AI proofreading of chapters with Languise → Human proofreading of the final draft with IDY is the most reliable.
I wrote about how to manage the entire master's thesis, including tool management, in 'How to manage your master's thesis with Notion—Centralizing literature, structure, and progress'.
To my 2018 self
Tools are merely aids. No tool can replace the work of planning your thesis structure, building your arguments, and writing in your own words.
Perhaps I know this because I have the experience of finishing it without tools seven years ago.
I look forward to your likes, follows, and comments.
About the author
Shitsukan. MA in Museum Studies (Merit), School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester. Wrote a master's thesis in English between 2018 and 2019.
📘 If you have questions about "plagiarism" in English academic papers: Kindle book"Escaping Plagiarism in English Academic Writing"(¥980)
✏️ For English proofreading before submission: IDIY(Human proofreading. Point-based/subscription plans available)
📄 For AI proofreading by chapter: Languise(Translate, proofread, and summarize entire files)
Next steps
"The habit of reading/listening to original sources before using tools"
→ Audible
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