Ginger Review Summary by Software for Writers
A Poor Grammar Checker that Claims to Produce Error-free Writing
Overall Rating: 3/10 – Value for Money 3/10
Run Ginger on your text and your writing will be error-free. It’s a bold claim. Every time you get to the end of the document, the program proudly asserts:
This a patently false claim, as this review will show. Here’s a typical example:
The Starter Kits are comprised of the SDN list, the brochure for the industry you represent (financial, export/import, or securities), and any articles that appear to be of interest base on your specific needs or interest.
In this example, base should be based. Did Ginger find the error? It didn’t, even worse, it suggested changing represent to representatives.
Even the explanation of the wrong adverb used, adverb used instead of adjective or vice-versa is confusing.
Ginger did make some grammatical improvements in the Treasury document. Here are a couple of examples:
Numbers may be issued to nongovernmental organizations involved in humanitarian or
religious activities in certain area (corrected to areas) of Sudan.
You will still have access to all information and resources on department (corrected to departmental) websites.
By contrast, here are examples of the wrong advice offered by Ginger in the same document.
Example 1
If a firm only scrubs its database quarterly, it could be 3 months too late in freezing assets.
Ginger’s advice: change scrubs to scrub
Ginger changes good English to bad English.
Example 2
In addition, OFAC are publishing on the Iran section of its web site a Statement of Licensing.
Ginger’s advice: change publishing to published
Ginger missed the two errors: OFAC are publishing, which should be OFAC is publishing, and web site for website (one word).
A better redraft would be:
In addition, OFAC is publishing a Statement of Licensing on the Iran section of its website.
Example 3
What effect will the ITSR have on Iranian-Americans and the people of Iran?
Ginger’s advice: Delete on
Ginger’s advice produces an ungrammatical sentence.
Example 4
What is the Control list?
Ginger’s advice: What is on the Control List?
The original is grammatically correct and Ginger’s suggestion changes the sentence’s meaning.
Example 5
If you have received a copy of this list, you should follow the instructions received with it.
Ginger’s advice: delete with
Ginger’s advice produces an ungrammatical sentence.
On grammar, Ginger was time-consuming and irritating to use. It offered little practical advice and found far fewer errors than Grammarly.
Ginger’s Rephrasing Editor
Ginger offers a rephrasing feature. It will go through your text randomly – there seems little logic to it – offering to rephrase some sentences, ignoring others.
Original Sentence: Did Ginger find the error?
I found the rephrasing editor useless as a writing aid. I’m sure you’ll agree when you look at the suggestions offered.
Ginger is a poor grammar checker. It’s expensive at $84 for an annual subscription with no lifetime license offered. If you need a grammar checker, Grammarly (despite being $120 a year) is much better.