An evaluation of online and automated english writing assistants: Collocations and idioms checkers

Abstract

In this paper, I attempt to investigate whether online writing checkers, including tools looking at grammar, punctuation, spelling and composition, do in fact help potential ESL writers and, if so, to what extent, in what areas, to what effect and at what cost. The small-scale study involved twentythree university level ESL students who composed various texts as part of their training. Data were collected using pre and post writing samples, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The analysis used the Likert-scale and correlations as descriptive statistical methods and qualitative analysis for the interviews. The results are inconclusive as students reported different opinions. It was found that students who are frequent users of features such as MS Word Thesaurus and Online Corpora are more likely to incorporate online writing checkers and therefore found them more helpful. It was also found that, regardless of their effect, students always welcomed available tools that provide instant feedback to their compositions. The writing software used, AccurIT, contributed to improvements in the students' ability to write correct collocations.