Piedmont’s IT department sent an email in the afternoon of Feb. 27 announcing they will be moving on from their subscription with Grammarly. To replace the program, Piedmont students will be encouraged to use Microsoft Editor.

“I use Grammarly multiple times a day for papers, discussion posts and literally anything I write,” said senior psychology major Ian Parr. “It is annoying. [Grammarly] is a tool that most students utilize to get their best work out there.”

Grammarly reviews a piece of writing in seconds to find simple mistakes in grammar, punctuation and clarity. Microsoft Editor offers similar functions for Word and as an extension on the Chrome browser. Many Piedmont students have adapted to using Grammarly for their schoolwork. The switch of programs will require students to get acquainted with Microsoft Editor if they want the same help. 

The reason for the change from Piedmont is unclear. In the IT department’s email, they described Microsoft Editor as powered by AI, implying that it is a more powerful tool. They also mention that Editor will be an extension of students’ Office 365 accounts. This may mean it is a cheaper option for the school as they already pay for Microsoft Office for students.

Students appear to have mixed feelings about the change in programs and are unsure of which program is more effective for completing work. 

For more information about Microsoft Editor, visit Microsoft’s support website.