LanguageTool Is an Open-Source Proof Reader for 25+ Languages

LanguageTool is an open-source spelling and grammar checker for Chrome, Firefox, the desktop (via Java) and more. The browser extensions enable checking the text you’re entering a web text box, or any other selectable text on a web page. The system works much like other spell checks. Enter text, click the LanguageTool icon and it instantly displays a report listing any issues. Browse the list, click any corrections you’d like to accept and it’s updated in the source text.

If you don’t want to apply a particular rule, you can turn it off from the report with a single click. Similarly, you’re able to add special words to a personal dictionary so they won’t be flagged as misspelled. LanguageTool isn’t as interactive as some of the competition. Errors aren’t highlighted in the text as you type, for instance, Grammarly-style.

On the plus side, LanguageTool works with 25+ languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Polish, and Russian. Even if you’re just using English, it supports variations including American, British, Australian, New Zealand, South African and Canadian. The browser extensions have at least a theoretical privacy risk, as they check your text by sending it to https://languagetool.org. This also introduces practical issues, as it means you can only use the system when you’re online...