Tools to Improve Academic English Writing: Your Ultimate Grad School Toolkit

ByJenny Hill, PhD

Writing in academic English is a challenge—even for native speakers.

If English isn’t your first language, it can feel like an uphill battle. You’ve got the research, the data, and the ideas. But when it comes to actually putting it all on paper, the words just don’t sound right. Or you keep second-guessing your grammar, sentence structure, or tone.

That’s where writing tools come in. No, they won’t write your thesis for you (and you wouldn’t want them to). But they can help you identify problems, improve your sentence flow, and learn as you write.

If you’ve ever wondered how to polish your academic writing without spending hours Googling grammar rules or translating phrases back and forth, this guide is for you.

Let’s look at the best tools to improve academic English writing—and how you can use them to write with more confidence and clarity.

Why Writing Tools Matter for Academic English

Let’s be real—academic writing isn’t like everyday writing. It has its own structure, tone, and expectations. If you’re used to writing in a different language or style, switching into academic English mode can be exhausting.

You might struggle with:

  • Long, wordy sentences
  • Repeating the same phrases
  • Unclear or vague expressions
  • Incorrect prepositions or articles
  • Verb tense consistency

You’re not alone. Most grad students—especially ESL students—face the same issues. That’s why using the right tools can make a huge difference. They don’t just correct your grammar; they teach you how to think like an academic writer.

The goal is to help you spot patterns, fix mistakes faster, and build your writing skills over time. And the best part? Many of these tools are free or student-budget friendly.

Grammar and Style Checkers That Go Beyond Spellcheck

Let’s start with the basics. If you’re still relying on Microsoft Word’s spellchecker, it’s time for an upgrade.

1. Grammarly

Grammarly is the most well-known writing assistant—and for good reason. It catches more than just spelling mistakes. You’ll get suggestions on:

The premium version even includes genre-specific suggestions for academic writing. It’s especially helpful if you want real-time feedback as you type. But even the free version is a huge step up from basic checkers.

Tip: Don’t accept every suggestion. Grammarly is a tool, not a brain. Use it to understand what’s wrong and decide how you want to fix it.

Try Grammarly to catch grammar and style issues as you write.

2. ProWritingAid

If you want deeper analysis, ProWritingAid offers detailed reports on things like:

  • Sentence variety
  • Overused words
  • Sticky sentences (hard to read)
  • Repeated phrases

It’s ideal if you’re editing a large document like a thesis or dissertation. The insights help you clean up clutter and write more clearly—without losing your own voice.

Use ProWritingAid for in-depth reports on clarity, style, and structure.

Academic Phrasebanks and Vocabulary Builders

Sometimes your grammar is fine—but the wording just doesn’t sound academic. That’s where phrasebanks and vocabulary tools come in.

3. Manchester Academic Phrasebank

This free online resource is a lifesaver. It gives you ready-made sentence structures for every part of a paper—from introductions to conclusions.

You’ll find examples like:

  • “This study aims to address the question of…”
  • “The findings suggest a strong correlation between…”

It’s not about copying sentences—it’s about learning how academic writers frame ideas. If you ever get stuck on how to start a paragraph, this tool will give you a boost.

Visit the Academic Phrasebank for ready-made academic sentence templates.

4. WordTune or QuillBot

These AI-powered paraphrasing tools help you rewrite sentences in clearer, more academic ways. They’re great when you know what you want to say but can’t quite get the wording right.

Be careful not to overuse them, though. The goal is to learn, not just rephrase everything automatically.

Use WordTune or QuillBot to rewrite unclear or awkward sentences.

Citation and Reference Management Tools

If you’re still creating citations by hand, you’re making your life harder than it needs to be. These tools save time—and reduce citation errors.

5. Zotero

Zotero is a free, open-source reference manager. It lets you:

  • Save sources directly from your browser
  • Organize them by folder or tag
  • Generate citations in any style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
  • Insert references directly into Word or Google Docs

It’s especially useful for managing large bibliographies. If you’re writing a thesis with 100+ sources, Zotero is your best friend.

Organize your references easily with Zotero.

6. Mendeley

Mendeley is similar to Zotero but with a more research-focused interface. It also includes a built-in PDF reader and annotation tools, so you can highlight and comment on articles as you go.

If you prefer working with PDFs and reading offline, Mendeley might be a better fit for your workflow.

Try Mendeley for reference management and PDF annotation.

Tools for Improving Structure and Coherence

You might have great grammar and vocabulary—but if your paper doesn’t flow, your reader will get lost. These tools help with structure and clarity.

7. Hemingway Editor

Paste your text into Hemingway, and it will highlight:

  • Long, complex sentences
  • Passive voice
  • Adverbs
  • Hard-to-read paragraphs

It’s a great tool for simplifying your writing without dumbing it down. Use it to make your argument sharper and your sentences more digestible.

Use the Hemingway Editor to simplify and clarify your writing.

8. Scrivener (for writing big projects)

Scrivener isn’t free, but it’s worth it if you’re working on a thesis or dissertation. It helps you organize chapters, notes, drafts, and sources in one workspace. You can rearrange sections easily and track your progress over time.

Think of it as your thesis command center.

Manage your thesis or large projects with Scrivener.

Tools That Build Better Habits Over Time

Improving your academic English isn’t a one-time fix—it’s a process. These tools help you build better habits while you write.

9. Notion or Obsidian (for note-taking and linking ideas)

Both Notion and Obsidian let you organize your research in a way that makes connections between topics clearer. You can build a knowledge graph, create linked notes, and avoid losing track of your ideas.

This helps you see the big picture and write more cohesively.

Keep your notes structured with Notion or Obsidian.

10. LanguageTool

If you’re looking for an open-source alternative to Grammarly, LanguageTool offers grammar and style checking in over 20 languages—including English. It’s especially good if you write in more than one language or switch between them.

Check for grammar and style issues in multiple languages with LanguageTool.

Conclusion

There’s no perfect tool that will magically make your academic English flawless. But when you combine the right tools with consistent practice, your writing will improve—faster than you might expect.

Start small. Try one or two tools from this list. Use them regularly. Pay attention to the suggestions, and take note of the patterns. Over time, you’ll catch mistakes before the tools do. You’ll write with more clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Whether you’re polishing a conference paper, editing a journal article, or submitting your thesis, these tools can help you get there—with fewer late-night struggles.

You’ve got the research. Now give it the writing it deserves.