10 Best Essay Writing Tools For Students

Declan Gessel

May 12, 2024

If you want to master the art of good ways to start an essay, using the right tools is crucial. Essay writing tools can help you develop a well-structured essay and improve your writing skills. From plagiarism checkers to grammar correction tools and online libraries, these tools simplify the essay writing process. By incorporating these tools into your writing routine, you can save time, enhance the quality of your essays, and become a better writer. If you are wondering how to write an essay more effectively, using essay writing tools is the first step to success.

What Are Essay Writing Tools?

Essay writing tools are digital or physical aids used to facilitate various aspects of writing essays. These tools can range from simple text editors to complex software that provides grammar checking, plagiarism detection, and more.

The Primary Importance of Essay Writing Tools

The primary purpose of these tools is to help writers organize their thoughts, ensure linguistic accuracy, and maintain originality in their work.

What Did Essay Writing Feel Like for Students Prior to Personal Computers?

Essay writing relied on manual methods like pen and paper, typewriters, and limited software on mainframe computers (not accessible to most students).

Modern Impact of Essay Writing Tools

As personal computers became more powerful (circa 1970s with the invention of word processing software such as MS Word), specialized software for grammar checking, plagiarism detection, and other writing needs started to emerge. With increased access to computers, the volume of writing likely grew in schools and universities, creating a demand for tools that could streamline the writing process beyond basic word processing.

The Fuel for Development

Therefore, the need for improved efficiency in the digital age, fueled by the rise of personal computers, likely played a major role in the development of essay-writing tools.

10 Best Essay Writing Tools For Students

1. Jotbot: AI Essay Writing Assistant

Jotbot is your personal document assistant. Jotbot does AI note taking, AI video summarizing, AI citation/source finder, it writes AI outlines for essays, and even writes entire essays with Jotbot’s AI essay writer.

Join 500,000+ writers, students, teams, and researchers around the world to write more, write better, and write faster with Jotbot.

2. Portent's Content Idea Generator: Spark Creativity

Struggling with a topic? This tool suggests relevant essay prompts based on keywords you enter.

3. Microsoft Word Outline Feature or Google Docs Outline: Structure Your Ideas

Built-in outlining tools within popular word processors help structure your essay with headings and subheadings.

4. Grammarly: Your Grammar Guardian

A popular grammar checker that identifies and corrects errors in spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.

5. Turnitin or Copyleaks: Ensure Originality

Plagiarism checkers scan your essay against a massive database of sources to ensure originality.

6. Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): Citation Support

A free resource offering citation generators in various academic styles (MLA, APA, Chicago).

7. Hemingway Editor: Simplify Your Sentences

This online tool highlights complex sentences and suggests ways to improve readability by using simpler language.

8. Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test: Enhance Clarity

This free tool analyzes your writing and assigns a readability score, indicating how easy it is to understand.

9. QuillBot or paraphrase.ai: Paraphrasing Tools

Paraphrasing tools can help rephrase sentences while avoiding plagiarism, but use with caution and always verify the meaning.

10. ProWritingAid or Online Writing Lab - OWL: Grammar and Style Checkers

These grammar and style checkers offer in-depth analysis and suggestions for improving sentence flow, word choice, and overall clarity.

Are essay writing tools cheating?

When considering the question of whether essay writing tools are cheating, I believe it’s essential to distinguish between legitimate use and misuse. When you effectively utilize these tools, you are not cheating. In fact, they can greatly assist you in enhancing your writing process.

Leveraging AI Writing Assistants for Idea Generation and Source Citing

AI-powered writing assistants such as Jotbot can be an excellent resource for brainstorming ideas, improving grammar, and enhancing clarity. They can also help ensure that you are correctly citing sources in your work. It’s crucial to recognize the limitations of these tools.

While they can assist in generating content, the resulting essays may not be consistently accurate or well-structured. Therefore, it's imperative to thoroughly review and amend the output to ensure it genuinely reflects your ideas and arguments.

Navigating the Caveats of AI Writing Tools: Plagiarism and Accuracy

Tools such as paraphrasing applications can be valuable for rephrasing sentences. Nevertheless, they can inadvertently cause plagiarism. It is advisable always to confirm the meaning and originality of any paraphrased content. With this in mind, leveraging essay writing tools judiciously can be a substantial boon to your academic pursuits.

Transforming Writing Processes with Jotbot's AI-Powered Tools

Jotbot is your personal document assistant. Jotbot does AI note-taking, AI video summarizing, AI citation/source finder, writes AI outlines for essays and even writes entire essays with Jotbot’s AI essay writer. Join 500,000+ writers, students, teams, and researchers around the world to write more, write better, and write faster with Jotbot.

Write smarter, not harder with Jotbot. Start writing for free with Jotbot today — sign in with Google and get started in seconds.

Should I use AI writing tools for my essays?

AI writing tools can be a helpful starting point for your writing and critical thinking. Here's how to use them effectively

1. Use for Brainstorming and Idea Generation

AI writing tools can assist you in brainstorming ideas and generating content for your essays. They can provide inspiration and help you get started on your writing process.

2. Fact-Check and Edit Content

It is crucial to fact-check and edit the content generated by the AI writing tools. While they can help you kickstart your writing, it's essential to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information provided.

3. Develop Your Own Arguments and Analysis

While AI tools can help with generating content, it's crucial to focus on developing your own arguments and analysis in your essays. Your critical thinking and analysis skills are key components of essay writing that cannot be replaced by AI tools.

It is generally a good idea to use AI writing tools strategically to improve your efficiency and writing quality while maintaining your academic integrity.

Are there any security concerns when using essay writing tools?

There can be some security concerns when using online essay writing tools, especially those that require you to upload your work. Data privacy is one significant concern. It's crucial to check the tool's privacy policy to understand how your data is collected, stored, and used. Your sensitive information could be vulnerable if the tool doesn't have secure data protection.

Another issue is with plagiarism checkers. Some plagiarism checkers might store your essay content in their databases, which could raise concerns about privacy. Be sure to check the tool's policy on data retention to ensure that your content is protected.

Write Smarter With Jotbot — Start Writing for Free Today

Jotbot is an AI document assistant that can help you with various aspects of essay writing, including note-taking, video summarizing, citation finding, and outlining. With Jotbot, you can write essays more efficiently and accurately. I highly recommend using Jotbot for your next writing project.