Hemingway Editor

Readability checker that flags long sentences, passive voice and adverbs

AI Writing & CopywritingFree planOverseas★★★★☆ 4.0

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What is Hemingway Editor?

Hemingway Editor is a readability checker rather than a general grammar engine. Paste or type text and it colour-codes each sentence by grade level, highlighting the ones a reader has to work through, along with adverbs, passive constructions and weak phrasing. It began as a browser tool from brothers Adam and Ben Long and now runs as both a web editor and a desktop app. The paid tier adds an AI rewrite that offers a tighter version of a flagged sentence, plus a proofreading pass for spelling and punctuation. Its rules push everything toward short declarative sentences, which suits web copy and journalism better than literary fiction.

Last updated: 2026-09-20. This site only provides an index; for exact features, pricing, and licensing, see the official website.

Key features

Sentence-level readability grading with colour-coded difficulty levels
Highlights adverbs, passive voice and convoluted phrasing as you type
AI rewrite suggestions that tighten individual flagged sentences
Proofreading pass for spelling, grammar and punctuation in paid tiers
Distraction-free writing mode with Markdown-style formatting shortcuts
Desktop apps for Mac and Windows plus a browser-based editor

Pros & cons

Strengths

Readability feedback is instant and needs no account to try
Flags the specific sentences that slow readers down, not a vague score
Desktop and web versions both work without a browser extension

Watch out for

Pushes every text toward short sentences, which flattens deliberate style
Grammar and punctuation coverage is thinner than dedicated checkers
AI rewriting and the full proofreading pass sit behind the paid tier

Best for & use cases

readability checks, editing web copy, tightening drafts and student essays

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FAQ

Does Hemingway catch grammar mistakes?

Partly. Its focus is readability: sentence length, passive voice, adverbs and wordy phrasing. The paid version adds proofreading for spelling, grammar and punctuation, but heavy grammar work needs a dedicated checker such as LanguageTool or ProWritingAid.

Is there a free version?

Yes. The web editor at hemingwayapp.com is free to use and needs no account, and it still highlights readability problems. The AI rewrite and the complete proofreading pass belong to the paid plan, so decide whether you need those before subscribing.

What kind of writing does it suit?

Anything meant to be read quickly: blog posts, landing pages, newsletters, news copy and academic abstracts. Fiction writers often find the rules too strict, because long sentences and passive voice can be deliberate stylistic choices.