MarkMyWords: Professional AI-Assisted Copyediting in Microsoft Word

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MarkMyWords

Professional AI-Assisted Copyediting in Microsoft Word

MarkMyWords is a Microsoft Word add-in that uses Anthropic’s Claude AI (Artificial Intelligence) to copyedit text directly in Microsoft Word 2016 or later on both Windows and Macintosh. Claude acts as an editorial assistant, performing initial reviews and making improvements based on your specific instructions in MarkMyWords. All edits appear as tracked changes, allowing you to accept or reject each modification and maintain full control over the final content.

Editing with AI is far different from working with tools like Editor’s ToolKit Plus or PerfectIt, which use Word macros and advanced find and replace to fix problems. For example, PerfectIt might find non-fiction and suggest that you replace it with nonfiction (without the hyphen). With MarkMyWords, Claude might find the same problem but simply fix it (as a tracked revision), without your having to approve the change. Claude might also include an explanation in a comment:

According to the Chicago Manual of Style (around 7.90), nonfiction is styled as one word without a hyphen.

MarkMyWords doesn’t use mechanical means like macros to find and fix problems. Instead, it uses Claude AI to find and fix problems intelligently, with an awareness of meaning and context. You really need to try MarkMyWords to understand how useful, helpful, and powerful this can be.

You can watch a quick demo of MarkMyWords here.

You can download a Word document edited in MarkMyWords to see the kind of changes Claude makes. After opening the document in Word, make sure tracked revisions and comments are showing.

Try MarkMyWords free for 45 days!

Windows

Download MarkMyWords for Windows Microsoft Word 2016 or later.

Macintosh

Download MarkMyWords for Macintosh Microsoft Word 2016 or later.

After downloading and opening the program's ZIP file, read the READ-ME-PLEASE file for instructions on what to do next.

See the complete MarkMyWords documentation here.

Register!

Is your evaluation period over? Register MarkMyWords and make it run forever!

$69.95.

Q&A

Is it okay to edit with AI?

Yes! Just as you use a spell checker, a grammar checker, and other automated tools, you can use AI to improve and speed up your work. Using AI to edit a document is very different from using it to write one. AI writing creates a document; AI editing improves an existing document. And with MarkMyWords, the editing is done directly in Microsoft Word using tracked changes, so you can see exactly what revisions were made, then accept or reject them as needed. With MarkMyWords, you, not AI, make the editorial decisions.

Will the AI use my text for training?

Absolutely not. MarkMyWords uses Anthropic’s API (Application Programming Interface), not the consumer claude.ai interface (which does use submissions for training unless you opt out). Anthropic doesn’t use API data to train their models. When MarkMyWords sends text to Claude for editing, the text is retained in Anthropic’s servers for 30 days; then it’s deleted. It is not retained beyond that or used for training.

Is it difficult to use AI for editing?

It is if you’re trying to create AI instructions on your own. MarkMyWords includes carefully crafted presets and options that cover most editing needs:

But can I use my own AI prompts with MarkMyWords?

Yes, you can. Just include them in the Custom Instructions box in the program interface. If you’ve selected one of the program’s presets, your instructions are added to the preset. If you select the Custom Instructions preset, only your instructions are used.

Can I use MarkMyWords with Editor’s ToolKit Plus?

Yes! Use Editor’s ToolKit Plus to clean up common mechanical errors before using MarkMyWords, greatly reducing the time and cost of using Claude AI.

Can I use MarkMyWords with PerfectIt?

You certainly can. And you should! You’ll find a comparison of the two programs here.

Is MarkMyWords similar to other Word add-ins?

Not really. Other programs suggest ways to improve text. MarkMyWords actually makes the improvements, without your having to click-click-click through a list of possible changes. Because the improvements are shown as tracked revisions, you always know exactly what has changed. You’ll find a comparison with the most popular programs here.

Why not just edit with AI online?

Many AI providers allow users to upload Word documents with specific instructions for editing. However, most online editing tools fail to properly handle such critical document features as quotation marks, footnotes, and endnotes. These elements are vital for maintaining the integrity and clarity of manuscripts intended for publication. MarkMyWords ensures that all these elements are managed effortlessly and accurately. Also, by default, most online editing tools use customer submissions to train their AI. MarkMyWords uses Claude’s API, which doesn’t use your submissions for training.

Does sending text to AI violate copyright?

Copyright law protects against reproduction and distribution of a work without permission. Sharing a manuscript with an editing tool—just like sharing it with a human assistant—doesn’t constitute infringement. No human ever sees the manuscript, and it’s deleted after use.

Does using Claude’s API require a subscription?

No. Rather than a subscription, MarkMyWords uses Claude’s API, which operates on a pay-as-you-go basis. You are billed solely on the amount of text processed, without the need for a monthly subscription. Claude’s API rates are suprisingly affordable.

Will MarkMyWords with Claude do my editing for me?

No. Claude should be seen as a supportive tool rather than a substitute for professional editing expertise. Human oversight remains essential for critical or complex editing tasks, which is why MarkMyWords operates as it does.

I'm writing a book. Can I use MarkMyWords with Claude to edit my manuscript?

Claude should be seen as an editing assistant. If you're serious about preparing your manuscript for publication, you should enlist the help of a professional human editor.