Digital Writing Assistants in Business Writing: Students’ Perspectives and Writing Improvement Through Grammarly and Microsoft Word Editor
Keywords
AI-based writing tool, Grammarly, Microsoft Word EditorAbstract
The emergence of AI-based technology as a learning tool presents its challenges for English Foreign Language (EFL) students. Once AI offers convenience, it also affects the quality of students’ skills. This study aims to explore students’ perspectives on implementing two AI-based tools as writing correctors, Grammarly and Microsoft Word Editor (MWE). A mixed-method approach was employed to examine students’ experiences. Pre and post-tests with 19 students were conducted to collect quantitative data, while interviews were used to provide a qualitative in-depth perspective. The results reveal that students show improvements of 60%, 52%, 39% and 122% across four writing aspects: content, organization, appearance, and language used. On average, students achieve a score of 3.8 out of 4. Moreover, it reported that both tools were supporting their writing process. The findings provide valuable insights into understanding how the students can balance the benefits of AI-based tools with academic integrity.
References
Abdul Halim, Sarinah, & Sarjaniah Zur. (2022). Grammarly as a Tool to Enhance Students’ Self Directed Learning.
Abu Qub’a, A., Abu Guba, M. N., & Fareh, S. (2024). Exploring the use of grammarly in assessing English academic writing. Heliyon, 10(15). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34893
Alshayban, A. (2024). A Comparative Study of the Error-Detection Accuracy of Grammarly and Microsoft Word Editor in Formal English Writing. World Journal of English Language World , 14(5).
Astuti, D., Darmahusni, Sumarni, S., & Suseno, M. (2023). The Use of Grammarly in the Academic Writing of Undergraduate Students: Advantages, Weaknesses, and Challenges (Systematic Review). Language and Art.
Brown, H. D. (2007). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching (5th ed.). Longman.
Buckley, C. (2023). Why Good Business Writing Skills Matter | Free Lesson | Business Writing Skills Course [Broadcast]. GoSkills.com .
Budiyono, H., Marzuki, Pudjaningsih, W., Prastio, B., & Maulidina, A. (2025). Exploring Long-Term Impact of AI Writing Tools on Independent Writing Skills: A Case Study of Indonesian Language Education Students . International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 15(5), 1003–1013.
Campbell, M. (2019). Teaching Academic Writing in Higher Education. Education Quarterly Reviews, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1993.02.03.92
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design-Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches (Fourth edi). Sage Publication.
Eny Pricilia Yulanda. (2023). A Literature Review: Microsoft Word in Improving Writing Skill during Hybrid Learning. Jurnal Penelitian Mahasiswa Indonesia, 3(2).
Fry, M. (2025, July). What is Microsoft Editor?
Grammarly. (2024). Grammarly Spring 2024 Products Updated.
Inayah, T. M., & Apoko, T. W. (2024). Exploring Students’ Perspectives on the Use of Grammarly in Writing Analytical Exposition Text. JLE (Journal of Literate of English Education , 5(1), 73–83.
Karyuatry, L., & Rizqan, M. D. A. (2018). Grammarly as a Tool to Improve Students’ Writing Quality. JSSH (Jurnal Sains Sosial Dan Humaniora).
Khalifa, M., & Albadawy, M. (2024). Using artificial intelligence in academic writing and research: An essential productivity tool . Science Direct , 5.
Kocaman, O. (2022). Effects of Word Processing Tools on Improving Writing Skills in the Process of Learning a Foreign Language. Language and Technology, 4(1), 30–37.
Kusuma, W. A., & Zuhri, F. (2025). Grammarly As A Writing Tool: Improving Students’ Performance In Essay Writing. Journal of English Language Teaching, 13(1).
Laudy Armanda, M., Fajri Nugraheni, A., Wulansari, A., Imron, A., & Tidar, U. (2022). “Grammarly” as English Writing Assistant from EFL Students’ Perspective. Journal of English Teaching and Research, 7(2).
Luan, N. M., Rajendran, M., Anainthaperumal, D., & Oli, L. (2024). A Study on Factors Influencing Students’ Business Writing Skills. World Journal of English Language World Journal of English Language This Journal Doesn’t Have a Profile on ResearchGate yet. Interested in This Journal? Get Notified When It Activates Its Profile, and Start Getting Updates. , 14(6).
Marzuki, Widiati, U., Rusdin, D., & Indrawati, I. (2023). The impact of AI writing tools on the content and organization of students’ writing: EFL teachers’ perspective. 10(2).
Microsoft. (2024). Microsoft Editor Checks Grammar and More in Documents, Mail, and The Web.
Mu’arofah, W. (2021). Meningkatkan Kemampuan Menulis Dengan Menggunakan Fitur Bahasa Pada Microsoft Word Di Kelas Xi Ma Darul A`Mal Metro. State Institute For Islamic Studies of Metro.
Murray, & Rockowitz, A. C. (2000). Business and Professional Writing. Writing a Business Letter. Hunter College Writing Center.
Nanjiba, R. (2025). AI Tools for Writing Improvement: A Thematic Review. Bachelor of Arts in EnglishUniversity of Liberal Arts Bangladesh.
O’Neill, R., & Russell, A. M. T. (2019). Stop! Grammar Time: University Students’ Perceptions of the Automated Feedback Program Grammarly. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 35(1), 42–56.
Qadir, J. (2023). Engineering Education in The era of ChatGPT: Promise and Pitfalls of Generative AI for Education. IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 1(4), 1–9.
Ranaut, B. (2018a). Importance of Good Business Writing Skills. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.30845/ijll.v5n2p3
Ranaut, B. (2018b). Importance of Good Business Writing Skills. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.30845/ijll.v5n2p3
Salehi, H., & Amiri, B. (2019). Impacts of Using Microsoft Word (MS) Software on Iranian EFL Lecturers Grammar Knowledge s . International Journal of Research in English Education, 4(1).
Song, C., & Song, Y. (2023). Enhancing academic writing skills and motivation: assessing the efficacy of ChatGPT in AI-assisted language learning for EFL students. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1260843
Vieriu, A. M., & Petrea, G. (2025). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Students’ Academic Development. Education Sciences, 15(3), 343.
Wijati, N., Siregar, F., & Ningsih, N. W. (2023). Writing, Approaches, and Genres. Journal of English and English Education, 3(1).Williamson, B. (2017). Big data in education: The digital future of learning, policy and practice. SAGE Publications.
Yoga Dwi Pratama. (2021). The Investigation of Using Grammarly as Online Grammar Checker in the Process of Writing. English Ideas: Journal of English Language Education, 1(2).
York, A. (2025, January). 13 Alat Bantu Penulisan AI Terbaik untuk Konten di Tahun 2025.
Yulanda, E. P. (2023). A Literature Review: Microsoft Word in Improving Writing Skill during Hybrid Learning. JPMI , 3(2).
