There are several problems with the Language Tool which make me call it unusable. I’m using version 7.3.7.2 on Linux Mint. I downloaded the corresponding Language Tool extension.
I can use this tool either in-text or through the Dialog box. Both I find incredibly frustrating for several reasons:
The in-text method:
- The underlining of the mistakes suffers from poor visibility. This is especially the case when the mistake pertains to small words (such as “I” or spacing). It means I cannot scan the text to spot the errors, but must read through it very carefully.
- Using the “next spelling or grammar mistake” barely helps by bringing the page/insertion point to the next mistake, because I then I am left looking all over the page trying to find this point which is not at all clear from the onset of the shift.
- When I right-click on the mistake, it often, if not usually, does not give me an explanation or suggestion. I can press “Refresh Check Results” and try again, but it often takes several attempts, or even having to close and reopen the document to see the explanation/suggestion.
Which makes the “Check Text” option which brings up a Dialog box seem far superior. But:
- It is slow. Each time I fix or press ignore, I am left waiting 5-15 seconds for the next mistake to load.
- If I exit the document, the “ignore permanent” option resets itself, meaning I am back to the beginning when I “Check Text” again. 4 & 5 combined make the tool incredibly slow.
- The Dialog box does not show me where the mistake in question is. The box within the box contains thousands of words of text, so scrolling through it is akin to scrolling through the text without the Dialog box. In much the same way, I often miss the mistake when it pertains to a very small set of characters.
Additionally though separately, the grammar check is registering basic punctuation errors (I have separate post if anyone can help me there)
Can I amend any of the above issues through changing settings? For example, can I make underlined mistakes ‘stand out’ in the text when I scroll, highlighted rather than underlined for example?
Do later versions of Libre Office improve any of this?
Are other people affected by these issues, and is anyone content with their use of the tool?
Are there alternative grammar check tools which are recommended? Ideally private/FOSS, but using something Cloud-based is better than switching back to Word/Windows, or having to send another unchecked draft to my editor whose last piece of feedback was to “download a grammar tool”.
(edit: typos)