Using AI Writing and Editing Tools

 

The use and influence of AI—Artificial Intelligence—is all around us. It’s in our GPS, our music streaming, our online shopping, our apps, our texts (thank you, autocorrect), and so on. It’s used by banks, the military, in education, by retailers, healthcare, the list goes on and on. With the influence of AI in our everyday lives, it’s not surprising that it also might influence many of our livelihoods—and probably has already for many of us. On this episode of Editing with Kate, Kate describes her experience with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, Grammarly, and Wordtune. Do you think these technologies are going to change the lives of students, writers, and editors? Let us know in this space.

Grammarly is planning to release a tool called GrammarlyGo. You may want to check it out!

 

Listen to Podcast

Editing with Kate! Episode 27 Transcript

 

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TRANSCRIPTS

As you can see, the answers I received were well written and neatly organized. And they saved a lot of time. The results came in seconds. It actually was fun to see the results come through.

 

OpenAI’s ChatGPT First Response

What are the pros and cons for using AI to write and edit blogs? Pros: Efficiency: Using AI to write and edit blogs can save a significant amount of time and effort. The AI can quickly generate and revise content, which would have taken a human writer much longer. Consistency: AI can produce consistent content in terms of tone, style, and formatting. This can help maintain brand identity and voice across multiple blog posts. Speed: AI can generate content much faster than human writers, which can be beneficial in situations where speed is a priority, such as breaking news or trending topics. Accuracy: AI can be programmed to follow specific guidelines and rules, ensuring that the content is accurate, factually correct, and free from errors. Cons: Lack of creativity: AI writing may lack the creativity and originality of human writing. AI-generated content may be formulaic and lack the nuance and complexity of human language. Limited scope: AI may have difficulty understanding and writing about topics that are abstract, complex, or nuanced. This can limit the range of topics that AI can cover in blogs. Limited context: AI may have difficulty understanding the broader context of a topic or understanding the tone and style of a particular publication or audience. Cost: The cost of developing and maintaining an AI system for writing and editing blogs can be high, especially for small businesses or individuals.

 

ChatGPT’s Regenerated Response

There are several pros and cons to using AI to write and edit blogs. Here are some of the most significant: Pros: Time-saving: AI can quickly generate content, which can save a lot of time for writers and editors. Consistency: AI can maintain consistency in tone, language, and formatting, making the content more professional and coherent. Scalability: AI can generate content in large quantities, making it easier to produce a high volume of blog posts or articles. Customization: AI can generate content based on specific parameters, such as target audience, topic, and style. Cons: Lack of creativity: AI lacks the creativity and originality that humans possess. As a result, the content generated by AI can be dull and uninteresting. Limited understanding: AI can struggle to understand context, nuance, and tone, which can result in inappropriate language and messaging. Inaccuracies: AI can produce inaccurate information, which can be harmful to readers. Cost: AI technology can be expensive to implement, and the cost of using it may outweigh the benefits. Overall, while AI can be a useful tool in generating content, it should be used in conjunction with human expertise and oversight to ensure the accuracy, relevance, and quality of the content.

 

Bard’s Response, which was much the same as ChatGPT’s

What are the pros and cons of using AI to write blogs? Here are some of the pros and cons of using AI to write blogs: Pros: AI can help you write blogs faster and more efficiently. AI can help you write blogs that are more engaging and interesting to read. AI can help you write blogs that are more SEO-friendly. AI can help you write blogs that are more tailored to your target audience. Cons: AI-generated content may not be as high quality as human-generated content. AI-generated content may not be as original as human-generated content. AI-generated content may not be as creative as human-generated content. AI-generated content may not be as well-researched as human-generated content.   Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use AI to write blogs is up to you. If you are looking for a way to save time and produce high-quality content, then AI may be a good option for you. However, if you are looking for content that is truly unique and original, then you may want to consider hiring a human writer.   Here are some additional things to consider when using AI to write blogs: Make sure that you are using a reputable AI writing tool. There are many AI writing tools available, but not all of them are created equal. Do some research to find a tool that has a good reputation and that produces high-quality content. Be clear about your goals for your blog. What do you want to achieve with your blog? Are you trying to inform, entertain, or persuade your readers? Once you know your goals, you can choose an AI writing tool that is best suited for those goals. Be prepared to edit and proofread the content that AI generates. AI writing tools can be very helpful, but they are not perfect. You will still need to edit and proofread the content to make sure that it is free of errors and that it meets your standards. Be aware of the potential for plagiarism. AI writing tools can sometimes generate content that is plagiarized from other sources. Be sure to check the content that AI generates for plagiarism before you publish it.   Overall, AI can be a valuable tool for bloggers, but it is important to use it wisely. By following the tips above, you can use AI to write high-quality content that will help you achieve your blogging goals.

 

 

Case Studies in a Nutshell

 

Case studies are used in all sorts of fields to take a problem or issue, look for a solution, and present solutions. Case studies can be help provide solutions to a problem. Different fields use them differently. Businesses might use them to showcase how they solved a problem for one customer and can do it for you too. Clinical case studies can apply to helping with a medical problem. On this episode of Editing with Kate, we talk about case studies and their advantages and disadvantages. 

Have you worked on a case study? We’d be interested in any insights you have on them. Share them in our discussion area.

 

Listen to Podcast

 

Editing with Kate! Episode 26 Transcript

 

References

• Case Study – Definition | Examples & Methods 
• What is a Case Study?
• The Strengths and Weaknesses of Case Studies
• 3 Key Components of an Effective Business Case Study

 

Eight Common APA Mistakes

 

By Kate Devlin

If you are writing a paper that needs to follow APA style guidelines, read on to see how to avoid some of the most common mistakes writers make.

What are some of the most common issues writers run into with APA style?

As most writers following APA style have probably already realized, there are many dos and don’ts when it comes to APA style. While there are many rules to follow, you may find that the more you work with them, the more familiar they become. You might even become an expert!

You are not alone if you struggle a bit with following APA style. There are great resources to guide you like the American Psychological Association’s website (apastyle.apa.org).

Here are some of the most common mistakes to watch out for:

1. Pay attention to verb tense. Use past tense for the literature review, the methodology section (if it’s already happened), and the results section.
2. Use what is called the Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma) for a series of items. This means that if you have a series of items, you put a comma after each item and before the “and.” For example, I like apples [comma], pears [comma], and grapes.
3. Only use one space after a period, not two. (This is good practice for whatever you write since two spaces after a period has not been in practice for a while now.)
4. For quotations, be sure to lead into your quote with a sentence or two introducing it, such as why it’s important and how it relates to what you are writing about. Don’t just leave the quote hanging with no explanation.
5. Be sure to use transitions between paragraphs and sections. They help guide the reader through your paper. Transitions are words like “first,” “second,” “next,” or “finally.”
6. Be sure you are using the correct formatting for your in-text citations and your reference list. The APA website has many examples to help you. Also, be sure that any references cited in your text match the ones listed on your reference pages.
7. Check your formatting—from the title page to the last appendix section, APA has rules for it all—margins, fonts, alignment, indentation, tables and figures, citations, etc. But don’t worry, while APA has many requirements, they also have plenty of examples to follow—another instance where the APA website will help you tremendously.
8. Be sure that the purpose statement that you use throughout your paper is consistent. You don’t want to send mixed messages to your reader.

 

While there seem to be a lot of rules to remember when it comes to APA style, there are also lots of online tips and examples to help you.

Resources

• American Psychological Association
• APA Style Introduction

Using APA Style Guidelines

 

By Kate Devlin

Most college students are familiar with APA style as it is often a requirement that they follow the style’s guidelines for their papers. While they may be familiar with it, they may not know all of its ins and outs.

Let’s explore why it’s so important to follow the APA guidelines.

What is so important about APA style?

Following the APA style guidelines is important for paper uniformity and consistency as well as for proper attribution or citing of sources. Papers sound better and flow better when they follow a style like APA.

Here’s a little snippet of APA history from the APA website that I thought was interesting. APA first came about in 1929 when a group of psychologists, anthropologists, and business managers got together and developed a set of what they called “procedures,” and what we today call “guidelines.” These guidelines, which have been revised over the years, are still in use today by students, researchers, and educators for their scientific papers. The most current edition is the 7^th edition, released in October 2019.

How exactly do the APA guidelines help writers?

The guidelines help writers by establishing requirements for their papers. I’m going to touch briefly on seven of the main areas that APA covers. Keep in mind that this is a very general overview.

1.     Format (which fonts to use, how to format headings, and margin set up)

2.     In-text citations (how to format them correctly; see APA style guide for examples)

3.     “Style mechanics” (includes use of punctuation, abbreviations, and capitalization)

4.     Grammar (verb tense, active vs. passive voice, singular “they”)

5.     References (how to cite, again the style guide will have examples)

6.     Bias-free language

7.     Tables and figures

What are some helpful resources for APA guidelines?

The best online resource I found was the American Psychological Association’s website. It’s easy to navigate and has great examples. Purdue’s Online Writing Lab also has helpful APA information. Your school or university should have helpful resources as well. Of course, the most comprehensive option is the full guide that can be purchased in print or digital format.

Resources

• American Psychological Association
• APA Style Introduction

 

Writing a Research Paper and How to Get Started