By Jim Shimabukuro (assisted by ChatGPT and Perplexity)
Editor
Summary: The article explores whether AI tools like ChatGPT can meaningfully substitute for human writing teachers in college settings. Using a sample student error, the author shows how AI quickly and accurately identifies grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes, providing corrective explanations and revision tips. The discussion then shifts to educational implications: while AI can efficiently handle mechanical corrections and free instructors from time-consuming markups, key concerns arise around pedagogy and student learning. The article questions whether reliance on AI will truly help students internalize good writing habits or simply encourage dependency on automated fixes. Ultimately, the piece suggests that while AI’s language abilities can improve, its best use is as a supplement—handling routine errors—so that human instructors can devote more time to higher-order feedback, personal mentoring, and fostering critical thinking and creativity in writing, rather than being replaced outright. (Perplexity)
Question I posed in the free version of ChatGPT:
What are the grammar errors in the following sample of writing and how would you explain the errors to the writer: Im a new Stewdant at this college and I dont know how too register for classes. I asked the registrar “which courses do I need”? and she said ‘you have to see a counseler”.
ChatGPT’s response, in a matter of seconds:
[Start of ChatGPT response]
Great—let’s review your writing sample carefully and go over the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage errors. Here’s the original:
“Im a new Stewdant at this college and I dont know how too register for classes. I asked the registrar ‘which courses do I need’? and she said ‘you have to see a counseler’.”
🔎 Revised version (corrected):
“I’m a new student at this college, and I don’t know how to register for classes. I asked the registrar, ‘Which courses do I need?’ and she said, ‘You have to see a counselor.'”
📋 Breakdown of Errors & Explanations:
1. “Im” → “I’m”
- Error: Missing apostrophe in the contraction of I am.
- Explanation: Im should be I’m, because the apostrophe replaces the missing letter a in am.
- ✅ Tip: Always use an apostrophe in contractions like I’m, don’t, can’t.
2. “Stewdant” → “student”
- Error: Spelling mistake.
- Explanation: Stewdant is a phonetic spelling. The correct spelling is student.
- ✅ Tip: Use spell check or a dictionary when unsure.
3. “dont” → “don’t”
- Error: Missing apostrophe in the contraction of do not.
- Explanation: dont should be don’t. The apostrophe replaces the o in not.
- ✅ Tip: Watch for contractions and use apostrophes where letters are left out.
4. “too register” → “to register”
- Error: Wrong word: too instead of to.
- Explanation: Too means “also” or “excessively.” You need the word to, which is part of the infinitive verb to register.
- ✅ Tip: If you’re using a verb like register, use to, not too.
5. Punctuation in dialogue
- “which courses do I need”? → ‘Which courses do I need?’
- Error: Incorrect placement of question mark and inconsistent quotation marks.
- Explanation: In American English, question marks go inside the quotation marks when the quoted sentence is a question.
- ✅ Tip: Use single quotes only when quoting inside another quote. Otherwise, use double quotes for spoken dialogue.
6. “counseler” → “counselor”
- Error: Spelling mistake.
- Explanation: The correct spelling is counselor. This is a common misspelling.
- ✅ Tip: Spellcheck or a quick dictionary look-up helps with tricky -er/-or endings.
🧠 Summary to the Writer:
Your message is understandable, but there are several small grammar and spelling mistakes that can make it harder for others to take your writing seriously—especially in college. Focus on:
- Using correct contractions (I’m, don’t)
- Watching out for spelling errors (student, counselor)
- Using the correct words (to vs. too)
- Correct punctuation in dialogue
With some practice and proofreading, your writing will be much clearer and more professional. Would you like help creating a checklist for self-editing or proofreading?
[End of ChatGPT response]
Discussion
What do you think of this AI response? AI errors? What are the educational possibilities for this kind of assistance? Can ChatGPT or similar service be incorporated into the classroom as a part of instruction? Will this free teachers from the tedious task of “correcting” and commenting on mechanical errors? How can teachers incorporate this type of service into their pedagogy? Will students actually learn how to avoid errors and improve their writing or will they simply rely on AI to “fix” their broken mechanics?
Are we seeing the beginning of the end of high school and college writing courses? Can we assume that AI will continue to improve to the point where errors will be minimal?
The sample I submitted is only two sentences in length. I’ll submit a longer piece later, as a follow-up, to see if ChatGPT will provide a comprehensive review.
Filed under: Uncategorized |
Educational Technology and Change Journal 
Hi Jim,
I’m not a writing instructor. When I was teaching BASIC programming, I could have used this sort of help. Correcting 200 poorly written programs took me a whole day.
Not having to correct spelling and simple grammatical errors should free instructors to focus on broader issues, of which grammar is only one. Let the computer do the dirty work. The instructor doesn’t have to be distracted from the task of teaching composition.
College students shouldn’t submit essays with horrible spelling and punctuation. If ChatGPT (or Grammarly, which I use) can help them overcome the deficiencies of a poor education, I say, “Yay!” Eventually, they’ll learn.
Off-topic, Grammarly used to be almost useless, except for spelling. Their suggestions for grammar and style correction were about 90% wrong when I first started using Grammarly. Now, they’re close to 90% correct from my viewpoint. Grammarly is really tough when it comes to avoiding passive voice. It’s decent at simplifying sentences. Its synonym suggestions are infrequently sensible in context.
I type poorly. Often, my fingers have a mind of their own. Having a spelling/grammar corrector helps me survive my writing efforts. My old mind also makes errors.
Cheers,
Harry