Grammarly's 'Expert Review' feature raises eyebrows over feedback authenticity
What's the story
Grammarly's latest feature, Expert Review, is designed to enhance users' writing with insights from renowned authors and thinkers. The tool was launched in August 2025 as part of a larger suite of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered features. It can be accessed from the main writing assistant's sidebar, providing revision suggestions "from the perspective" of subject matter experts. However, a recent report by WIRED has raised questions about the authenticity of these expert reviews.
Feature functionality
Feedback resembles well-known authors' styles
The Expert Review feature provides feedback that often mimics the style of well-known authors, both living and deceased. According to The Verge, this feedback can even resemble the work of tech journalists from The Verge, Wired, Bloomberg, The New York Times, and other publications. However, when TechCrunch tried it out with an early draft of a post, it didn't get any suggestions from its own colleagues but rather ethical context like Casey Newton or reader alignment tips like Kara Swisher.
Clarification
Grammarly clarifies expert references are informational
Alex Gay, VP of product and corporate marketing at Superhuman (Grammarly's parent company), said the experts are mentioned because their works are publicly available and widely cited. In its user guide for the feature, Grammarly states that references to experts in Expert Review are purely informational and do not indicate any affiliation with Grammarly or endorsement by those individuals or entities.
Terminology debate
Historian questions term 'expert review'
The use of the term 'expert review' has been questioned by some, including historian C.E. Aubin, who told WIRED that "These are not expert reviews, because there are no 'experts' involved in producing them." This raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of Grammarly's feedback system. Despite these concerns, Grammarly maintains that references to experts in Expert Review are purely informational.