Which online AI-powered paraphrasing tool is the best? Engram’s paraphraser or Quillbot’s paraphrasing tool.
Quillbot is an AI-powered paraphrasing tool that has long been praised as the best in the paraphrasing tool industry. Many bloggers have covered Quillbot’s paraphrasing tool and its features, but we noticed that there was a lack of online content on the quality of Quillbot’s paraphrased sentences. This made us wonder.
Are the paraphrased texts coherent? Are the suggestions accurate in meaning? Is the paraphrasing tool just finding and changing words, or is Quillbot actually rewriting phrases, sentences, and essays?
We decided to to test the quality of Quillbot’s rewrites, and see if the outputs could be reliably depended upon. As a comparison, we also inputted the same sentences into Engram's paraphrasing tool.
• We used three criteria, accuracy in meaning, naturalness, and appropriateness, to assess the quality of the outputs from the assessments.
• We did a comparison between Engram's and Quillbot's paraphraser by doing two assessments: an evaluation of 100 sentences and an in-depth analysis of five sentences. These were done on Engram's Standard Style and Quillbot's Standard and Fluency Mode.
• We did two additional assessments. One analyzed Engram's Formal Style and another was done by inputting a piece of fiction writing in Engram's and Quillbot's paraphrasing tool.
The TL;DR
In these assessments, Engram was clearly the better paraphraser of the two.
Both AI rewriting tools, Quillbot vs. Engram, performed well, but Engram's quality was unbeatable, and Engram's paraphraser also had the added benefit of the Formal Style as a part of its FREE plan.
What is Quillbot?
QuillBot is an online paraphrasing tool that uses artificial intelligence to rephrase and rewrite text. It is designed to help users generate alternative versions of sentences or paragraphs while maintaining the original meaning. QuillBot is often used by students, writers, and researchers to avoid plagiarism, improve the clarity of their writing, or simply to find different ways to express ideas.
What is Engram?
Engram is an AI writing tool optimized to help non native speakers level up their English. It has many features, such as the grammar checker, paraphraser, and translator, to help everyone achieve their full potential through English.
Visit Engram to try out Engram's features.
Best AI Paraphraser for Non-Native English Speakers: Grammarly, QuillBot, Paraphrasing Tool, Paraphraser.io, Wordtune, Engram (2023)
What is important when choosing between paraphrasing tools?
In the real world, whether it be in school or professional settings, your message or ideas need to be communicated with clarity and impact.
A study found that 73% of employers seek candidates with strong written communication skills, but surprisingly, 40% of the Gen X population experience written miscommunications every week. This shows that the bare essentials of good writing are not even met. With this in mind, we evaluated the paraphrasers on the bare essentials of good writing.
Criteria for grading
Before we started our evaluation, we defined "quality" on three basic criteria: accuracy in meaning, naturalness, and also appropriateness. By defining quality, we hoped to eliminate any subjectivity or variance in the results.
Natural-sounding: Does the phrase contain any grammar errors? Is the phrase awkward?
*We will use natural-sounding, and fluent/fluency interchangeably throughout the post.
Appropriateness: Is the phrase appropriate for a certain scenario and/or purpose?
Evaluation
We did a blind evaluation on a set of 100 sentences picked randomly from Engram’s data. As this test was done on the Standard Style in Engram and the Standard Mode in Quillbot, we only graded the sentences on two criteria: accuracy in meaning, and naturalness. The second criterion was based on two factors: no grammar or mechanical errors, and no awkward phrasing/words.
Based on the results, we can see that Engram's outputs were better in both criteria than Quillbot. Engram's outputs achieved a 97% accuracy-in-meaning while sounding natural 83% of the time. On the other hand, Quillbot's outputs maintained the same meaning 75%, and only 65% of the sentences sounded natural.
In-depth Analysis
Quillbot vs. Engram
Quillbot’s free version offers two Modes: Standard and Fluency. We will be evaluating these two Modes against Engram's Standard Style, as Engram's Standard Style encompasses the capabilities of both Standard and Fluency Mode. We will be marking these Modes and Style on the three criteria noted above, grammatical error, fluency, and appropriateness. For appropriateness, we marked the sentences on whether they would be applicable for everyday use.
1. Engram
The meaning is maintained and the phrase "taste delicious" is the most sophisticated term out of the three.
2. Engram
Even though the input sentence's meaning was not delivered 100% accurately, it is the best out of the three choices. "Hiring" and "recruitment," although they can be understood by the large majority of the population as similar, have some differences in meaning. The word "fit" was awkward in Quillbot's sentences, as the word has other connotations. Thus, if used, the word "fit" has the possibility of creating some confusion.
3. Engram
Unlike Quillbot's two sentences, Engram's sentences do not end in a verb and are more readable compared to the other two.
4. Engram
In Quillbot's two output sentences, "faces" is anthropomorphized, but Engram makes sure to denote the feeling of happiness to "they."
5. Engram
Even though Quillbot's sentences were correct, the most standard phrase is Engram's "Who did she marry?"
Verdict
Engram's sentences were picked as the best sentences every time, proving that Engram's paraphraser has the best quality when the outputs were graded according to accuracy in meaning, grammatical correctness, and appropriateness. If you want to try out Engram's paraphraser, press the button below.
We took apart each output sentence and provided an analysis of each of them down below. If you want to see a more detailed version of how we came about with the results above, keep on reading.
The Full Analysis...
Quillbot's Standard
On the website, it states that Standard provides "a middle ground between changing the input text and keeping its meaning."
2. We measured the fit and used the recruitment site to filter talent and run the recruitment process ➡️ We used the recruitment site to manage the hiring process, filter talent and measure fit.
3. I observed everyone trying. ➡️ I saw that everyone was attempting.
4. They have smiley faces. ➡️ Their faces are happy.
5. With whom did she get married? ➡️ Who was her spouse at marriage?
- For the first sentence, "basket" is changed to "hamper" and "taste well" is changed to "good flavor." The former synonym change has problems with meaning, as "hamper" is used to describe a basket, specifically used for dirty laundry. The latter part change does not change the meaning, but it is not commonplace to say that "apples have a good flavor."
- "Measure fit" is not a standard term used in the recruitment process, more specifically "fit" has other meanings, so its use in this sentence can be awkward. The previous sentence put this phrase as a standalone phrase, separate from the capabilities of the "recruitment site." However, in Quillbot's output, "measure fit" is one of the capabilities of the recruitment site.
- Although the meaning was delivered accurately in the output, it is not advised to end on a verb, so this was marked down for awkwardness.
- This sentence is awkward, as saying that "faces are happy" anthropomorphizes faces. People feel the sensation of happiness, not faces.
- The output sentence has no grammatical errors, but on a day-to-day basis, we do not usually say "spouse," even though it is the correct term.
Quillbot's Fluency
Quillbot states that the Fluency Mode "improves the clarity and readability of text."
2. We measured the fit and used the recruitment site to filter talent and run the recruitment process ➡️ We assessed fit and used the recruitment site to filter candidates and manage the recruitment process.
3. I observed everyone trying. ➡️ I saw that everyone try.
4. They have smiley faces. ➡️ Their faces are happy.
5. With whom did she get married? ➡️ To whom did she get married?
- The output sentence is accurate in meaning, and is fluent. It can be used for everyday use. The only downside to this sentence would be that "apples taste good" might sound too simple.
- Again, "fit" is not a standard term used in the recruitment process.
- This sentence is incomplete, as there is no object describing what "everyone" was putting their efforts on.
- This anthropomorphizes "faces." It is not the "faces" experiencing sensations of happiness; it is the people who are experiencing happiness.
- This sentence is grammatically accurate, and also the meaning has been maintained from input to output sentences.
Engram's Standard
On Engram's website, it states that Standard Style is "for work and everyday use."
2. We measured the fit and used the recruitment site to filter talent and run the recruitment process ➡️ We assessed the suitability and utilized the hiring platform to screen candidates and manage the hiring process.
3. I observed everyone trying. ➡️ I saw everyone making an effort.
4. They have smiley faces. ➡️ They have happy expressions.
5. With whom did she get married? ➡️ Who did she marry?
- This sentence is accurate in meaning and also not awkward.
- This sentence is not perfect, as to be accurate, recruitment and hiring have some differences in meaning, but the majority of people would not be able to differentiate the difference. Unlike Quillbot though, Engram did manage to change the awkward "fit" into "suitability," which is more apt for the sentence at hand.
- Yes, this sentence has finally been changed, so that it ends with a noun rather than a verb.
- Engram does not anthropomorphize "faces," and correctly denotes the "happy expressions" to "they." There are no grammar errors and the meaning is maintained in the paraphrased statement.
- "Who did she marry?" is the most standard and correct term that is used every day in conversation.
Engram's Formal Style
Unlike Quillbot, Engram also offers a Formal Style. As Engram's Standard fared so well in the comparative in-depth analysis, we decided to also conduct an in-depth analysis of Engram's Formal output sentences.
On Engram's website, Formal Style is for statements that are going to be used on formal and professional occasions.
2. We measured the fit and used the recruitment site to filter talent and run the recruitment process. ➡️ We assessed suitability and utilized the recruitment platform to screen candidates and facilitate the recruitment procedure.
3. I observed everyone trying ➡️ I observed everyone making an effort.
4. They have smiley faces ➡️ They exhibit expressions of happiness.
5. With whom did she get married? ➡️ With whom was she married?
- This sentence is grammatically correct, and the meaning is delivered accurately. One downside to this sentence would be that it might sound too simple, so this will be marked down for appropriateness.
- This sentence is grammatically correct, accurate in meaning, and also appropriate for the Formal Style.
- This sentence is grammatically correct, accurate in meaning, and also appropriate for the Formal Style.
- This sentence is grammatically correct, accurate in meaning, and also appropriate for the Formal Style.
- This sentence is grammatically correct, accurate in meaning, and also appropriate for the Formal Style.
Verdict
Five out of the five sentences were accurate in meaning and had no grammar errors. One of the sentences "The apples in the basket taste good." did not pass the appropriateness criteria, but this was because of the sentence's simplicity. It would not be wrong to use this sentence in a formal situation.
Do you have to write up a business email, or need to write up a speech for a formal occasion? You can try out our Engram paraphraser for free by pressing the button below. For the Formal version, you need to sign up and use the Paraphraser in your dashboard.
A Fun Activity
Many writers have criticized the ability of Quillbot's paraphrasing tool to edit creative or fiction writing, so our team did a fun exercise where we inputted a famous quote from “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger into both Quillbot and Engram’s Paraphraser. The quote was tested on Quillbot's Standard Mode and Engram's Standard Style.
“The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” - J.D. Salinger
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. ➡️ A guy who wishes to die honorably for a cause is immature, whereas a man who wishes to live humbly for a purpose is mature.
Engram
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. ➡️ The immature man seeks to die nobly for a cause, while the mature man strives to live humbly for one.
Verdict
Engram’s version is comprehensible and more concise than the original quote. Quillbot’s version changes “man” to “guy” which was probably used to emphasize the immaturity, but it made the sentence sound sloppy and forced. In Quillbot, “Nobly" changed to "honorably," which also changed the connotations of the quote. “Nobly” from the original sentence was used to highlight the immaturity of the man, as the archaicness of "nobly" allows it to be used in irony.
In conclusion, Quillbot made unnecessary changes, so that the output was awkward and worse than the original quote.
Quillbot vs. Engram: The Takeaway
Engram's paraphraser wins hands down against Quillbot's paraphraser based on the three criteria, maintenance of meaning, grammatical correctness, and appropriateness, of quality.
We made this opinion based on two analysis. One was the evaluation consisting of 100 sentences. The second was an in-depth analyses of five sentences.
The last two assessments also supported our point that Engram was the best choice when contemplating between the use of Quillbot and Engram. The third was scrutinizing Engram's Formal Style sentences. Even in our fun activity, we could see that Engram was the better choice of the two.
Other factors to consider...
Pricing
Engram's monthly fee is $12.99, while Quillbot's is $19.95. Engram's monthly fee is for the PREMIUM version, which provides unlimited access to Engram's Paraphraser and Proofreader, and also other features such as the Word Counter, and Resume Builder. With Premium, you can also enjoy the 7 different Styles on the Paraphraser.
User interface
When using Quillbot, we found the user interface to be distracting, as there were too many features that either had too much description or too little information to guide us on their usage. The features, once we learned how to use them, were great and helpful in our writing process.
Engram's user interface was intuitive and color-coded, which helped make the learning curve less steep. It was easy, as we could just input the sentence, see the results, and then choose which Style we would like to apply. No hassle and less effort.
Data privacy
Another factor to consider is data privacy. Engram has the option of a privacy mode that allows users to opt out of storing their data in Engram's database. Quillbot does not have this mode but does explain how it uses its stored data here.
Try Engram's paraphrasing tool by clicking on the link below.
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