What Is Paperpal? Transform Your Academic Writing with AI-Assisted Editing Tools<span class="wtr-time-wrap after-title"><span class="wtr-time-number">21</span> min read</span>
In this article I’ll provide an overview of Paperpal, an AI-driven platform engineered to support the unique demands of academic writing and research publication.
- Have you ever worried that the grammar usage or phrasing of your paper is incorrect?
- Have you ever been confident about the scientific content of your paper but unsure about the quality of your writing skills?
- Have you ever thought about using professional editing services, but gave up because they were too expensive?
All of these concerns are addressed by Paperpal, an AI-powered English language editing tool.
Benefits of Using Paperpal
- You can quickly improve your writing with real-time editing suggestions
- Paperpal offers comprehensive support, from drafting your paper to final submission
Professional editing services for journal submission can be a major expense.
But if you’re already familiar with the submission process, Paperpal alone is usually sufficient for editing needs.
Not only does Paperpal help keep your costs under control, it also speeds up your workflow.
By taking advantage of the coupon code below, you can use Paperpal starting at just US$9.27 per month.
Since the Paperpal subscription also includes the literature search tool R Discovery, you can use them together as a comprehensive, all-in-one research platform.
In this article, I will provide a detailed overview of the specific features and benefits of Paperpal.
Official Website: Paperpal (https://paperpal.com/)
Let’s jump right in!
What Is Paperpal?
Paperpal is an AI-powered English editing tool provided by Editage, the largest English language editing service provider in Japan.
Key points about Paperpal
- Complete final checks before submitting your manuscript
- All-in-one pre-submission check (including language editing)
- Plagiarism detection
- Write your manuscript
- Improve on text
- Editing
- Rewriting
- Generate text with AI
- Make drafts using templates
- Get real-time writing assistance
- Translate text
- Insert citations
- Improve on text
- Read and analyze literature
Paperpal offers a wide range of features, making it possible to complete the entire submission process using Paperpal alone.
- Paperpal’s AI is designed for scholarly writing
- Stylistic consistency
- Transparent revision history
- End-to-end writing support
- A paid plan is recommended if you intend to use Paperpal regularly
- With the coupon provided below, plans start from just US$9.26 per month
- Coupon code: “ ACADEMIA20 ”
- Access to R Discovery is also included in the Prime Plan
Editage—the maker of Paperpal—is Japan’s most widely used editing service.
Paperpal boasts an AI system trained on English-language editing data accumulated by Editage’s professional editors.
In addition to Paperpal, Editage offers several other tools and services uniquely designed for researchers, providing comprehensive support for a range of academic activities.
Another advantage of Paperpal is its seamless integration with the literature search tool, R Discovery.
Perfecting Your Paper with Paperpal
One of Paperpal’s most useful features is the ability to run pre-submission checks on a manuscript draft.
There are two main pre-submission checks offered via Paperpal:
- All-in-one pre-submission check
- Plagiarism detection
All-in-One Pre-Submission Check
This feature provides a comprehensive evaluation of major issues in your paper.
Once your draft is complete, just upload the file to Paperpal.
Your manuscript will then be checked for the following:
- Problematic areas specific to academic journal publication
- Issues with language use or grammar
In order to give you a clear idea of the assessments performed by Paperpal, here’s a screenshot of a summary of the results from a pre-submission check:
As you can see, your manuscript is evaluated against thirty different criteria grouped into seven major categories.
Below are examples of some of the items checked for in each of the categories:
- Metadata
- Author email address
- Author lists and affiliations
- Declarations
- Author contribution statements
- Conflict of interest disclosures
- Figures and Tables
- Citations for figures and tables
- Counts
- Length of the manuscript
- Length of the title
- Structure
- Whether the paper follows the IMRaD structure
- References
- Number of references
- Language
- Language quality, grammar, and style
Download the generated report to see the full details of the check:
Example of Generated Report
- This section gives an overview of the checks specific to academic manuscripts.
The report provides detailed comments for each of the thirty checklist items:
- Any edits made by Paperpal include a history, so you can track any changes made to the original text
- Paperpal also provides detailed comments and suggestions for revisions
Via its editing check, Paperpal thoroughly checks grammar—including proper use of articles and singular/plural nouns—to ensure consistency in word choice across the entire manuscript.
What I find especially helpful is that Paperpal keeps a full history of the changes it made and attaches comments to the revisions.
(I will explain the editing features in more detail later)
You can obtain suggestions that are almost on par with those of a professional editor in just a few seconds.
Plagiarism Detection
Conducting a plagiarism check is absolutely critical before submitting your research.
Paperpal includes a plagiarism detector as a standard feature.
The check compares your manuscript with similar publications and automatically detects potential plagiarism risks.
Unintentional plagiarism can occur, which is why it’s so important to perform a reliable check!
Some examples of plagiarism
- Unintentional Plagiarism:
- Inadequate paraphrasing of source material without proper citations
- Simply forgetting to include a source
- Self-Plagiarism:
- Reusing content that you have previously published without clearly citing the original source
Plagiarism checks are crucial in order to prevent journals from raising concerns about potential misconduct.
After the check is complete, Paperpal provides you with a summary of:
- Passages that are suspicious and require attention
- The amount of suspected plagiarism in your paper, as indicated by a numerical score expressed in percentage
Plagiarism checking is often offered as a standalone tool or paid service.
The fact that Paperpal includes it as a basic feature within its suite of tools is impressive.
Writing and Refining Your Research Paper
Below is a summary of the key features available from Paperpal that are designed to help you write your manuscript.
Paperpal is compatible with the following platforms:
- Paperpal (web version)
- Word
- Overleaf
- Google Docs
One particularly useful feature is the ability to install extensions. This allows you to use Paperpal not only on the web, but also directly within applications like Microsoft Word.
The main writing features of Paperpal include:
- Edit
- Rewrite
- Make drafts using templates
- Get real-time writing assistance
- Translate text
Enhancing Your Prose
- Professional English Editing: Polish up your text to make it suitable for submission to academic journals
- Contextual Rewriting: Refine the flow and clarity of your paper to increase its readability
Edit
You can edit any selected passage of text within seconds.
The editing tool revises text according to the same criteria as the pre-submission check described earlier.
There are two things you can do in English Editing mode:
- Edit spelling and grammar (e.g., check for accurate use of articles, singular/plural forms, etc.)
- Run a consistency check
Paperpal checks for and corrects grammatical errors, as well as unnatural expressions.
The results of the check are presented as suggestions in a list, allowing you to focus on and fix one issue at a time:
For each suggestion, you can choose to accept or reject the change.
It’s very useful to be able to review and address each suggestion one-by-one.
Furthermore, the consistency check automatically detects issues such as inconsistent terminology, shifts in verb tense, and variations in tone. It then suggests revisions based on the errors detected.
Rewrite
Paperpal’s Rewrite function transforms your text to sound more natural and appropriate for academic publishing.
Even casual wording can be rephrased into something that’s suitable for a scholarly article.
The Rewrite function offers several different modes, such as:
- Paraphrase
- Convert to Academic English
- Improve Fluency
- Simplify
- Reduce Word Count
- Change Tone
- Suggest Synonyms
Just select the text you want to rephrase, and then choose the type of rewrite you’d like.
And if you aren’t satisfied with the suggested sentence, you can simply generate a new one.
You can keep generating new sentences until you find wording you’re satisfied with.
AI-Powered Content Generation
- Template-Based Drafts: Create a draft of your paper based on a selection of pre-made templates
- Real-Time Writing Assistance: Get writing support as you type
- Academic Translation: Improve the readability of your article by making it accessible to a multilingual audience
Make Drafts Using Templates
With Paperpal’s Write feature, you can automatically generate a manuscript draft by simply entering your research topic and a brief summary.
The structure and phrasing are formatted in a style suitable for academic research, making it an effective tool for getting started on your paper.
It takes a little time and patience to learn how to give the AI the most effective instructions.
Despite the initial learning curve, the platform significantly streamlines the writing process compared to drafting a manuscript from scratch.
You can also make use of templates:
The Writing Assistance Tool offers a wide range of built-in templates, including:
- Outline
- Brainstorm
- Title
- Abstract
For example, if you select Research Article from the Outline option, you can then:
- Choose the genre of the paper you want to write
- Enter a summary of the content
- Attach reference papers, if available
Once you’ve provided this information, Paperpal automatically generates a paper outline.
Example of Generated Output
You can then continue writing on the Paperpal platform based on this outline.
Get Real-Time Writing Assistance
You can use the writing assistance features as you work on your manuscript.
At your request, the AI suggests text and can even continue your writing based on the context you’ve provided.
Example of Generated Output
There are many other writing assistance tools available in addition to the Keep Writing feature. For example, you can ask the AI to:
- Expand on selected text
- Explain selected text
- Summarize selected text
- Provide feedback on selected text
Paperpal is packed with features designed to help you maintain your writing productivity.
Translate Text
Text written in English can be translated with a single click:
Being able to translate within the editing screen is very convenient!
In practice, I find that refining the logic of the paper in my native language first and then translating it to another language leads to fewer errors and saves a lot of time.
Insert Citations
When you search for papers within Paperpal, they can be saved to a Paper List.
You can insert citations into your text with one click from this saved list.
Uploaded papers are stored in the Library, so they can be cited at any time.
Examples of Generated Output
1. In-Text Citation
2. Reference List
Citation Style Selector
Paperpal provides all the essential features required for academic writing!
Read and Analyze Literature
When you upload a PDF, you can use the Chat feature to ask the AI questions about the contents of the document.
This helps you quickly grasp a paper’s key points and delve deeper into specific sections of interest.
It is also convenient for when you are writing and need a reminder of what a paper is about.
Why You Should Use Paperpal (Compared to ChatGPT and Similar Tools)
By now, the points I’ve covered so far have hopefully shown why Paperpal is such a great tool.
But you might be thinking…
“Isn’t ChatGPT enough?”
Let me explain the key advantages to using Paperpal over other AI tools (such as ChatGPT).
- Designed for Scholarly Writing: Paperpal’s AI is trained on datasets derived from academic research
- Stylistic Consistency: Paperpal is especially good at maintaining a consistent tone across the entire manuscript
- Transparent Revision History: Every change is recorded and can be referenced at any time
- End-to-End Writing Support: You can use Paperpal from first draft all the way to final submission
Paperpal’s AI Is Designed for Scholarly Writing
| Paperpal | ChatGPT and similar tools |
|---|---|
| Optimized for academic writing, such as research papers. | They can handle academic writing, but the tone of the writing may be inconsistent or they might produce a paper that doesn’t hold up to formal academic conventions, which can be risky. |
Paperpal is optimized with scholarly writing in mind. You can rewrite text into a research journal-appropriate style with a single click.
Stylistic Consistency
| Paperpal | ChatGPT and similar tools |
|---|---|
| Maintains consistency in articles, prepositions, and verb tense | Judgments may vary depending on the context, making it harder to maintain consistency throughout your paper. |
For example, Paperpal checks for issues such as incorrect uses of a/an/the, inaccurate pluralization, and changes in verb tense across the entire manuscript, ensuring uniformity in your paper from beginning to end.
Transparent Revision History
| Paperpal | ChatGPT and similar tools |
|---|---|
| You can see the edit history | Since they often rewrite the entire text at once, it can be difficult to track what revisions have been made. |
Paperpal allows you to see the difference between the original and the revised text, and also explains the reasons for changes made.
Individual review of suggested changes gives you the choice to decide whether to accept or reject each edit. Some of Paperpal’s tools even explain the rationale behind corrections made, which helps you learn from your mistakes.
End-to-End Writing Support
| Paperpal | ChatGPT and similar tools |
|---|---|
| Includes formal pre-submission checks and plagiarism detection | This is difficult to do with ChatGPT alone |
Paperpal provides end-to-end writing support as part of its standard package.
In summary, Paperpal is a tool designed for researchers who write academic literature.
Plus, unlike general-purpose AI tools such as ChatGPT, Paperpal doesn’t require you to write detailed prompts—it’s built with academic text in mind.
Benefits of Using Paperpal
- Proofreading can be completed in seconds
- Complete writing support, from first draft to final submission
Give it a try!
Compatibility and Platforms
- Paperpal Web Version
- Word
- Overleaf
- Google Docs
In addition to using Paperpal online, you can also use it in external environments (such as Word) by installing extensions—another major advantage.
Paperpal Pricing and Plans
Paperpal offers two plans:
- Free Plan
- Prime Plan
- You can use a coupon to get the Prime Plan starting from US$9.26 per month.
- Coupon code: ACADEMIA20 .
Prime Plan Features and Pricing
You can choose from three subscription options: one-month, three-month, or annual.
The annual subscription is by far the best value.
| Recommended Annual Plan | Three-month Plan | Monthly Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Price (USD) | $139 / year | US$55 / quarter | US$25 / month |
| Monthly Equivalent (USD) | $11.58 / month | $18.33 / month | $25.00 / month |
| Coupon Code | ACADEMIA20 | ||
| Price After Discount (USD) | $9.26 / month | $14.66 / month | $20.00 / month |
Comparing the Free Plan and the Prime Plan
If you plan to use Paperpal on a regular basis, I recommend the Prime Plan.
- Available number of proofreading and consistency edits
- Limit on use of AI tools
- Number of words allowed for inputting into the plagiarism checker
- Access to R Discovery Prime
| Free Plan | Prime Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Editing & Consistency Checks | Up to 200 edits per month | Unlimited |
| AI Tools* | 5 uses per day | Unlimited |
| Citation Generation | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Plagiarism Detection | 7,000 words per month | 10,000 words per month (includes higher quality AI compared to the Free Plan) |
| All-In-One Pre-submission Check | Available with limitations | Unlimited |
| R Discovery | Free features only | Access to all features |
*AI tools include: Rewrite, Research and Citation, text generation, and templates.
In my experience, it’s very easy to hit the limit for monthly proofreading and consistency checks.
Overall, the Free Plan is suitable for trial use, while the Prime Plan is the better option for serious work.
What’s more, when you subscribe to the paid plan, R Discovery Prime is automatically included.
R Discovery and Paperpal make for a great bundle of academic-writing tools: you can redesign your entire research workflow by using R Discovery to search for papers and using Paperpal to write them.
The Paperpal interface is integrated directly into R Discovery’s platform:
When Paperpal Alone Is Sufficient and When to Use a Professional Editing Service
You may be wondering:
“Can I rely solely on Paperpal for proofreading and editing?”
Often, yes. But in some cases, it may be better to use a professional manuscript editing service.
Here, I’ll explain some scenarios where Paperpal alone is sufficient, and cases when you might want to employ a professional editor.
When Paperpal Alone is Sufficient
In the following situations, you can complete paper submission using only Paperpal:
- Your paper’s logic and structure are already very solid
- You are familiar with the communication involved in journal submission
Compared to expert editorial assistance, Paperpal is significantly more affordable and provides faster results.
When to Consider a Professional Editor
Specialized academic editing services are recommended in the following situations:
- You want to improve the structure of your paper
- You feel nervous about managing correspondence during the submission process
Paperpal does not provide in-depth structural editing for manuscripts.
If you want to refine or strengthen the logic and narrative flow of your paper, I recommend a professional editing service.
Conclusion
In this article, I’ve summarized the AI-assisted proofreading and academic writing tool Paperpal:
- Complete final checks before submitting your manuscript
- All-in-one pre-submission check (including language editing)
- Plagiarism detection
- Write your manuscript
- Improve your text
- Edit
- Rewrite
- Generate text with AI
- Make drafts using templates
- Use writing assistance
- Translate text
- Insert citations
- Improve your text
- Read and analyze literature
Paperpal offers a wide range of features, making it possible to complete the entire submission process using Paperpal alone.
- Paperpal’s AI is designed for scholarly writing
- Stylistic consistency
- Transparent revision history
- End-to-end writing support
- A paid plan is recommended if you intend to use Paperpal regularly
- With the coupon provided below, plans start from just US$9.26 per month
- Coupon “ ACADEMIA20 ”
- Access to R Discovery is also included in the Prime Plan
Paperpal’s AI editing and writing tools help researchers write manuscripts more efficiently by dramatically reducing both time and effort.
Benefits of Using Paperpal
- Editing and proofreading are completed within seconds
- Paperpal offers comprehensive support, from drafting your paper to final submission
By using Paperpal in your academic-writing workflow, you can significantly reduce editing costs, especially if you’re already familiar with the submission process. Go ahead and give it a try!