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Modern technology has revolutionized our lives, making once tedious tasks a breeze. Don’t feel like talking on the phone? Send a text message instead! Want to keep your messages short? Twitter has got you covered! However, technology can sometimes be a double-edged sword. While Grammarly, an online grammar checker, is a valuable tool, it can occasionally do more harm than good.
What does “intricate text” mean in Grammarly?
When Grammarly flags your writing as “intricate text,” it means that your content is difficult to comprehend. Although intricate text isn’t necessarily bad, it often confuses readers and hampers their understanding of your message. To rectify this, Grammarly suggests rewriting the highlighted section of text to clarify your point.
What does Grammarly imply by warning about “intricate text”?
The term “intricate” denotes something that is highly detailed or complex. Therefore, when Grammarly identifies your text as intricate, it implies that the highlighted piece might have too much going on. This typically occurs when sentences are lengthy and contain multiple errors, hindering Grammarly’s ability to proofread effectively. Other common causes include the use of:
- Complicated sentence structures
- Repeated words within one sentence
- Starting a sentence with the words “this” or “that”
The warning for intricate text appears in Grammarly’s advanced suggestions box, which requires a premium subscription to access.
Examples of Intricate Text
Intentionally eliciting Grammarly’s intricate text warning can be a challenge. However, certain words and constructions consistently trigger this error message.
Lengthy, complex sentences with repeated words
Consider the following example: “And I looked around for a bus in front of a puddle, and, before I knew it, what I had seen in the street was sloshing over me in a great big wave of dirty water.” This convoluted sentence confuses Grammarly due to the repeated use of “and” and the phrase “before I knew it, what I had seen.” By splitting the sentence into two, we can eliminate the warning: “I looked around for a bus in front of a puddle. Before I knew it, what I had seen in the street was sloshing over me in a great big wave of dirty water.” The revised version is easier to read, removes the repeated usage of “and,” and enhances clarity.
The word “they”
Let’s examine this sentence: “All they ever wanted was to go to sleep. We ensured they couldn’t.” Here, Grammarly underlines the second occurrence of “they” as intricate text. Although not clear why “they” is considered intricate in this specific case, a simple rephrase can resolve the issue: “All they ever wanted was to go to sleep. We ensured it couldn’t happen.”
Starting a sentence with “this” or “that”
Take for instance: “I had finally found my purpose in life. This was unsurprising to everyone who knew me.” Grammarly cites the word “this” as intricate text. This is likely because starting a sentence with “this” requires readers to refer back to a previous sentence for context. Known as a vague antecedent in grammar, excessive usage can hinder comprehension. To eliminate the warning and improve clarity, we can rewrite the sentence: “I had finally found my purpose in life. Nobody who knew me was surprised by my discovery.”
Should I correct “intricate text” flagged by Grammarly?
Intricate text makes your writing harder for readers to understand, which is typically undesirable. When attempting to convey the benefits of a new product or provide instructions for a project, confusing writing can impede your efforts. While there may be instances where intricate text is unavoidable, such as writing about complex academic subjects or utilizing rhetorical constructs like parallelism, it is best practice to strive for clarity. Even if the end result isn’t significantly improved, making the effort to clarify your writing will undoubtedly enhance readers’ comprehension.
How to simplify writing and eliminate “intricate text” warnings in Grammarly
Grammarly often issues the “intricate text” warning when a sentence contains an excessive number of clauses. By breaking long sentences into shorter ones, you not only remove the error but also create clearer expressions. When encountering warnings associated with specific words like “they,” “this,” or “that,” try rephrasing your writing to avoid such words.
What is Grammarly?
Grammarly is a widely used writing assistance program that provides a free online grammar checker, along with a browser extension, Word plugin, and other grammar and spelling software. Students often rely on Grammarly to avoid common mistakes and improve their scores, while professionals value it for its ability to eliminate spelling errors and uphold formal grammar standards. While most of Grammarly’s suggestions are straightforward, some, like the “intricate text” warning, may require additional explanation.
