Introduction to Harper: A Local Grammar Checker
Harper is a local grammar checker that operates entirely on your device, unlike Grammarly, which sends your writing off-site. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of Harper, its features, and how to use it effectively. It will also highlight the privacy and security measures in place.
Harper's Design and Features
Harper's design is focused on offline functionality. The Harper Chrome extension and Obsidian plugin both run in-app, ensuring all work is kept offline. The code for the project is public, allowing for easy installation and use. The Harper Chrome extension can be installed by clicking 'Add to Chrome' and then accessing the options page. For Obsidian, you can browse for Harper in the Community Plugins, install it, and enable it. Harper supports a variety of editors, including VS Code, Neovim, and Gmail. Gmail's own grammar checker can be disabled for a more seamless experience.
Rule Categories and Their Importance
Harper's rule categories include Wording that’s understandable but poorly chosen, Agreement, Articles, Prepositions, Verb Forms, Standard Expressions over Mistaken Variants, Wordy, Repetitive, or Weak Phrasing, and Punctuation. Wording rules account for more than twice the number of grammar rules, which is reflective of Harper's design as a proofreader rather than a teacher. The 917 rules are organized into 15 categories, with 40 rules dedicated to punctuation and 28 rules governing numbers, dates, and decades.
Default Settings and Customization
When setting up Harper, you'll find three options for each rule category: Default, On, and Off. Default settings are Harper's recommendations for each rule, and 905 of the 917 rules are set to On by default. The remaining 12 rules are set to Off by default, representing style preferences. These include preferences for contractions, spelling out numbers under 10, and the use of the Oxford comma.
Additional Features and Customization
Harper offers several additional features, such as a typing delay and a keyboard shortcut for applying the last suggestion. You can also choose between five English dialects and ignore words that aren't English. You can also write your own rules using Harper's Weir language, allowing for more specific and customized checks. However, Harper does not offer AI rewriting, which is a feature that some users find valuable.
Privacy and Security
Harper is designed with privacy in mind. The Harper Chrome extension and Obsidian plugin both run in-app, ensuring all work is kept offline. The code for the project is public, allowing for easy installation and use. The parent company, SuperHuman, publishes a privacy policy that outlines what content Grammarly may receive, including emails and drafts. You can also choose whether your content is used to train Grammarly's AI models via your account settings. The privacy policy also clearly states that Grammarly doesn't sell your content.
Conclusion
Harper is a compelling alternative to Grammarly, offering a more secure and privacy-focused solution. Its offline design and customizable rule categories make it a valuable tool for anyone looking to maintain control over their writing. While it may not offer AI rewriting, its features and customization options make it a strong contender for those who prioritize local processing and privacy.
Tags
- Grammar Checker
- Local Processing
- Privacy
- Customization
- Offline