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How to Use the Grammarly AI Writing Assistant Like a Pro

Allan de Wit
Allan de Wit
·
January 17, 2026

Staring at a blank screen sucks. You know what you want to say but finding the right words drags on for hours. Your drafts feel clunky and generic, or worse, they sound like every other piece of content out there. If you're spending too much time wrestling with writer's block or rewriting the same paragraph five times, you need a better approach. That's where the Grammarly AI writing assistant comes in.

This tool goes beyond basic grammar checks. It helps you brainstorm ideas, generate drafts, and rewrite existing content so it flows better and sounds more natural. You can customize prompts to match your voice and get suggestions that actually make sense for what you're writing. The AI works alongside your editing process instead of replacing it.

This guide walks you through exactly how to use the Grammarly AI writing assistant to speed up your content creation. You'll learn how to launch the tool, brainstorm topics and outlines, compose drafts with custom prompts, and rewrite sections for better clarity. By the end, you'll know how to turn this assistant into your go-to writing partner.

Core features of the AI writing assistant

The Grammarly AI writing assistant packs several tools into one interface. You access these features through a dedicated panel that appears alongside your document or text editor. Each feature targets a specific part of the writing process, from initial ideation to final polish.

Text generation and drafting

This feature creates original content based on your prompts. You tell the AI what you need (a blog intro, email response, product description) and it generates a first draft. The output adapts to different tone settings like professional, casual, or confident.

You can regenerate responses multiple times until you find one that matches your needs. Each iteration considers your previous feedback if you refine your prompt.

Content transformation

The rewrite function takes your existing text and restructures it for better clarity or impact. You choose options like "make it more concise," "improve clarity," or "adjust tone." The AI analyzes your sentence structure and suggests alternatives.

These rewrites keep your core message intact while changing how you deliver it. The function works on everything from single sentences to full paragraphs.

Brainstorming and outlining

When you're stuck on what to write, the AI generates topic ideas and outlines. You provide a general subject or goal, and it returns multiple content angles to explore.

The outline feature breaks down complex topics into sections with suggested talking points. Both tools give you a framework to build from instead of starting completely blank.

The AI doesn't replace your expertise. It speeds up the parts of writing that typically slow you down.

Each feature integrates with Grammarly's real-time editing suggestions, so you get grammar and style feedback as you work with AI-generated content. The tools run in your browser, desktop app, or directly in platforms like Google Docs.

Step 1. Launch the generative AI tool

You access the Grammarly AI writing assistant through a dedicated button that appears in your editor. The location depends on whether you're using the browser extension, desktop app, or native integration with platforms like Google Docs. Once you open a document or text field, the AI tools become available through Grammarly's interface.

Step 1. Launch the generative AI tool

Locate the AI button in your editor

Look for a small circle icon with Grammarly's logo at the bottom right of your text field or document. Click this icon to open the main Grammarly panel. Inside this panel, you'll see a "Get AI help" or "GrammarlyGO" button near the top or bottom of the suggestions area.

The exact label varies based on your subscription tier and the platform you're using. Free users may see limited AI features, while premium subscribers get full access to generative tools.

Activate the AI panel

Click the AI button to open a prompt field. This field lets you type instructions directly or choose from preset options like "Brainstorm," "Compose," or "Rewrite." The panel stays open while you work, so you can switch between tasks without closing and reopening it.

The AI panel operates independently from Grammarly's real-time grammar suggestions, which continue running in the background.

Step 2. Brainstorm ideas and outlines

The brainstorming feature generates topic ideas and content structures when you need direction. You use this when you know your general subject but haven't figured out the specific angle or approach. The AI analyzes your input and returns multiple suggestions you can develop further.

Enter your topic or goal

Type a general subject or describe what you're trying to accomplish in the prompt field. For example, "blog post ideas about email marketing" or "outline for a product comparison article." The Grammarly AI writing assistant processes your request and generates several options within seconds.

Keep your input specific enough to get relevant results but broad enough to allow creative suggestions. Adding context like your target audience or desired outcome helps the AI tailor its responses.

Review and select ideas

The AI returns a numbered list of ideas or an outline with main sections and subpoints. Scan through these suggestions and pick the ones that align with your goals. You can click "Regenerate" to get different options if the first batch doesn't fit.

Save the ideas you like by copying them into your document before closing the AI panel.

Once you select an outline, you can use it as a framework to start writing or feed it back into the AI to generate actual draft content for each section.

Step 3. Compose drafts with custom prompts

The compose feature generates complete text sections when you provide clear instructions. You tell the Grammarly AI writing assistant what you need written, specify the context, and let it create a first draft. The quality of your output depends on how you structure your prompt.

Step 3. Compose drafts with custom prompts

Write effective prompt instructions

Your prompt needs three elements: what to write, the intended audience, and the desired tone. Instead of "write an email," try "write a professional follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded to our proposal in two weeks." The added context produces more usable results.

Use these prompt templates to get started:

  • Blog intro: "Write an engaging introduction for a blog post about [topic] targeting [audience] in a [tone] tone"
  • Email response: "Draft a [tone] email responding to [situation] for [recipient type]"
  • Product description: "Create a [length] product description for [product] highlighting [key features] for [target customer]"

Refine generated content

Click "Generate" and wait for the AI to return your draft. Read through the output and identify sections that need adjustment. You can regenerate the entire response or modify your prompt with more specific instructions.

Copy the generated text into your document only after you've reviewed it for accuracy and relevance.

Edit the draft to match your brand voice and add details the AI couldn't know. The tool provides a foundation, not a finished product.

Step 4. Rewrite text for better flow

The rewrite function transforms existing content that sounds awkward or unclear. You select any section of your draft and let the Grammarly AI writing assistant restructure it for better readability. This works particularly well when your first draft gets the ideas across but the sentences feel choppy or overly complex.

Select text that needs improvement

Highlight the specific paragraph or sentence you want to improve. Right-click or click the AI button to open the rewrite menu. You'll see options like "Improve it," "Make it clearer," "Make it more concise," or "Change tone."

Each option produces a different version of your text while keeping the core meaning intact. The "Improve it" option gives you a general enhancement, while specific choices like "Make it concise" target exact issues.

Apply rewrite options

Click your preferred option and review the suggested rewrite. The AI returns multiple alternatives you can cycle through using arrow buttons. Compare each version to your original text and pick the one that sounds most natural.

Test different rewrite options on the same text to see which approach delivers the best results for your specific content.

Insert the rewritten version directly or use it as inspiration to manually edit your draft. You can apply this process to every paragraph until your entire piece flows smoothly.

grammarly ai writing assistant infographic

Streamline your content creation

The Grammarly AI writing assistant speeds up every stage of your writing process. You brainstorm faster, draft content quicker, and polish your work without getting stuck on awkward phrasing. Each feature handles a specific bottleneck that typically slows writers down, from blank page anxiety to endless revisions.

Using these tools consistently means you produce more content in less time while maintaining quality. The AI handles initial drafts and structural improvements, freeing you to focus on strategic decisions and final touches that require human judgment.

But if you're managing an entire content pipeline across multiple projects or websites, manual work still adds up. That's where RankYak takes automation further by handling keyword research, content planning, article generation, and publishing on autopilot. You get fully optimized articles every day without juggling different tools or prompts. The platform combines AI writing with SEO optimization and automatic publishing so your content creation runs itself.