AI Uses in English/Writing -

AI Uses in English and Writing

Using AI in English and composition is one of the most debated areas of using generative AI, largely because schools and teachers differ in their AI policies and opinions. The best way to determine responsible and ethical AI use is to always ask your teacher. In the face of serious consequences, it’s better to ask for permission than forgiveness.

Some schools or teachers may strictly prohibit the use of generative AI tools in writing, whether for brainstorming, outlining, or editing. If that’s the case, please comply fully. However, if AI use is not strictly prohibited, you might ask questions like, “Could I have AI check my grammar or give me suggestions for topics?” to determine what counts as appropriate use. If permitted by your school or teacher, the following situations may be acceptable ways to use AI tools to support your English and writing work.

Clarifying Complex Literature

You may use AI tools during the writing process to break down difficult reading. Suppose you encounter this passage from Paradise Lost and have no idea where to begin:

“If thou beest he; but O how fall’n! how chang’d
From him, who in the happy Realms of Light
Cloth’d with transcendent brightness didst out-shine
Myriads though bright: If he Whom mutual league,
United thoughts and counsels, equal hope
And hazard in the Glorious Enterprize,
Joynd with me once, now misery hath joynd
In equal ruin: into what Pit thou seest

First off, you’re not alone. Secondly, you can use tools like ChatGPT to break it down line by line, helping you understand the meaning and purpose of each section before answering any related questions. This process builds the foundation you need to interpret and analyze complex texts more effectively.

You might use prompts such as:

“Can you explain [text] line by line, including the meaning behind each line and why it’s important to [novel]?”
“Can you rephrase this text: [text], in simpler English while maintaining the same meaning and context?”

Grammar Support

AI can also help enhance your grammar and writing skills. Try asking it questions like:

“Is this sentence grammatically correct?”
“Where should a comma go in this sentence?”
“How is a semicolon different from a colon?”
“What’s the difference between ‘who’ and ‘whom’?”

Brain Storming:

Having AI generate ideas for essay topics can be an appropriate and effective use, as it helps spark critical thinking and creativity. AI can brainstorm topics you might not have thought of on your own in seconds.

By generating quick ideas, you get a helpful starting point rather than spending hours stuck in the brainstorming phase. However, avoid asking AI to write your introductory paragraph or thesis statement. These are core writing skills you need to develop yourself. Writing your own thesis and introduction demonstrates your ability to express your ideas clearly and think independently.

“I’m writing a paper about [topic] and struggling to find ideas. What would you suggest?”
“I’m currently writing a paper about [topic] and need ideas to continue the story. What would you suggest?”

Research:

AI is one of the most powerful tools for gathering information quickly. It can summarize research from millions of online articles within seconds. With new features like ChatGPT’s deep research, you can receive summaries of scholarly material in moments.

However, while AI may seem all-knowing, it isn’t. It sometimes generates false or “hallucinated” information and presents it as fact. (Click to learn more about AI Hallucinations and Algorithm Bias.) Therefore, AI should only serve as a starting point for research. Always ask for the sources behind the information, and double-check those sources for both credibility and accuracy.

You might use prompts such as:

“Find three credible sources about [topic] and explain why each is reliable.”
“Summarize the major viewpoints on [topic] with sources I can verify.”

Citations and Sources:

You should always assess the accuracy of AI-generated content and cross-check it with credible sources. This habit ensures that you receive reliable and credible information, while maintaining control over your learning process.

After ChatGPT generates an answer, ask it to provide the sources it used. Then follow those links (or book titles) and evaluate them using the F.A.C.T. method:

F – Find: Determine the source type and its origin
A – Author: Evaluate the author’s qualifications and background
C – Cross-check: Validate claims against other reputable sources
T – Trustworthiness: Look for bias, purpose, and objectivity

If ChatGPT gives you accurate information but no direct source, you can cite it, but always confirm with your teacher that AI sources are acceptable.

Although ChatGPT can be cited, this should not replace peer-reviewed or scholarly sources. Because AI is prone to hallucinations and bias, rely primarily on credible materials and use AI citations only as a last resort. That being said, if you do need to cite AI use the official MLA 9th edition format for AI citation:

“Text of your prompt” prompt. AI model, day month version, publisher, day month year, URL.

Examples:

“What caused the end of the Cold War?” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 23 May 2024, chat.openai.com.
“How were electrons first discovered?” prompt. ChatGPT, 26 May version, OpenAI, 2 June 2025, chat.openai.com.

Editing and Revisions:

Editing is another common use for AI, but it must be handled carefully. It can be tempting to paste your entire essay into ChatGPT and ask it to make it “perfect,” but that can easily cross ethical lines.

With plagiarism-detection tools like turnitin.com and ChatGPTZero now widely used, teachers can often tell when AI has written or heavily edited an essay. Even tools like Grammarly may be restricted in some schools.

So, how can you use AI responsibly for editing? Use it as a peer editor, not a ghostwriter. Ask it to identify areas for improvement, explain why, and then make the changes yourself.

Example prompts:

“Here’s my current paper: [text]. Do you see any grammatical errors? Please explain why they are errors.”
“Here’s an excerpt of my paper: [text]. How could I better express the mood of [mood], and why?”

This approach lets you learn from feedback while keeping your writing authentic and personal.

Never copy and paste AI-generated writing directly into your essay, even if it won’t be checked for AI use. AI-generated text often sounds “soulless,” and most readers can tell when it’s been used.

A study at MIT found that students who edited AI-written text before submitting it showed reduced long-term memory and lower alpha and theta brain wave activity—meaning less cognitive engagement. Always think critically about your writing and let AI support your learning, not replace it.

In Conclusion…

Using AI in English and composition can be incredibly valuable when done responsibly and ethically. It can help you clarify complex literature, brainstorm ideas, assist with research, and provide feedback during editing and revisions, but it should never replace your own thinking or writing.

The key is to always check with your teacher or school’s policy, use AI as a tutor rather than a writer, and critically evaluate any suggestions it provides. By approaching AI as a tool for understanding, creativity, and skill development—not as a shortcut—you’ll strengthen your writing while maintaining academic integrity and keeping your personal voice at the center of your work.