- Home
- AI Grammar Checkers
- Grammalecte
Grammalecte
What it is
Grammalecte is free, open-source software for checking French grammar and typography. It identifies punctuation, spacing, typography, repeated words, hyphenation, capitalization, agreement, conjugation, word confusions, and pleonasms. Users can enable or disable error categories and choose Classic, 1990 Reform, or All Variants spelling dictionaries, with Classic selected by default. An OCR option checks text produced through optical character recognition. A formatter addresses recurring errors and restructures text, while the conjugator covers about 8,000 verbs. The maker lists extensions for LibreOffice or OpenOffice, Firefox, and Thunderbird, plus a command-line interface, server, and Python package. Grammalecte is available as a desktop app and browser extension for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its FAQ says analysis happens on the user’s computer, with no data collection or text transmission. The checker does not analyze meaning, can miss mistakes, and may produce false positives. It is distributed under the GPL 3 license.
For and against
For
- Free GPL 3 open-source software
- Checks many French writing error types
- Multiple spelling dictionaries
- Works locally without transmitting text
- Formatter and 8,000-verb conjugator
Against
- Supports one language: French
- No Chrome extension for the new API
- Does not perform semantic analysis
- Can miss errors and show false positives
The verdict
Grammalecte offers broad French correction tools across desktop, browser, and developer-oriented formats without sending text online. Its language focus and lack of semantic analysis define where it fits.
Who it suits
It suits French-language writers who want local grammar and typography checking. It is also relevant to users of LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, command-line tools, servers, or Python.
Plans and prices
Free
Open-source software · French grammar and typography correction · donations requested
Read 15 Oct 2026 · grammalecte.net
Grammalecte
Open-source software; French grammar and typography correction
Read 8 Oct 2026 · grammalecte.net
On the record
- Browser extension
- Yesgrammalecte.net · read 20 Sep 2026
- Chrome limitation
- The official site says there is currently no Grammalecte version compatible with Chrome’s new extension API.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Chrome support
- The maker says there is currently no Grammalecte version compatible with Chrome’s new extension API.grammalecte.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- CLI capabilities
- Debian’s man page documents file checking, JSON error output, text formatting, personal dictionaries, suggestions, rule listing and option toggles.manpages.debian.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Conjugator
- Its conjugator covers about 8,000 verbs contained in the dictionary.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Current version
- The official site lists version 2.3.0, released 15 December 2025.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Custom dictionary
- A lexical editor lets users create a personal dictionary.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Data handling
- The FAQ says Grammalecte collects no data, analyzes writing on the user's computer, and transmits no text.grammalecte.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Desktop app
- Yesgrammalecte.net · read 20 Sep 2026
- Developer distribution
- The project publishes a command-line interface, server and Python package requiring Python 3.7 or newer.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Dictionaries
- It supplies Classic, 1990 Reform and All Variants French spelling dictionaries, with Classic selected by default.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Error detection
- The checker covers punctuation, spacing, typography, redundancy, hyphenation, capitalization, gender and number agreement, conjugation, homonyms, false friends, pleonasms and optional OCR errors.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- False-positive strategy
- Its stated design goal is to minimize false alerts and remain silent when an error cannot be identified confidently.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Firefox privacy
- The official site says the Firefox module sends no information online.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Firefox security
- The Firefox add-on is signed, its code is checked by Mozilla, and the maker says it sends no information online.grammalecte.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Grammar controls
- Users can enable or disable individual categories of grammatical checks.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Implementation
- The core is written primarily in Python and translated into JavaScript for browser and Thunderbird extensions.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Official integrations include LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Firefox and Thunderbird; community plugins exist for Sublime Text, Vim, Emacs, GEdit, Pluma and Sigil.grammalecte.net · read 15 Oct 2026
