8 Best Google Docs Add-ons to Improve Your Writing

While Google Docs has been a go-to word processor for years, there are still some features that users wish were built-in. To bridge that gap, use some helpful add-ons. From grammar check to formatting, these tools can save you time and effort. Here are some add-ons you can use to improve your writing process.

Table of Contents

• 1. Word Counter Max
• 2. Doc Secrets
• 3. ProWritingAid
• 4. OneLook Thesaurus
• 5. Extensis Fonts
• 6. Translate My Doc
• 7. Paperpile
• 8. GPT Plus Docs for Google Docs

1. Word Counter Max

Google Docs has a built-in word count tool, but it’s lacking for a couple of reasons. It doesn’t allow you to exclude specific types of content—like bibliographies, parenthetical text, or other sections—from the final word count, so you have to exclude them manually. While it can show you a real-time word count, you have to enable this option for every new document.

Word Counter Max is a Google Docs add-on that displays the total word count in the sidebar and allows you to control your word count target with real-time progress tracking. It even displays the word count during a session to help track productivity. It also offers advanced options to exclude text in parentheses, brackets, tables of contents, bibliographies, etc. from the word count.

Note : To open an installed add-on, go to the Extensions tab , find the add-on in the list and select the action you want.

2. Doc Secrets

When sharing a document with colleagues or team members, you often need to hide certain sections that contain sensitive information. Creating a separate copy or deleting text are options, but they make document management more complicated. Since Google Docs doesn't provide a way to hide the original content, rely on the Doc Secrets add-on.

With Doc Secrets, you can hide existing sections in your document or add secret information directly through the add-on. To add hidden text, enter it in the add-on's text box and click Insert. To censor an existing section, select the text and click Censor Text . To reveal the content to yourself or others, select the hidden section from the side panel and click Reveal.

Also, remember to adjust sharing settings by clicking the gear icon - this lets you manage who can insert, edit, reveal, or censor the secret text.

3. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is a great grammar checker and writing assistant add-on that is highly recommended for all Google Docs users. Use this add-on to detect and correct grammar mistakes, spelling errors, remove overused phrases, simplify ambiguous expressions, shorten long clauses, etc.

It also provides users with helpful tips to improve document structure, trim sentence length, and improve document readability. With a readability score, summary report, and plagiarism checker all in one place, ProWritingAid makes it easy to fine-tune your document to communicate more clearly to your readers.

Issues or suggestions for improvement will appear with a red dot, while green indicates well-written content. After editing, you can click Apply Changes and Close to save all adjustments at once.

4. OneLook Thesaurus

A limited vocabulary often leads to word block, so use the OneLook Thesaurus add-on. It helps break down mental blocks by offering a variety of suggestions, including synonyms, common words that sound similar, rhymes, words that start with the same prefix, adjectives that pair with a word, and the noun the word describes.

You can also select specific text in your document and click the Quotes button to see related quotes and ideas, saving you from getting stuck when the words don’t flow. With this add-on right in Google Docs, you no longer have to search online for these tools. If you often find yourself staring at your screen, unable to type a single word, you should give this add-on a try.

5. Extensis Fonts

While the default Google Docs font options should cover most users' needs, you can use the Extensis Fonts add-on to access many additional fonts to add personality to your documents. This add-on allows users to experiment with different styles to highlight certain parts, improving the visual appeal of their work.

Using it is also very easy. Once installed, open the add-on and a list of fonts will appear on the side panel. To preview a specific font, simply select your text and click on the font, and it will be applied immediately. You can then choose to keep the new style or use the default Google Docs font by selecting it from the font drop-down menu.

6. Translate My Doc

You can use the Translate My Docs add-on to translate entire documents or specific sections of text. Since it can be used directly in Google Docs, you don't need to switch to another tab or another translation tool.

To use this tool, simply install the add-on, open it, and a side panel will appear. From there, you can select the source and target languages ​​for your translation. In the Settings drop-down menu , you can choose to replace the original text with the translated version or keep them separate. Then, simply select the text and click the Translate button .

7. Paperpile

Paperpile is the perfect academic companion. When conducting research, it allows you to search for relevant publications using keywords, authors, publication year, and more. It pulls relevant articles from sources like PubMed, CrossRef, and Google Books. You can also manually create entries for items you want to cite in your work.

What I appreciate most about this extension is its ability to simplify citation organization and research source management. You can cite references in Google Docs with just one click and view all your citations in one place. Since it supports the most widely used citation formats, you can choose the style you prefer. All these features make it one of the best Google Docs citation and bibliography add-ons.

Once you have collected all your sources, you can easily update citations and create a bibliography by clicking Update citations and bibliography .

8. GPT Plus Docs for Google Docs

GPT Plus Docs for Google Docs brings the power of an AI assistant to Google Workspace apps. In Docs, you use it to brainstorm and outline content, correct grammar errors, and fine-tune your tone. You can review your content for clarity, grammar, and style. When working with large documents, you can summarize them to get the main points across.

Additionally, it allows you to translate text between different languages ​​and create stunning images from a single prompt. The extension also provides example prompts that allow you to create different texts with just one click. It keeps track of your previous interactions and can easily clear the history. The extension uses the latest GPT-4 and GPT-4o models.

The add-ons mentioned above are incredibly useful. They have become an integral part of many people’s workflows and improve their writing in ways you can’t imagine without them. If you haven’t tried these or any of the others, you should change your mind!