Why we call instaText an ‘editing assistant’

Why is InstaText called an “editing assistant“? And does it really matter how writing improvement tools describe themselves? Aren’t they all the same thing?

We’ll discuss what InstaText does as an “editing assistant.” But first, let’s see why it’s important to pay attention not only to the label a tool uses to describe itself, but also to the technology behind it.

While most tools can perform a combination of tasks—from content generation to editing to plagiarism checking—the key term they use to describe themselves reveals their main function and purpose, and therefore their strengths and limitations.

Some common terms are:

Writer
Content generator
Writing assistant
Editing assistant
Grammar checker
Proofreader
Rewriter
Text summarizer
Paraphrasing tool

The technology that each tool uses is also important because it defines the context in which each tool can be used and its intended purpose.

Technology	Generative AI	Non-generative advanced language technologies
Definition	Creates new content based on input data.	Analyzes, processes, or improves existing content.
Primary use	Content generation and creative tasks	Text analysis, editing, and comprehension tasks
Interaction method	Prompt-based: Yes ✅ (Users provide specific prompts to create new content.)	Prompt-based: No ❌ (Users input existing text for editing or analysis.)
Examples	ChatGPT DALL·E Midjourney Canva (Magic Write) Copy.ai	Google Translate IBM Watson Natural Language Understanding Google Cloud Text-to-Speech InstaText

Generative vs. non-generative

Put simply:

AI writers such as ChatGPT use generative AI to generate new content based on the user’s prompt, which is basically an instruction.

Editors like InstaText use non-generative advanced language technologies. This means that they do not create content from scratch. Rather, they analyze, process, interpret, or enhance existing language data. No prompt is required.

Multi-purpose writing tools like Grammarly use both generative and non-generative technologies:

When you use it to proofread your text, it processes the existing content.
If you prompt it to provide ideas and outlines for an email or report, it generates new content.

So the next time you hear the term “AI-generated,” you will know that the content was created with generative AI.

What does this difference matter?

Let’s take a closer look at why this information is important.

Imagine you want to submit a paper to a conference or publication that has strict authorship guidelines and does not allow AI-generated content. Then you can’t use an AI writer to create the content. This is why AI detectors have been developed. They are not entirely accurate, but they are increasingly being used to detect such content.

Or picture this: you want to write a blog post, but you don’t want search engines to classify it as mostly “AI-generated” and push it down in the search results. This is another context where you need to be cautious about using generative AI for content creation.

Another example is when you want your content to accurately reflect your writing style, tone, and word choice, while ensuring that the details you want to communicate remain unchanged. In this case, using generative AI is not the best idea, as it can change such crucial elements.

Of course, you can use generative AI tools in contexts where they do not negatively impact the desired outcome, e.g. when writing an email to a work colleague, brainstorming, generating outline, or writing the first draft of an article.

But in cases where originality and human authorship are crucial, you should make sure that the final version of your content meets the necessary standards to avoid unintended consequences.

In such contexts, it’s advisable to use tools that utilize non-generative advanced language technologies. These include InstaText, which helps you refine and improve existing content without crossing the line into content generation.

What does InstaText do as an “editing assistant”?

The distinction outlined above already answers why InstaText is considered an “editing assistant” to a certain extent.

However, to provide a more detailed answer: Unlike generative AI tools like ChatGPT, InstaText focuses on improving the clarity, style, coherence, and readability of your existing text without creating new content from scratch.

As mentioned earlier, this is especially important in contexts where originality and human authorship are required, such as peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, or online posts that you don’t want flagged as “AI-generated.” Here’s a summary of the focus of InstaText as an “editing assistant” and how it is different from content generators:

Focus on improvement	Preserves your voice and intent while enhancing clarity, readability, flow, structure, style, tone, and conciseness.
Non-generative	Improves existing text without creating new content, ideal for compliance with authorship guidelines.
User control	You can accept or reject suggestions, ensuring accuracy based on your input.
Deep editing	Focused primarily on editing, resulting in precise, high-quality, and in-depth enhancements.

Can InstaText be used for proofreading?

The primary function of InstaText is editing, but it goes even further and proofreads your text for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

While InstaText’s proofreading features might not match those of specialized grammar checkers, most users can quickly check the output manually to make sure it’s polished enough for publication. In addition, many scientific and non-scientific publications offer free proofreading services.

Can native speakers also benefit from editing with InstaText?

Yes, native speakers can certainly benefit from editing with InstaText. Even if they have a very good command of the language, InstaText can help them refine their texts by enhancing clarity, flow, and conciseness. Our tool can also help them maintain a consistent tone and style throughout their work.

What InstaText is and is not for

Finally, let us recap what InstaText is for and what it is not. Here’s a summary that clarifies its role in your writing toolbox:

Text generation	NO ❌
Text editing	YES ✅
Are InstaText edits AI-generated?	NO ❌

We hope the information about the terms that writing improvement tools use to describe themselves and the technology behind them helps you choose the right tool for your needs more easily and efficiently.

Take your writing to the next level with InstaText

Are you ready to improve your writing? Whether you’re already using InstaText or want to try it out, take advantage of its powerful editing features that you can read about here!

Comparison: ChatGPT vs. InstaText vs. Grammarly

“I have been using InstaText for several months. I’m thoroughly impressed by its incredible capabilities and by its performance. It has been an invaluable tool for my writing skills, especially since I’m not a native speaker. It has also been a considerable time saver for me. The ease of use and seamless integration with a range of platforms are genuinely worth the investment.”

— Gowtham Gnanasekaran, Data Processing Analyst

“What I liked about InstaText was its great customization capacity that allowed us to generate content completely adapted to each client based on their needs and sector of activity. I could create copy that was a perfect extension of each company’s brand voice. In addition, its very intuitive interface facilitated the creative process when coming up with ideas and writing new texts.”

— Valentin Cordoba, Marketing Specialist

“I absolutely recommend InstaText to all academic writers who have to publish their work in English and would like to have their work accepted and not rejected just because the language is not up to the standards demanded by the journal.”

— Dr. Karmen Pižorn, University Professor