Writefull for Overleaf

Adding Writefull to Overleaf Using Writefull for Overleaf Choosing a language model for your text revision Revising your text with a custom prompt (GPT only)Accepting, rejecting, and blocking edits Track Changes toggle TeXGPT Table Generator Equation Generator Title Generator Abstract Generator Paraphraser Change Style Split / Join Summarize Explain Synonyms in Context Upgrading to Premium Understanding the AI offered by Writefull You are in control.Your data is private.Know your AI.Language check AI: Writefull or GPT Writing features AI: Writefull or third-party services Data storage by third-party services How to Remove Writefull for Overleaf Contacting us

Welcome

Thank you for using Writefull for Overleaf!

Writefull for Overleaf provides real-time language feedback in the Overleaf code editor. It uses custom language models that have been trained on research papers and fine-tuned to LaTeX.

Writefull for Overleaf offers a range of features to help you write, all tailored to research writing and/or LaTeX:

Language feedback from Writefull: edits specialized for English research writing, coming from Writefull’s own language models

Language feedback from GPT: edits coming from GPT, to use on non-English and/or non-research texts, customizable by entering your own prompt

TeXGPT: auto-generates LaTeX code based on your prompt and answers questions

Title Generator: generates titles for your text, based on your abstract

Abstract Generator: generates an abstract, based on your text

Paraphrase: rewrites a phrase, sentence, or longer piece of text you select

Change style: rewrites your sentence by making it more scientific, concise, or punchy

Split/Join: splits one (long) sentence into two or more, or joins two or more sentences

Summarize: summarizes a piece of text you select

Explain: explains a piece of text you select

Synonyms in Context: gives alternative words or phrases that fit your sentence

Writefull’s language services are used by authors, institutions, and scholarly publishers like the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the British Ecological Society. For more information, see https://writefull.com/.

Adding Writefull to Overleaf

At the moment, two versions of Writefull for Overleaf are available:

a Chrome extension that can be downloaded from the Chrome store

an integrated version that can be added from within Overleaf. This version is currently being rolled out to all Overleaf users. If it is already available to you, you will find the option to activate Writefull in your Overleaf Account Settings. To simplify the login process, you can choose to link your Writefull and Overleaf accounts—this allows you to log in to Writefull with your Overleaf credentials. For more information about the integrated version, visit this dedicated page on Overleaf’s website.

If you use the integrated version, you will be prompted to create a Writefull account or sign in with Overleaf. If you use the Chrome extension, you will see a greyed-out Writefull icon in your Overleaf bar right after installing the extension. Click this icon to open the Writefull sign-up / sign-in screen:

In the opening screen (see below), you can sign in or click Create an account. This will take you to the sign-up screen, where you can create an account.

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An activation email will be sent to the email address you provide. You need to activate your account to be able to in.

If you have an account but forgot your password, click Forgot your password? in the login screen.

Writefull’s menu (Premium view) once logged in

Once logged in, the menu shows you the number of visible (free) and premium language suggestions, and a button 🏆 Upgrade to Premium. With a Premium account, you get to see all of Writefull's language suggestions and access to Synonyms in Context, TeXGPT, the Table and Equation Generator, and the Context Options (Paraphrase, Summarize, Explain, etc.).

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If you decide to upgrade to Premium, make sure to enter the email address that is associated with your Writefull account on the checkout page.

Right below, you see a few switch buttons to:

Enable and Disable Writefull’s language check

Select the English variety of your choice (British vs American English)

Enable or disable the inline TeXGPT shortcut

Using Writefull for Overleaf

Once signed in, you can use Writefull’s language feedback and writing widgets. If you upgrade to Premium, you get unlimited* use of Writefull’s language feedback, as well access to TeXGPT, Paraphrase, Change style, Split/Join, Summarize, Explain , Synonyms in Context , the Table Generator, and the Equation Generator .

Choosing a language model for your text revision

By default, your text will be edited by Writefull’s language model. This is a proprietary model that has been trained on English research texts and tailored to LaTeX. Writefull does not store your texts or use them for training purposes. Alternatively, you can choose GPT for the language check. This is ideal if you are writing a text that is written in a language other than English or that is non-academic. Note that, if you use GPT, your text is sent to OpenAI’s servers. OpenAI’s Privacy Policy explains they keep the text for up to 30 days, but do not use it for training purposes (see the ‘API platform’ section on this page).

These are the differences between the two models:

Language scope: The Writefull model can be used on English texts only, while GPT works with any language.

Specialization: The Writefull models have been trained on English research papers, and offer highly specialized language feedback for academic writing. GPT’s feedback is more general, making it a better choice for non-academic texts like CVs or emails.

Efficiency: The Writefull models are small and light-weight, making them fast and efficient. As GPT is a Large Language Model, you’ll see it takes a bit longer to correct a text.

Data privacy: GPT sends your text to the OpenAI servers, where it is stored temporarily (but not used for training purposes). The Writefull model runs on our own servers (located in the EU), and your text is never stored.

Customization: GPT lets you enter your own prompt to adjust the language feedback you get, but this isn’t possible with the Writefull model (more about this further down).

The button in the Writefull toolbar shows you which model is active (Writefull’s by default). To change the model, click this button or open the Settings menu and choose ‘Language model’.

Revising your text with a custom prompt (GPT only)

Maybe you have editing needs in mind; for instance, you might want certain changes in style or tone, or get only edits that are absolutely necessary. You can then choose to customize the language feedback you get using the custom prompt option that GPT offers. This is a Premium feature.

To access it, open the Settings menu and choose ‘Language model’. Select ‘GPT model with a custom prompt’, enter you editing preferences in the text box, and confirm.

Accepting, rejecting, and blocking edits

When you are signed in and Writefull’s language check is activated, you will automatically get language suggestions. To see the suggestions, click on the bits of your text that are underlined:

You can accept or reject each suggestion by clicking on the yellow or white bar at the top, or use the Accept all or Reject all button if you want to accept or dismiss all suggestions in a given sentence. If you have Writefull’s language model active, you also see the probability that each given suggestion is correct, to help you with reviewing the suggestions. This probability reflects the confidence level of Writefull's model that the proposed edit is correct. In the above example, the very high probability (86%) suggests the edit can be accepted with confidence. If you choose to use GPT for the language check, these percentages are not given.

If you’re not happy with a particular language suggestion given by Writefull, click Block Edit at the bottom of the suggestion card (the bin icon). This will add it to your personal list of ‘Blocked edits’, and prevent Writefull from suggesting this change again. You can find your blocked edits in your personal Writefull account at my.writefull.com/login (or click ‘sign in/up’ on our website). On your account page, click the button that says ‘Manage blocked edits’.

Track Changes toggle

For the language check and most of the features listed below, you can choose how you want to view Writefull’s changes: with or without track changes. Click the strike-through S (S) at the bottom of the card to show or hide track changes, making Writefull’s language edits, paraphrases, rewrites, or other suggestions easier to read. This setting will apply to all features, but you can click the S icon anytime to change it.

TeXGPT

TeXGPT uses GPT and Writefull to help you write in Overleaf. It is especially helpful when looking for ways to write things in LaTeX. Think of generating figures, formulas, and more — all within your LaTeX source code. Find more use cases here.

You can access the TeXGPT features by highlighting some of your text and clicking the sparkles ✨ icon, either in the toolbar or in the little menu that appears above your highlighted text.

From there, simply enter your query into the search box to get a response from TeXGPT. You can choose to copy the response, or to directly insert it into your text.

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TeXGPT isn't meant to write your papers for you. Using TeXGPT (or any generative AI) to write your work is considered plagiarism and a violation of academic integrity. Please use this feature responsibly to more quickly compose, format, and structure your work in Overleaf.

Table Generator

Writefull’s Table Generator instantly gives you LaTeX code for your tables, based on an image or a prompt. Click the table icon in the Writefull toolbar to access it. Enter a prompt or drag and drop an image of a table, and click ‘Generate’ to see the result. You can regenerate and edit your prompt or image, and as long as you don’t Insert the result into your text, your prompts and results will be kept—use the chevrons at the bottom to click through.

The image you upload can be a simple screenshot; for example, from a published article or a data sheet. There are no limitations regarding file type or size.

Equation Generator

Like the Table Generator , the Equation Generator lets you instantly generate LaTeX code based on a written prompt or an image. Click the integral symbol in the Writefull toolbar to access it. Enter a prompt or drag and drop an image of an equation, and click ‘Generate’ to see the result. You can regenerate and edit your prompt or image, and as long as you don’t Insert the result into your text, your prompts and results will be kept—use the chevrons at the bottom to click through.

The image you upload can be a simple screenshot; for example, from a published article. There are no limitations regarding file type or size.

Title Generator

Writefull’s Title Generator produces titles based on your abstract. You need to have a completed abstract field in your LaTeX file for this feature to work. You don’t need to select your abstract manually—Writefull fetches this automatically. Simply activate the TeXGPT context menu and scroll down to ‘Title Generator’. When you click ‘Replace’, Writefull will insert the generated title in a dedicated title field at the top of your document (either replacing your current title or creating a new field).

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Your abstract should be in English and between 150 and 2000 characters long.

Abstract Generator

Writefull’s Abstract Generator auto-generates abstracts using models that are trained on research papers. The Abstract Generator can be found in the TeXGPT menu. When you click ‘Abstract Generator’, Writefull will parse your LaTeX source, fetch the relevant parts of your text, and give you an abstract. You don’t need to select your text manually. When you choose to insert the generated abstract, Writefull will insert it in a dedicated abstract field at the top of your document (either replacing your current abstract or creating a new field).

Paraphraser

The Paraphrase option enables you to rephrase your sentences, which is great if you want to add variation to your writing or express yourself differently. Simply select a sentence in your text, open the TeXGPT menu by clicking ✨ Ask TeXGPT and select ‘Paraphrase’ from the context options. You can then choose to regenerate the paraphrasing output by clicking the circular arrows, or replace your text with the paraphrased option by clicking ‘Replace’. After regenerating, you can move back and forth between the different paraphrases using the back-and-forth arrows at the bottom.

Change Style

If you feel your style of writing is not quite right, you can use the Change Style option. Use this feature to make your selected text more scientific, concise, or punchy. Like the other context options, this feature is accessibly from the TeXGPT menu.

Split / Join

The Split/Join feature allows you to split a lengthy sentence into two parts, or join two or more sentences. Splitting a long sentence can make your work easier to read and feel more impactful, while joining sentences can improve the flow of your writing. Select the sentence(s) you want to split or join and choose one of the two options from the TeXGPT menu.

Summarize

To quickly understand a large body of text, extract key points for an abstract or discussion, or share a brief overview with a colleague, you can use the Summarize feature. Simply select the text you wish to summarize and activate this tool from the TeXGPT menu.

Explain

The Explain feature offers detailed explanations of your highlighted text, and uses the surrounding content to provide additional information. This option is designed to deepen your understanding of the statements you make and can also assist you in addressing questions from peers and reviewers.

Synonyms in Context

The Synonyms in Context option gives you alternative words or phrases for your sentence. Select a word or phrase (up to 5 words in length) and click the magnifier icon that appears right above your selection. This gives you a set of alternatives to choose from, all fitting your sentence. The percentages behind the alternatives indicate the semantic similarity to your original selection: the higher the percentage, the most closely the alternatives resembles the original meaning. Click one of the alternatives to insert it into your text.

Upgrading to Premium

To see all language suggestions and get an unlimited* daily quota for all of Writefull’s features (in Writefull for Overleaf, Writefull X, and Writefull for Word), you need to upgrade your account to Premium. You can do so here, or clicking ‘Upgrade to Premium’ button in the Writefull for Overleaf menu.

You will be redirected to Writefull’s website where you can select a pricing plan that suits your needs, and then to our payment portal where you can purchase your chosen plan (using your Writefull account details).

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If your institution has a Writefull license, you might not have access to TeXGPT, the Context Options, and the Table and Equation Generators. These features are only available to institutions who start or renew their license after September 2024, but they can still choose to deactivate them for their institutional members.

Understanding the AI offered by Writefull

Writefull for Overleaf offers many AI features. Some of these use Writefull’s proprietary language models, while others use third-party services. This section explains what AI is used, what (if any) data is stored, and that you are in control of what AI you use.

You are in control.

You have full control over how and when you use Writefull’s AI features:

You decide when Writefull checks your text. You can toggle Writefull’s language check from the menu.

The level of AI support is entirely up to you. Use Writefull for a language revision only, or go for text rewriting or generation. Choose what feels right to you, and make sure to follow your institution’s or publisher’s policy.

You choose whose AI you use; that of Writefull or a third party. Some features use the OpenAI and Anthropic APIs. You’ll be notified before using any feature that uses a third-party service, ensuring informed decisions.

Your data is private.

Your data privacy is central to Writefull’s design:

We never store your text, nor do we use your text or interaction with Writefull to train our AI. We train our models on published papers instead.

If you use a feature that uses a third-party service, your text may be temporarily stored by this service provider, but it is never used for training purposes.

When using Writefull, you’re informed when third-party access is involved, with explicit consent needed from you before your text can be sent to their servers.

Your text remains yours. Writefull never takes ownership of your text.

Your data is never sold to third parties or shared for advertising purposes.

Know your AI.

Language check AI: Writefull or GPT

By default, the Writefull language model is active. You can choose to switch to GPT. When doing this for the first time, you are informed that this feature uses OpenAI’s GPT service and that your text is shared with OpenAI. You need to agree to these terms to continue.

These are the main differences between the Writefull and GPT models for language feedback:

Language scope: The Writefull model can be used on English texts only, while GPT works with any language.

Specialization: The Writefull models have been trained on English research papers, and offer highly specialized language feedback for academic writing. GPT’s feedback is more general, making it a better choice for non-academic texts like CVs or emails.

Efficiency: The Writefull models are small and light-weight, making them fast and efficient. As GPT is a Large Language Model, you’ll see it takes a bit longer to correct a text.

Data privacy: When you use GPT, your text is temporarily stored by OpenAI. When you use Writefull, your text is never stored. Learn more below.

Customization: GPT lets you enter your own prompt to adjust the language feedback you get, but this isn’t possible with the Writefull model.

Writing features AI: Writefull or third-party services

Some of the writing features use Writefull’s AI, others use third-party API services. If you use features driven by Writefull’s AI, your text is only processed by Writefull. It is never stored on Writefull’s servers or shared with third parties. Writefull does not use your text, or your interaction with its edits or features, to train its AI. Writefull’s servers are based in the EU (The Netherlands).

The following features in Writefull for Overleaf use Writefull’s AI:

Language edits from Writefull’s model (for English research writing)

Title Generator

Abstract Generator

The features listed below use third-party services. In most cases, this is OpenAI (GPT), and in some, this is Anthropic (Claude). This means your text is sent to these service providers to get, for instance, paraphrased or explained. No additional information such as your email address will be shared–only the text is sent.

Language edits from GPT’s model (for non-English writing)

Paraphrase

Make concise

Make scientific

Make punchy

Split

Join

Explain

Summarize

Synonyms in Context

TeXGPT

Table Generator

Equation Generator

Data storage by third-party services

When you use features that use the Anthropic or OpenAI API, your text becomes subject to the terms of these service providers. You are notified of this before using the features for the first time, at which point you can agree or continue or not. If you’re using Writefull through your institution, access to these features might have been restricted by your administrator, as institutions can choose not to offer these third-party services to their students and staff.

Both OpenAI and Anthropic are trusted service providers, meeting the strictest security and compliance standards. However, their policies around data retention are different from Writefull’s. While Writefull never stores your text, these service providers do, temporarily. They don’t train their models on your text. Here’s how they handle your data:

OpenAI (GPT):

OpenAI deletes your text from their servers within 30 days of receipt, unless they are legally required to retain it. Your text is not used to train OpenAI’s models. (In this, OpenAI’s API service is different from their ChatGPT product, where your data is used for training purposes unless you explicitly opt out.)

Anthropic (Claude):

Anthropic deletes your text from their servers within 30 days of receipt, unless they need to retain it for longer to enforce their Usage Policy or comply with the law. Text may be retained for up to 2 years if it gets flagged by Anthropic’s trust and safety classifiers as violating their Usage Policy. Text data may be anonymized or de-identified and retained for longer for research or statistical purposes. Anthropic does not train its models on your text.

How to Remove Writefull for Overleaf

If you use the Chrome extension, you can remove Writefull by following these steps:

Click the three dots icon in Chrome.

Click 'Extensions' and 'Manage Extensions'.

Find Writefull for Overleaf and click 'Remove'.

Confirm Removal by again clicking 'Remove'.

Reload Overleaf.

If you’re using the integrated version of Writefull, you can deactivate the integration from your Overleaf Account Page. Scroll down to the ‘Integrations’ area and switch the toggle to deactivate Writefull.

Contacting us

We are always happy to hear your feedback. If you come across a bug, are missing a feature or just want to chat, drop us a line at support@writefull.com

* Fair use policy applies

Writefull for Overleaf - User Guide