Antidote is one of the most popular pieces of software in the writing field, whether for web copywriting or for any other profession where writing is often involved. I can only advise everyone to have a real proofreading tool at their disposal. Unfortunately, we're only human, and even the best people make mistakes! But beyond simple spelling and grammar correction, I'd like to share with you the 7 features of Antidote that I find particularly enriching.

See the software website: Antidote.info
The screenshots were taken with Antidote 9.

1 - Synonyms for proper nouns

When you work in the travel industry, for example, you're bound to repeat yourself a lot. The software's synonym dictionary is interesting and already quite useful, but did you know that you can also find equivalent terms for proper nouns?

This makes it possible to take note of nicknames given to a locality or a person. Beyond the simple variation in vocabulary, always welcome for stylistic reasons, this practice also offers the opportunity toenrich content with an interesting added value.

2 - The lexical field

The lexical field of a domain lists all the terms close to it. When I start an editorial project. Having an interactive guide, sorted by function (nouns, adjectives, adverbs, proper nouns, verbs, etc.) is really relevant. When you start working on a subject, it's a great snapshot of the vocabulary you can use. Above all, you'll quickly find the different terms that are very specific to a sector. For example, during an assignment for ready-to-wear, I was delighted to have a list of verbs such as "confectionner", "façonner"... This saves time when immersing yourself in a project, and makes it easy to enrich your text.

Search for verbs commonly used in the semantic field of "clothing" to enrich your writing with specific terms.

3 - The nano visual

For me, the nano visual is an aid to documentary research. I've used the ready-to-wear example here. Thanks to this documentation, which is directly accessible in Antidote, I can see the validated terms for the different types of skirt. Handy, isn't it?

An enhanced version is available as an option, with a larger display and interactive captions.

Extract of the nano visual for skirts after a search on "garment".

4 - The "Precisions" module in definitions

Here's a useful feature. It removes doubts about certain spellings, or simply allows you to make an informed choice when several options are valid. So there's no need to argue about a mistake that might not be one, and let's decide on the basis of concrete information!

Extract from the "Details" module for the word "event

5 - Repeat detection

No matter how cultured you are, unfortunately, you can only write with one brain at a time. And even if you're sought-after for your expertise, or even your personality, repetition is a very bad thing in the French language. And when it turns into redundancy, it's even worse. It's very easy, especially when you've been working on the same subject for a long time, to end up using the same terms or expressions. Detecting repetition is also a way of preventing boredom!

By highlighting terms, you change your point of view from that of a simple rereading, and take a step back. In concrete terms, I can see how often the same word is repeated in its different variations (e.g.: raison, raisons, raisonné, raisonner...).

Excerpt from : "Discours de la méthode" by René Descartes

6 - Identify terms with negative connotations

This is a useful module when you're writing for other people, and your content has a particular purpose. For promotional text, for example, I particularly like to pull down the "Semantics" menu in the proofreader, to display terms with negative connotations. You can also display the positive, but for either, it's really interesting. When you're writing, it often happens that a term is not perceived in exactly the same way by an interlocutor. I remember once writing "versatile" to refer to an object that adapts to all situations. My contact then pointed out that for him, "versatile" was negatively connected, evoking instead the adjective "lunatic".

7 - All guides

The various functions described above depend above all on an incredibly rich knowledge base. For general knowledge, or to solve a specific problem or check a piece of data, Antidote's guides are particularly relevant. When it comes to spelling, there's always something to debate. An expression that sounds wrong, used too infrequently to be accepted by a certain audience, or simply a question about how to write very specific things.

Excerpt from the guide to writing sums of money

For me, it's absolutely essential to have spell-checking software. A professional writer has the right to have the tools he or she needs. In this sense, Antidote saves me time on a daily basis, enriches my work and provides me with a self-training tool.

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