The Effect of Auto Correction on

Egyptian University Students on Their

2nd language English Writing
Performance

By Rawan Nazmy
ID:2020/00194
Instructor: Dr. Sandra
Course: ENG313
 I. Abstract:

This study investigates the effects of autocorrect usage on Egyptian university students'
writing skills. A survey was conducted of 46 Egyptian MIU students to measure their
experiences using autocorrect features in word processors and mobile devices. I conducted the
survey to collect the data for my sample, and I sent the survey via WhatsApp. The data was
analyzed statically through Google Forms. Based on the results of the study; autocorrect had a
positive influence on their writing by improving accuracy of spelling, grammar and word choice.
Autocorrect conferred various writing benefits for most students surveyed, proper spelling,
grammar and vocabulary knowledge remain essential for students to write well independently.
Teachers should emphasize the utility of autocorrect tools while still instructing students
in fundamental writing skills. They might include auto-correction in classroom, assignments,
projects and more activities in universities to help out students.

II. Introduction:
The entire English learning process is similar to a journey. Initially, you might find it
difficult because people might not have the correct guidance for the language, but it helps in
tracing spelling mistakes as well as grammatical structure. In addition, this is an entertainment
process for gaining this experience. Students can be guided in several ways. For instance, they
might gain feedback from either teachers or parents. Auto correction is an interesting process for
students in their writing skills. Its educational techniques use red lines and changes in spelling
mistakes. Auto-correction could be a useful method for students to write assignments and
reports. Auto Correction alerts students that there is something wrong, and they need to work on
it. For instance, spelling mistakes, writing skills, grammatical mistakes, writing sequences, and
the organization of ideas. In addition, knowing whether they need more practice or reach an
advanced level of writing, there are no underlining or red lines across any line or word. Auto
correction is one of the reasons why there are no mistakes in their spelling, grammatical
structure, or vocabulary, which might enhance their writing performance. Sometimes, they lack
focus on writing skills, which benefits them in writing techniques and the flow of ideas.
Moreover, it is essential for students to have a good grammatical structure and organization. To
help students grasp language correctly. Therefore, autocorrection learning is the best method.
The present study was conducted to address this question. What are the effects of autocorrection
on Egyptian university students’ writing skills?

III. Literature Review:

Auto-correction tools are now a commonplace aspect of modern writing, particularly in

digital formats. Although using such tools can help students become more accurate and efficient,
there is some debate over how these tools may impact how well university students write in their
second language and how it impacts their writing skills. Several scholars have written research
papers that concentrate on the same subject, which is the impact of auto-correction on Egyptian
universities students’

A computer program known as auto-correct identifies words that have been misspelt, uses
techniques to figure out which words are most likely to have been intended, and then corrects the
text as necessary. It is a feature that is frequently used in word processors and different
messaging services, including those made by Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Their algorithms,
Moreover, are frequently more active in facilitating typing on the small keyboards of the devices
and are far from perfect, especially in auto-correct systems for smartphones. (Ismael, kochar,
Ibrahim, Shwan, Fatah, 2022). It was organized based on the common tool. it was organized also
on other aspects such as Aim, tool, result, and sample.

Auto correction has a significant impact on students, certain techniques such as spelling,
vocabulary and other writing techniques been examined. In this study, Ismael, Saeed, Ibrahim,
and Fatah (2022) investigated into the effects of technology and auto-correction on students'
writing talents in three different institutions in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. and This method of
instruction strengthens their ability for developing L2 writing abilities. As part of the current
study, thirty students (between the ages of 18 and 23) were chosen as the sample, and they were
instructed to submit two-paragraph essays in class using their handwriting before typing the
exact same text using auto-correction. The result of University of Human Development was
mentioned. A total of mistakes in the handwritten paragraph was 439 mistakes, while the number
of auto correction mistakes was 529. It means that the total of the handwritten is better than the
auto correction. The results of the university of Sulaymaniyah were total of 245 errors, and found
in the handwritten texts of the 10 UOS participants, and 76 errors were found in the texts that
had been auto corrected.
Similarly, discussing the effect of auto correction on vocabulary, spelling. Removing only
surface errors, it has doesn’t much effect on the cognitive. The researchers used a quasi-
experimental method to carry out the study. Two groups of students were formed, one with spell-
checkers and the others without. Target words were included in the dictations given to the
students, and the spell-checker assisted them in improving their spelling. Nonetheless, even after
using spellcheckers, pupils continued to employ incorrect spelling. The results indicate that spell-
checkers have little effect on students' capacity to correct spelling mistakes. As it mentioned
“This suggests that the treatment has little to no effect on students”. (Rimbar, 2017, p.9).

This study was similar to Ismael et-al (2022) where he found out in the result that the
research's conclusions portray a generally clear picture of how auto-correction influences
students at three different universities in Sulaymaniyah City, with auto-correction appearing to
have a negative impact on students at both of the universities. By “suggesting that auto-
correction did not affect their writing skills” (Ismael et-al, 2022, P.241). As similarly mentioned
in Rimbar (2017), where he mentioned “This suggests that the treatment has little to no effect on
students”. It means that auto correction did not affect the students much, or had a positive impact
in their writing. They both used the “typewritten dictation in which the learners employed spell-
checkers to check their spelling errors.” and “both handwritten and the experimental group”
(Rimbar, 2017, p.4).

The Effect of spell checkers on EFL students in terms of their spelling in their writing skills,
the positive impact that had been discovered on students. In Boukhechba and Bouhania (2020),
They examined the effects of using autocorrect and spell-checking technology, the current study
explored the most effective strategies to address the challenges that English language learners
encounter when writing, particularly in terms of vocabulary items and spelling errors. 18 LMD
which stands for (license-master-doctorat) students who were participating in the study at Adrar
University in Algeria used spell-checkers and autocorrect as assistive technology. The study
discovered that the usage of assistive technology (Auto Correction) had a noticeable impact on
the caliber of students' writing because it diverted their focus away from spelling errors and
towards other writing-related concerns.

Equivalently, according to Ali, Nakshbandi, Saadi, Barzani (2022). The purpose of the
research was to find out how auto-spell checker features affected learners of English as a Foreign
Language (EFL) in terms of their spelling in their writing skills. It was conducted at Tishk
International University, Iraq , while the “The participants were chosen from the second-year
students of Education Faculty, English Language Teaching department” and “Two classes were
selected to participate in this study”, (Ali et-al , 2022,p.106) for both groups , they used the
quasi-experimental. The study discovered that EFL learners can benefit from using auto-spell
checker features to enhance their spelling in their writing skills. As it was mentioned
“participants who used programs featured with auto checker specifications improved their
spelling to an extent”. Both studies prove that auto -correction has a positive impact on EFL
Students.

Another way to use auto correction not through word document, but through software called
Grammarly. According to Jayavalan & Razali (2018), Both researchers undertook a study to find
out whether Grammarly, an online grammar checker, helped secondary school pupils write better
narratives. Grammarly is an autocorrection method for students, it was examined to see their
performance, whether it was positive or negative on the students' writing skills. The usage of
Grammarly, according to the researchers, increased the quality of the students' narrative writing
by assisting them in spotting and correcting grammatical problems, as they also used the
Microsoft autocorrection.

To conclude, Auto correction is the contemporary and the easiest way of checking spelling,
vocabulary, and many writing mistakes. Previous studies successfully answered the research
questions. Tone of research done inside the field and the topic about auto correction in different
places. However, the research gap should be investigated more in Arab countries, especially in
Egypt, since there are none of the research was in Egypt. There are some sources that provided
auto correction Is effective and on the contrary, some sources proved that it was not beneficial.
IV. Methodology:

The main aim of that study is to examine the effect of auto-correction on Egyptian
University students' writing skills. This study is going to be conducted using a quantitative
approach. The researcher will use a sample of 20 Egyptian MIU university students. which
they are frequently asked to do assignments, and finish their assignments on word document,
they use laptops. The researcher will use the survey as a tool as it is the easiest and most
accessible way to examine this topic, which could be done by students by only sharing the
link. Easy to students on WhatsApp and Facebook and order to get the easiest and fastest
result. Students will be asked to answer an online survey about the effect of auto-correction
on Egyptian University students' writing skills. There will be 10 questions in the survey that
are related to the topic and are both closed-ended and open-ended. The 10 questions will
cover about whether auto correction help than positively or negatively on their structure,
grammar and what are the most tools to help them improve their writing skills. The data
analysis procedure will be done automatically by solving the survey. The online survey will
be used because it saves time and reaches a large number of people quickly. The survey will
be done on Google form. Distributed and analyzed on WhatsApp on Facebook in order to get
the easiest and the fastest result. The research will be quantitative method.

V. Results:
The purpose of this study is to see how auto-correction affect Egyptian university students’
writings skills. the research used online survey. The sample is 46 Egyptian university
students.
In the question how frequently do you use auto-correction when typing? The result shows
that 45.7% sometimes use auto correction while typing. Moreover 43.5% Always use auto-
correction while typing. while 10.9 % rarely use auto-correction while typing.

In question do you find that auto-correction improves your spelling? The result shows that
41.3% somewhat auto correction improved their spelling, while 39.1 % Yes, significantly
improved their spelling. While 15.2% not really improved their spelling. In addition, only a
few about 4.3% responded not at all did it improve their spelling.

In question, do you find that auto-correction improves your grammar? 41.3% somewhat auto
correction improved their grammar. However, 26.1 % not really auto correction improved
their grammar. In addition, 23.9% Yes, significantly auto correction improved their grammar.
While 8.7% not at all autocorrection improve their grammar.
In the question, after using auto-correct I received from my teacher. it’s a scale question that
have rating from no .1 very positive, no.2 positive, no.3 neutral, no.4 negative, no.5 very
negative. The result shows the scale from very positive to very negative feedback, how much
did autocorrection affect their feedback from teachers. At the scale very positive feedback,
students were (19.6%), while positive feedback they were (41.3%), Moreover, in neutral
feedback it was (32.6%). In negative feedback, they were (4.3%). In very negative feedback,
students had (2.2%).

In question, do you think that students who rely heavily on auto-correction have weaker
writing skills than those who don't? The result above shows percentage of students’
respondents, toward students who rely heavily on auto correct have weaker writing skills
than those who don’t. 50% replied yes somewhat they have weaker writing skills. 26.1%
replied yes, significantly they have weaker skills. 21.7% replied not really, did students had
weaker skills. while 2.2% replied not at all students have weaker writing skills when they
rely on autocorrection.
In question, do you believe that university students should be required to turn off auto-
correction when writing academic papers? The result shows 50% only for certain
assignments while 28.3% replied no, never turn-off autocorrection when writing academic
papers. On the contrary, 28.1% replied yes always.
In question, do you think autocorrect has made the quality of your writing poor? The result
shows that 39.1% replied no, not really did the auto-correction made their quality of their
writing poor. While, 28.3% replied yes somewhat it did their quality of their writing poor.
Moreover, 17.4% replied Yes, significantly it made their quality of their writing poor. While
15.2% no, not really it made their quality of their writing poor.

In question, do you agree auto-correction helps with enhancing Your word choice? The result
shows 21.7% strongly agree that auto-correction helps with enhancing their word choice.
while 37% somewhat agree. Moreover, 30.4% somewhat remain neutral that that auto-
correction helps with enhancing their word choice. On the contrary, 2.2 % somewhat disagree
and 8.7 % strongly disagree. that auto-correction helps with enhancing their word choice.
How can we avoid the negative effects of auto-correct on our writing skills?

Sales

15.20%
limit the usage of auto correct
19.56% don’t use auto correct
work on fixing highlighted mis-
takes on their own

13.04%

In the question, how can we avoid the negative effects of auto-correct on our writing
skills? The result shows that 19.56% replied limit the usage of auto-correction, to avoid auto-
correction negative effects on writing skills, while 15.2 % responded work on fixing
highlighted mistakes on their own to avoid auto-correction negative effects on writing skills.
In addition, 13% of students replied do not use auto-correct, in order to avoid any negative
effect on their writing skills. The rest of the students’ respondents are inaccurate to the
research.

In what situations do you find auto-correction to be particularly helpful or unhelpful?

 Sales

Helpful Unhelpfull

In question, in what situations do you find auto-correction to be particularly helpful or

unhelpful? The result shows that students replied it was 100% helpful and 0% replied un
helpful.
 VI. Discussion:

The research explores how the usage of auto-correction affect the Egyptian university
students ’writing skills. The researcher collected the data in an online survey of the sample that
has 46 Egyptian students. The result found that auto correction had a positive impact on Egyptian
university students ’writing skills. The research is trying to provide an answer to the major
research question. What are the effects of autocorrection on Egyptian university students’ writing
skills?

The research essential question, asking about the effects of autocorrection on

Egyptian university students’ writing skills. The result of my survey showed that auto-correction
is an effective tool for Egyptian university students in their writing skills. In the previous
questions that was provided in the survey, The students had responded that auto correction had
improved their spelling in the survey question. Similarly, In the research from Boukhechba and
Bouhania (2020), which aimed examining the effects of using autocorrection on English
language learners. When encounter in writing, particularly in terms of vocabulary items and
spelling errors. The English language learners, they had positive impact; because it drifted the
students away from the spelling mistakes, and let them focus on the assignment itself. The
students felt focused and determined in completing the task, and focus on the meaning and the
structure in their writing. In addition, another source that also proves that autocorrection improve
the spelling is (Ali et-al, 2022), The source found that students benefit from auto-correction and
it enhances spelling in their writing skills. In question, do you think autocorrect has made the
quality of your writing poor? In my survey, students had all said no, and approved it help them
enhance their quality of their writing. Similarly, in the research from Jayavalan & Razali (2018),
both undergo research study to find out whether Grammarly helped secondary school pupils
write better narratives.

The research concludes that the usage of Grammarly enhanced the quality of
the students' narrative writing by assisting them in spotting and correcting grammatical
problems; and by using Microsoft auto-correction. The research contributed to a clearer
understanding of the impact of auto-correction on Egyptian students’ writing skills. the students
have the ability of writing great; however, by using auto-correct it enhances their level of
writing. It let their structure of sentences enhance and become more understandable. While
previous research has focused on the effects on students in general globally, these results
demonstrate Egyptian students’ specifically. The results' generalizability is limited. In addition, they
did not provide relevant answers to the question of the survey. In addition, they could use another
approach, for instance, interview should be provided. The students should use auto-correct more
to enhance the quality of writing, when they write their assignments. Teachers should tell
students how they benefit from auto-correction in their assignment.

VII. Conclusion:
To conclude, the research explored the influence of auto-correction on Egyptian students’
writing skills. The data was collected by 46 Egyptian students. The results shows that auto-
correction is an effective tool for Egyptian students’ writing skills. Using auto-correction actually
enhances their writing skills through many categories, such as spelling, word choice, grammar
etc. I faced some limitation, while conducting the research, which was in accurate results in some
questions. I recommend for further research to be investigated more on Egyptian students, and the
results should be more generalized and be more credible. The questions should be more reviewed
and have more illustrations, in order to gather majority of people and have accurate results.
VIII. Reference:

Ali,H , Nakshbandi, L, Saadi,F, Barzani,S (2022) The Effect of Spell-Checker Features on

Spelling Competence among EFL Learners: An Empirical Study. International Journal of
Social Sciences & Educational Studies.Vol.9, No.3 P 101-111.
Bachir, B, Hicham, B (2020) Using Writing Assistive Technology to Improve EFL
University Students Performance. Quarterly of Iranian Distance Education Journal. Vol.2,
No.2 (P 55-68)
Ismael, K. O., Saeed, K. A., Ibrahim, A. S., & Fatah, D. S. (2022). Effects of Auto-Correction on

Students' Writing Skill at Three Different Universities in Sulaimaneyah City. Arab World
English Journal. (8) P.231-245

Jayavalan, K., Razali, A. B., & Abu, B. (2018). Effectiveness of online grammar checker to
improve secondary students’ English narrative essay writing. International Research
Journal of Education and Sciences, 2(1), p.1-6.
Rimbar, H (2017) The influence of spell-checkers on students’ ability to generate repairs of
spelling errors. Journal of Nusantara Studies. , Vol 2(1) p.1-12
 VIII. Appendix:
I am a junior Alsun student at Misr International University. I am conducting research on the effects of
auto-correction on Egyptian university students. This survey is intended for educational purposes. These
questions is for university students only . Your cooperation would be much appreciated. Your responses
will be kept fully anonymous and confidential; I guarantee it. Thank you for participating.

How frequently do you use auto-correction when typing?

a. always
b. Sometimes
c. Rarely

Do you find that auto-correction improves your spelling?

a. Yes, significantly
b. Yes, somewhat
c. No, not really
d. No, not at all

Do you find that auto-correction improves your grammar?

a. Yes, significantly
b. Yes, somewhat
c. No, not really
d. No, not at all

After using auto-correct I received from my teacher.

Positive feedback. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Negative feedback

Do you think that students who rely heavily on auto-correction have weaker writing skills than
those who don't?
a. Yes, significantly
b. Yes, somewhat
c. No, not really
d. No, not at all

Do you believe that university students should be required to turn off auto-correction when
writing academic papers?
a. Yes, always
b. Only for certain assignments
c. No, never

Do you think autocorrect has made the quality of your writing poor?

a. Yes, significantly
b. Yes, somewhat
c. No, not really
d. No, not at all

Do you agree auto-correction helps with enhancing

You word choice?

Strongly Agree 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 Strongly disagree

How can we avoid the negative effects of auto-correct on our writing skills?

In what situations do you find auto-correction to be particularly helpful or unhelpful?