CV grammar and spelling checker for error‑free applications

One tiny typo can be the difference between a callback and the rejection pile. In a UK survey by Adzuna, 90% of CVs contained spelling or grammar errors, and recruiters admitted binning applications because of them. At the same time, automated Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) screen out up to 75% of CVs before a human ever sees them, according to CareerBuilder and Workday reports. ZAPZAP’s built‑in CV grammar and spelling checker scans every line of your CV for errors, awkward phrasing and inconsistent UK/European spelling, then fixes them instantly. No need to hire an expensive proofreader or beg a friend to review your CV. Just paste or build your CV in ZAPZAP, run the smart checker, and send a polished, ATS‑friendly CV that sounds professional, confident and clear. Whether you are applying in London, Dublin, Berlin, Johannesburg or Sydney, our CV checker adapts to local conventions so your CV feels native to the market you are targeting. Start with our free credits, fix hidden mistakes in seconds and send a CV you can be proud of.

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Why CV grammar and spelling mistakes happen

Most job seekers know that spelling and grammar matter, yet errors still slip through. When you have rewritten your CV ten times, your brain starts to auto‑correct what you see on the screen. You skim instead of reading carefully, and obvious mistakes suddenly become invisible. Under time pressure, it is easy to send a CV that is “good enough” instead of truly polished.

Recruiters, however, do not see the hours you spent. They see a document that represents your attention to detail and communication skills. Studies from the UK’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) show that written communication is one of the most valued skills, and poor spelling is a common reason for rejection. Combined with ATS filters that flag inconsistent formatting or unusual phrasing, your CV can be discarded before you ever get a chance to explain.

You rely on basic word processor spell check

Standard spell checkers catch obvious typos but often miss CV‑specific issues: incorrect verb tenses, inconsistent capitalisation of job titles, UK vs US spelling (\"organisation\" vs \"organization\"), and misused words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong context. They also cannot tell if your bullet points read like strong, professional achievements or clumsy, informal sentences.

You are too close to your own CV

After editing the same CV for weeks, your brain fills in missing words and corrects errors automatically. You read what you meant to write, not what is actually on the page. This is why professional editors always use a second pair of eyes. Without a dedicated CV grammar and spelling checker, you are likely to miss small but costly mistakes such as duplicated words, missing dates, or inconsistent punctuation.

You do not have access to a professional proofreader

Hiring a proofreader for every CV update is expensive and slow, especially if you are tailoring your CV to multiple roles across the UK and Europe. Friends and family may spot obvious errors but are rarely trained in HR or ATS requirements. As a result, you send out CVs that are mostly correct but not truly polished, weakening your impact compared to other candidates.

Different markets, different spelling and style rules

A CV for a role in London should not look identical to one for a role in Toronto or Berlin. UK English, Canadian English and European business English have subtle differences in spelling, date formats and tone. Without a tool that understands these variations, you might mix styles (\"labour\" and \"labor\" in the same document) or use phrasing that feels slightly off to local hiring managers.

You do not need to become a grammar expert to fix all of this. With ZAPZAP’s integrated checker and smart CV builder, you can generate, refine and proof your CV in one place. Learn more about how we optimise content, formatting and ATS compatibility in our /features and /how-it-works guides.

How Our Tool Solves This

1. Advanced CV grammar and spelling engine tuned for UK & EU markets

ZAPZAP uses an advanced language engine that goes far beyond a basic spell checker. It scans your entire CV for spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, missing words, incorrect verb tenses and awkward sentence structure. Crucially, it is tuned for UK and Commonwealth English by default, so it prefers \"CV\" over \"resume\", \"programme\" over \"program\" (where appropriate), and recognises regional spelling patterns. If you are targeting a specific market, you can switch preferences to align with that region’s norms. The tool also understands common CV patterns such as bullet points starting with action verbs, date ranges and job titles, allowing it to make smarter suggestions that keep your CV concise and professional.

2. Context-aware suggestions for professional CV tone

Instead of just underlining mistakes, our CV grammar and spelling checker offers context‑aware suggestions tailored to professional CV writing. It highlights informal language (\"I was kind of responsible for\") and suggests stronger, recruiter‑friendly phrasing (\"Led\", \"Managed\", \"Delivered\"). It also spots over‑used clichés and vague statements, encouraging you to be specific about results and responsibilities. This helps you sound confident without sounding arrogant, and professional without sounding robotic. Because the checker is built into the ZAPZAP CV builder, you see suggestions in real time as you type or paste your content.

3. ATS‑friendly structure and consistency checks

According to research cited by TopResume and Workday, around 75% of CVs are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems before a human review. Many of these rejections are caused not just by content, but by inconsistent formatting, strange symbols and unreadable layouts. ZAPZAP combines its CV grammar and spelling checker with an ATS CV checker that scans for structural problems: inconsistent date formats, random fonts, unusual bullet characters, and section headings that confuse parsing algorithms. It then guides you to use a clean, ATS‑friendly CV template so your polished content is actually read by recruiters.

4. Instant feedback loop with CV templates and examples

Our tool does not just correct errors; it teaches you what a strong CV looks like. As you edit, ZAPZAP compares your content against proven, recruiter‑approved CV examples from our /blog and template library. If your bullet points are too long, too short or missing key skills, you will get suggestions to tighten or expand them. You can see before/after examples inside the builder, so you understand why a change improves clarity or impact. Over time, you naturally start writing stronger CV content, reducing your reliance on external proofreaders.

CV-Friendly Features

Built‑in CV grammar and spelling checker

Automatically scans your entire CV for spelling mistakes, grammar errors and punctuation issues, with preferences for UK, EU and Commonwealth English. You get clear, in‑context suggestions designed specifically for CVs, not generic essays.

ATS‑friendly CV templates

Choose from clean, professional CV templates that are tested with major ATS platforms used across the UK and Europe. Our layouts avoid tables, graphics and formatting tricks that often break ATS parsing, so your corrected content is always readable.

Real‑time editing and instant feedback

See grammar and spelling suggestions as you type or paste your CV into ZAPZAP. Fix issues with one click, undo changes if needed, and track your overall CV quality score as you refine your document.

Language and region settings

Target roles in London, Dublin, Amsterdam or Sydney with confidence. Adjust language settings to match local spelling, date formats and tone, so your CV feels native to the market you are applying in.

Content guidance and examples

Access built‑in tips and examples drawn from our /blog and /how-it-works resources. Learn how to write strong achievement‑based bullet points, avoid common CV mistakes and showcase skills that UK and European recruiters actually search for.

Secure, private and always available

Your CV data is stored securely, and you can log in from any device to update, correct and download your CV. No need to email Word documents back and forth with a proofreader or worry about version control.

These features work together to give you more than just a CV spelling checker: you get a complete, ATS‑ready CV builder and reviewer in one place. Explore everything ZAPZAP offers on our /features page or dive deeper into best practices on the /blog.

The Results: Before vs After

❌ Generic CV (Problems)

  • Spelling mistakes and grammar errors that signal poor attention to detail to UK and EU recruiters.
  • Mixed UK/US spelling, inconsistent dates and formatting that confuse ATS systems and hiring managers.
  • Weak, vague bullet points with informal language that undersell your experience and impact.
  • Lower response rate from job applications, with most CVs ignored or auto‑rejected before a human review.

✅ Optimised CV (Benefits)

  • Clean, error‑free CV with consistent UK or local spelling and professional grammar throughout.
  • ATS‑friendly structure that passes automated filters and surfaces your skills to recruiters.
  • Clear, achievement‑focused bullet points that highlight measurable results and relevant keywords.
  • Higher interview rate, stronger first impressions and more confidence every time you click “Apply”.

Real Impact: If you apply to 50 jobs

Generic = 2-5 interviews Optimized = 15-20 interviews

Based on industry research from TopCV, Jobvite and internal ZAPZAP user data showing significantly higher response rates for error‑free, ATS‑optimised CVs.

Create Your CV in 3 Simple Steps

1

Import or build your CV in ZAPZAP

Start by choosing a professional, ATS‑friendly CV template that matches your level and industry. You can paste your existing CV text, upload and convert it, or build from scratch using our guided sections for Profile, Experience, Education, Skills and more. ZAPZAP automatically organises your information into a clear, recruiter‑friendly structure.

2

Run the CV grammar and spelling checker

With your content in place, activate the CV grammar and spelling checker. In seconds, ZAPZAP scans the entire document for spelling mistakes, grammar errors, inconsistent capitalisation, mixed UK/US spelling and awkward phrasing. You will see highlighted suggestions in context, with explanations and one‑click fixes. Adjust your language settings to match the country you are targeting, and watch your CV quality score improve as you apply the recommendations.

3

Download and apply with confidence

Once your CV is error‑free and optimised, download it in ATS‑friendly formats such as PDF or Word. You can also save multiple tailored versions for different roles or markets. Each time you update your CV, simply rerun the checker to keep it polished. With ZAPZAP, you send out applications knowing your CV is clear, professional and ready for both ATS and human review.

Common Questions About CV Grammar and Spelling Checkers

Why do I need a dedicated CV grammar and spelling checker if I already use Word or Google Docs?

General spell checkers are built for everyday writing, not for CVs. They often miss issues that matter to recruiters, such as inconsistent job title capitalisation, incorrect verb tense in bullet points, or UK vs US spelling differences. They also cannot judge whether your phrasing sounds professional and achievement‑focused. ZAPZAP’s CV grammar and spelling checker is tuned specifically for CV content and integrates with an ATS CV checker, so you improve both language quality and hiring system compatibility. To see how this works in practice, explore our /how-it-works page and example CVs on the /blog.

Will ZAPZAP change my tone or rewrite my CV completely?

No. You stay in control of your CV. Our checker highlights errors and suggests improvements, but you choose which changes to accept. The goal is to preserve your voice while making your CV clearer, more professional and better aligned with recruiter expectations. Where we propose stronger phrasing (for example, changing \"helped with\" to \"supported\" or \"assisted\"), you will always see the suggestion first and can accept, edit or ignore it.

Is the CV grammar and spelling checker suitable for non‑native English speakers?

Yes. ZAPZAP is particularly helpful if English is not your first language. The tool catches common learner mistakes, suggests more natural phrasing and ensures consistent UK or local spelling. Many of our users across Europe, Africa and Asia rely on ZAPZAP to sound as professional in writing as they are in their day‑to‑day work. You can also browse our /blog for CV examples and phrases commonly used in UK and European applications.

Will my CV be ATS‑friendly after using your checker?

Language quality is only part of ATS optimisation, but it is a crucial part. ZAPZAP combines the CV grammar and spelling checker with ATS‑friendly templates and a layout review, so your CV avoids elements that confuse Applicant Tracking Systems, such as text boxes and unusual symbols. While no tool can guarantee a specific outcome with every employer, using an ATS‑friendly CV builder significantly increases the chance that your corrected CV will be parsed and read. You can learn more about our ATS features on the /features page.

Is my CV data safe when I use ZAPZAP?

Yes. We take data privacy and security seriously. Your CV is stored securely, and we do not share your personal information with employers or third parties without your consent. You can delete your CVs at any time from your account. Our goal is to give you a safe space to build, correct and store your CVs, ready to download whenever you need them. For more details, visit our /faq and privacy sections.

Do I have to pay before I can try the CV grammar and spelling checker?

No. ZAPZAP offers free credits so you can test the CV grammar and spelling checker, explore templates and download your first CV version without entering card details. This lets you see the quality of corrections and the ease of the builder before deciding on a paid plan. You can start in seconds and upgrade later only if you find it valuable for your job search.

Stop Losing Interviews to Typos – Start Sending Error‑Free CVs

Every application you send with spelling mistakes or grammar errors quietly damages your chances. With ZAPZAP’s CV grammar and spelling checker, you can fix hidden issues in seconds, pass ATS filters and present yourself as the polished professional you are. Use your free credits today, refine your CV once, and reuse it across dozens of applications with total confidence.

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5 free credits • No credit card • Ready in 30 seconds

ZAPZAP is your all‑in‑one CV grammar and spelling checker for UK, European and Commonwealth job seekers. Whether you search for a cv spell checker, cv spelling checker, online cv checker, grammar checker for cv, cv typo checker, ats cv checker or cv proofreader online, our ATS‑friendly CV builder helps you create a clean, professional curriculum vitae that passes automated screening and impresses recruiters. Use our CV checker UK settings for local roles, or switch to other English variants when applying abroad, and keep every version of your CV error‑free.