Grammar and spelling errors distract readers from concentrating on your message. Since your text copy is an important communication tool, shouldn't you use more than your word processing program's grammar or spellchecker?

SeattlePi reports that Microsoft Word's grammar checker can ignore mistakes in your copy, such as sentence fragments, subject-verb agreement, and misplaced apostrophes. Corel Corp.'s WordPerfect Office fairs a little better.

Although these tools can help identify typical problems in grammar, they are not perfect. In addition to running your text through the grammar checker, take the time to read the document after you have finished it. If you have the luxury of time, wait a couple of days before re-reading it, and you will find more errors in your text. Hand the document to someone else to read. Not only will that person identify different problems in grammar than you can, you will get the benefit of how a reader will respond to your message. You can receive handy points for clarification, lapses in logic, and word flow and fix them before the public reads it.