Free office productivity software:

If you balk at paying hundreds of dollars for office suite programs, there are free alternatives, which are generally compatible with Microsoft and with Corel (WordPerfect.) Documents with simple formatting can easily be shared with Microsoft or Corel users. However, complex formatting and certain tables and graphics may not display in the same way.

The following programs are offered as downloads to your computer:

OpenOffice (for Windows, Mac and Linux) -- word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, calculator, database

AbiWord (for Windows, Mac and Linux) -- word processing only

The following programs are used online. For optimal results you should have high-speed Internet connection. Although you work online through your web browser, you can download your files to your computer.

One of the benefits of these programs is that documents can easily be read and shared across platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux) especially if you read them online:

Google Docs & Spreadsheets -- word processing and spreadsheets

ThinkFreeOffice -- word processing, presentation and spreadsheets. You can also save documents in .pdf (Adobe Acrobat) format without need for the Adobe program itself.

Reference tools to enhance your writing and speaking:

There are thousands of excellent reference sources. Here are a few of them:

General reference:

• Bartleby.com Encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations, and more
• RefDesk Links to any reference tool you need
• Elements of Style Online version of William Strunk’s classic guide to proper English usage
• Freemind Great mind mapping tool for organizing your thoughts around a major project

• Roboform (Downloads to your computer.) Remembers and encrypts your passwords, logs you in automatically and fills out forms with a mouse click.
• TimeCave Set up reminders online to be emailed to you today, tomorrow or years from now.
• Media-Convert and Zamzar Websites that convert files from one format to another - e.g., Word to pdf, Powerpoint to HTML, and more. Convert dozens of formats - documents, spreadsheets, images, audio, video, and even cell phone ringtones. Convert not only files from your own computer, but also files online, including YouTube videos.