In a message dated 97-02-12 17:09:51 EST, you write:

<< Thanks for listening. Now, for penance, I will go identify gulls
for 10 minutes.
Ray K >>

Ray -

Oh no, not that!! It's a fate worse than death!

You're right about spelling and grammar checkers having their faults. I use
mine all the time at work, but I proofread the text also. However, even if
they don't catch all the problems, they could mightily improve some of the
e-mail messages I have seen.

Of course, e-mail should be less formal. That doesn't mean it has to be
sloppy.

As to hiring literate people, that is precisely what my company does. I
would not have my job today, if I couldn't write a grammatically-correct
letter with no spelling errors. Actually, I got a big raise and a
promotion because I could write well enough to draft a grant proposal to a
large foundation. The $60,000 grant my company received would not have come
our way if I didn't have good teachers (like you)!

Cathi Pelletier
Waterbury, CT
Heronwing at aol.com