AbiWord is a nice alternative for those individuals looking for a word processor application that is entirely free. Several of the most notable features include a built in web service which allows users to share documents and an annotation feature that is fully integrated. The support for the application is quite good, and there's an extensive user manual and FAQ on the website. This version is...

Readers engaged in research and dissertation writing may enjoy Academic Phrasebank. This website serves as a "general resource for academic writers," by providing guidance on style, structure, and substance from introduction to conclusion. Visitors may wish to start by reading the sections devoted to overall writing structure, accessible from the tabs at the top of the site, beginning with...

The United States gets over half of its electricity from burning coal, and this tremendously important resource remains one of the nation's greatest assets. However, it is not an asset without problems, as the burning of coal has brought with it tremendous levels of air pollution and other problems. This latest radio documentary from the American RadioWorks group was produced by Catherine Winter,...

As with many other colleges and universities, Amherst College is dedicated to helping their students become excellent writers. In order to accomplish this goal, they have created a fine set of online resources for use by their own students and members of the web-browsing public. This particular set includes a long list of resources created by staff members at Amherst and at other institutions....

Since 1970, the University of North Dakota (UND) has hosted an annual writers conference, complete with plenary sessions, panel discussions, and seminars. A number of important writers have been in attendance, including Harlan Ellison and Allen Ginsburg. Currently, the Chester Fritz Library Department of Special Collections at UND is digitizing all of these sessions, and there are some real treats...

For law students, learning about the world of legal citations is key. For many years, the standard reference work on legal citation was a manual known as "The Bluebook". This work has been revised numerous times over the years, and this online version appeared in May 2007. It is offered here as a public service, by the Legal Information Institute (LII) at Cornell University's Law School, and it...

Writing letters or memos in the world of business is an acquired skill, and those beginning to learn about this process will appreciate this site, which was designed by the Authenticity Counseling Company. The helpful resources offered here are divided into several sections, including "General Resources and Advice", "Basic Writing Skills", and "Basic Composition Skills". One other section is...

Seasoned and novice business reporters will enjoy learning about the existence of the BusinessJournalism.org website. Created by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University the site was launched in February 2004, and since then it has grown to include a host of instructional materials, including tutorials on how to cover financial markets and...

While simple in its presentation, Butterick's Practical Typography is perhaps the most clear and useful resource for understanding text as its own art form. Simply stated, typography is the visual component of the written word and this site is a wonderful tool for those who work with words on an everyday basis. It offers helpful reminders and even teaches those who may have never heard of the...

The basic mandate of the Canada Council for the Arts is "to foster and promote the study and enjoyment and the production of works in the arts." First-time visitors should click on one of the thematic sections on the site, which include Dance, Writing & Publishing, and Aboriginal Arts Office. Within each of these areas, visitors can read Artist Stories, check out the dedicated blog for each topic,...