How can I edit my paper without word?!

September 21, 2011 10:40 AM

Is there any online resource that functions like microsoft word that I can use to get my paper appropriately edited? Within the hour?

(I recognize this is an admission of how pathically non-knowledgable I am about computers, but!)

My microsoft word suddenly decided to start popping up with a "error in program". I might be able to figure out how to fix it but I know very little about fixing anything to do with computers and I need to get my paper edited in time for class.

I have it in note pad, but I can't figure out how to get it appropriately formatted (double spaced). I'm fiddling with it but even when it looks right in the notepad when I print it, it comes out all funny.

ACK! Is there anything online that functions like this? Copy and paste your paper and then make it double spaced? Thirty minutes til I need to leave. Egads!

I see some "free grammar check" types programs that say "click allow if prompted" and it makes me think they are sketchy-- how sketchy are they? Like this one:
grammar checker

Is it trying to give a virus or something?

posted by xarnop to computers & internet (9 answers total)

Not sure this will reach you in time, but OpenOffice does pretty much everything Office does, and its free. Takes 5 min to install.
posted by elendil71 at 10:42 AM on September 21, 2011

Import your paper into Google Docs
posted by COD at 10:44 AM on September 21, 2011 [3 favorites]

If you have a Google account, just upload the file (assuming it's not corrupt or anything like that) into Google Docs (docs.google.com) and work with it in Google's online version of a word processor.
posted by Joey Bagels at 10:44 AM on September 21, 2011

n'thing Google Docs. There's also the possibility of finding a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor out there that's usable for free like this one if you prefer not to go through Google.
posted by samsara at 10:49 AM on September 21, 2011

Google Docs can also save your file as a Word document when you're ready to send it, or a PDF.
posted by odinsdream at 10:50 AM on September 21, 2011

OMG thank you thank you thank you. Done with four minutes to leave time! Whew.
posted by xarnop at 10:58 AM on September 21, 2011

(Also that is so embarrasing I didn't think of that LOL. I figured there had to be a simple way *cheeks red*)
posted by xarnop at 10:59 AM on September 21, 2011

Microsoft actually offers some kind of online version of Word as well:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/web-apps/

I've never used it myself, but apparently if you have a Windows Live ID (ie hotmail account) then you're all set up for it.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:03 AM on September 21, 2011

I use the online version of Office and Word. It's a sweet suite.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:50 PM on September 21, 2011