Abiword...

[pam123]

I've been using this forever and it never occurred to me that others didn't know.
This word processing program is compatible with M$ word but it's free ( the spell check won't work for e-mail and yes M$ did that in XP and they were wrong. ).

Here : http://www.abisource.com/

It's a good basic program with a few tricks but if you have essays, reports and term papaers it will do the job for nothing.
Enjoy !