Just to provide a concrete example, I used Google to translate the original 
message into French and then back to English. While I can't judge the
awkwardness of the French, I'm sure it is even more awkward than the English
below.

> >I recently discovered that Word 2005 can translate words and phrases into
> >French, Spanish and/or German (I'm sure it does many others but...).  I was
> >wondering if anyone in cyberspace knows how effective this tool is (I know
> >very little Spanish and no French but needed an 'official' translation of a
> >popular phrase).  Could I use it to translate something and not get laughed
> >at for my poor use of French?

I recently discovered that the word 2005 can translate words and
expressions into French, Spanish and/or German (I am sure that it does
many others but...).  I wondered whether no matter who in Cyberspace
knows effective this tool is (I know far from Spanish and no French
but necessary an ' official ' translation of a popular expression).
Could I employ it to translate something and not to obtain laughed for
my weak use of French?

Billy Harris