design tips from me to you

i sit at my desk, monday through friday, working and typing and sometimes designing (though not nearly enough of the time) and it occurs to me that the average person doesn't know some basic design-y things that they should. here are just a few that i come across every day:

1. there should never, ever, ever be 2 spaces after a period. wherever you learned that from, you need to forget it.
2. just because times new roman is the default font in word does not mean that you have to use it all the time. there are many other lovely choices that come standard on pcs nowadays. test out a new font next time you write up an e-mail or letter, it could change your life. oh, but please don't choose curls or comic sans.
3. microsoft publisher. i can't believe people still use this program to "design" things. this is 2009. learn how to use indesign, quark, illustrator or find someone who does.
4. just because you have the option to put a border around something, doesn't mean you should.

more to come later...