Like other Office products, Publisher and Word share a similar user interface that contains a ribbon with buttons and controls. Both programs enable you to type text, format it and import images.

Microsoft Word or Google Docs? The decision may seem simple if you're already integrated into either service, but there are other factors to consider.

Interface issues aside, Microsoft Word is a full-featured word processor that runs well on Mac, has an excellent ecosystem of sibling apps, and can be used for free.

You also can configure the Proofing settings in Microsoft Word to automatically find passive verb forms in sentences as you type by enabling the Passive Sentences setting.

Mac users have heaped scorn on Microsoft’s decision to adopt the ribbon throughout Windows 8, saying they prefer Apple’s “simple and elegant” user interface designs.