If you're creating a form or a report, you need to use best design practices. I review a lot of forms and reports for software applications at my day job, and the biggest problem with formatting is inconsistency.

1. If you have lines on your document, make sure that they begin and end at the same point.

2. If you have multiple charts on a page, make sure that the outer left and right borders of all charts start and end at the same point.

3. If you use punctuation with your labels, make sure that you're consistent. I see a bunch with "Name," "Name:," "name:," and "name."

4. Be consistent with capitalization too.

5. Use tabs (or gridlines in your form design tool) to make sure that fields align with others horizontally and vertically. If you have a column of field labels, the first letter of each should line up on the left margin. If you have more than one field label in a row, they should all be sitting on the same baseline.

6. If you want a user to fill in your form with a pen, then make sure to leave enough room for writing.

7. Be consistent with abbreviations. Is it #, No, No., Num., or Number?

8. Proofread and make sure everything is clear and correct.

9. Get someone else to look over your form or report for usability.

10. When you're finished with your form, fill it out online and print it to make sure all form fields work correctly. If it's a paper form, print it out and fill in the information.