Present or Subjunctive
Since I learned about the Subjunctive in Spanish I am tempted to use it every where. In the following example I hesitate between using Present Indicative or Present Subjunctive. The translator returns the same result. So could you please tell me which sentence is grammatically correct or are they both acceptable:
"Si mi mensaje está escrito incorrectamente..."
"Si mi mensaje esté escrito incorrectamente... "
In English or French I would not hesitate at all. I would use the Present Indicative. But in Spanish, expressing a doubt hmmm ??....
Thank you in advance 
Françoise.
2 Answers
You would use the present indicative here, so long as the other half of you sentence is in the present indicative or future tense. Si is never followed by the subjunctive unless it is the imperfect subjunctive which I am guessing you've not yet learned. In that case the si clause would have imperfect subjunctive and the other clause would be conditional.
I know that temptation to use the subjunctive everywhere!!
Using the indicative would be the equivalent of "if this message is incorrect (which it could be)", while the subjunctive would mean "if this message was incorrect (but I don't think it is)".
The subjunctive is not only about doubt. Where the clause starts with "si", different rules apply. (Eric Vogt has a great workbook about the subjunctive -- check it out)
