19. The one or more computer-readable storage media recited in claim 18 , wherein the normalization process comprises one of: removing a stop word; or replacing the phrase that refers to a column name of the spreadsheet document or a data value in the spreadsheet document by parameterized place-holders.
18. One or more computer-readable storage media for translating natural language descriptions to expressions in spreadsheet documents, the computer-readable storage media comprising code configured to direct a processing unit to: generate a model of a spreadsheet document generated by a spreadsheet program, comprising a column description for each column of the spreadsheet document, and one or more types associated with each column; generate a plurality of potential programs in an underlying domain-specific language from the natural language description by first normalizing the description based on the model, and then using a translation system that uses a combination of rule-based translation and type-based program synthesis; and present a first of the potential interpretations based on a likelihood the one potential interpretation is associated with the intended program; and present a result of the program in association with a selection of one or more columns, wherein the columns are associated with the program, and wherein the result is based on the columns.