5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing of the probability includes summing log probability values for each of the plurality of sequences of words.
1. A method for processing electronic mail comprising: computing a probability that a text string in an electronic mail message refers to an attachment as a function of a stored probability value for each of a plurality of sequences of words within the text string, the computing of the probability including computing a first probability that the text string refers to an attachment using a first set of stored probability values and, where the first probability exceeds a predetermined value, computing a second probability that the text string does not refer to an attachment using a second set of stored probability values, the probability that a text string in an electronic mail message refers to an attachment being computed as a function of the first and second probabilities; and where the electronic mail message lacks an attachment, prompting a user if the computed probability indicates that the text string refers to an attachment.