function validate(the_form){

  if (!check_email(the_form.email, "your Email Address")){

    return false;

    }

  else{

    return true;

  }

}



function check_email(the_field, strMessage) {

  if (!(/^\w+([\.-]?\w+)*@\w+([\.-]?\w+)*(\.\w{2,3})+$/.test(the_field.value))){

    alert("Please enter " + strMessage + ".");

    the_field.focus();

    the_field.select();

    return false;

    }

  return true;

}