On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 14:05:38 +0100, Dave Fawthrop <hyphen@hyphenologist.co.uk> wrote: | When writing for a worldwide audience, I try to write things which will be | understood by readers in the UK, India, Australia, etc not forgetting the | USA. This is IME quite^h^h^h^hextremely difficult. Sorry about following up my own post, but a little explanation of how to | write things which will be | understood by readers in the UK, India, Australia, etc not forgetting the | USA. seems to be in order. Assume that the reader knows *nothing* except that meaning of words which is common to all versions of English. Assume that he/she knows *nothing* about the culture you live in, or any other culture. Avoid words which have different meanings in the various versions of English, trunk, pavement etc etc etc. Avoid words which are only used in one culture or version of English, such as "lathi" Avoid all similes metaphors, parallels and the like. Avoid all references to your own culture and *all* minority cultures. The result will be deadly dull, but understandable to most ?English? speakers. -- Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk> "Intelligent Design?" my knees say *not*. "Intelligent Design?" my back says *not*.