on 20/3/01 8:40 pm, Elida at elida@signature.cc wrote: > I know we're all using the English language, but sometimes I can'r make head > or tail out of some of these Welsh list postings - > > Will someone be kind enough to explain what these letters are abbreviations > for? > > PR in reference to an author > > OS in reference to a map > > SS in reference to a road > > SN in reference to a road > > Thanks, > Elida in South Carolina, USA Hi Elida Not knowing the context I'm unable to help you about the PR reference. OS is the acronym for Ordnance Survey who are the principal mappers of the United Kingdom. Started as part of the British army, over 200 years ago I think, hence the reference to ordnance. The whole of the United Kingdom is covered by a grid (on maps) which splits the country into 100 kilometre squares, and each square has a 2 letter prefix. Two small parts of south Pembrokeshire have the prefix SR and SS and the rest of Pembrokeshire is in parts of the 100 km squares designated SM and SN. The rest of Wales is covered by 100 km squares designated SH, ST, SO and SJ. England and Scotland have 100 km squares with other prefixes (I live in the SU square). The six figures following the prefix enable the map reader to pin-point any place down to the south west corner of a 100 metre square. With a larger scale map one could even have an eight figure reference which would be the corner of a 10 metre square. The first 3 figures of the six are known as the "easting" and the last 3 as the "northing". See any OS map for the full explanation on how to use the referencing system. Gerry Lewis