When writing a story and someone is having a smoke, is it a good idea to use the term "fag" when having a smoke? In England, this is an obvious term for cigarette--but in America I know they consider the word "fag" a derogatory term for gay. But do the US market understand this British term or should I rethink that line?

If you're concerned you could 'have a ciggie', or something similar, but I wouldn't worry about it, individual words like this would be picked up in the copy edit.

That's true. However, I do recall in the show Family Guy where one of the characters say they know that Fag means cigarette in England. So I guess they do know about it. Then again, I didn't know until recently that in America, Fanny was another word they used to describe your backside (or words to that effect). Over here, that word has other meanings--and I'm not talking about the Jane Austen character either!

I'm probably getting a little off topic here. I think the point I was trying to make is that I was worried that with words like that, it wouldn't fit in the American market. I guess I could always do two versions of it though. One for the Brits and others for the US.

I think you should quit worrying about the details (one of my chronic failings) and just be as authentic as you can, no matter who you might rub up the wrong way.

Cheers, Grinder

I had 'fag' changed to 'cigarette' in the US edition, along with all sorts of others things. But it's a copy-editor's problem, not yours. It certainly wouldn't put an editor off if they liked the book - editors certainly know what it means in the UK, and they're your interface with the US public at large.

Emma

That's true I guess. Thanks for the tip. I'll just write it as I see it and let the editors worry about it--if it ever gets that far that is.