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I note that the Academie Francaise has just elected its third woman member since the male monopoly was broken 20 years ago, (Worldwatch, THES, February 16).

Given that members are traditionally called les immortels , does this mean that female members should be referred to as les immortelles ? This could be quite appropriate, given the word's primary meaning of "everlasting flowers" and the length of time that women seem to wait for membership.

Tim Connell
City University, London