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Use them all. When referring to a continent, we don't capitalize it ie, "Australia is an island continent." So if "the Continent" is a term you use in other ways, I don't recognize it. Down Under, the Far East, and the MIddle East are all common here.

Hi. I'll try to help. I'm in New Jersey and I can tell you how I would read each term. "Down Under" would mean Australia here. I don't know if New Zealand would be included in the term elsewhere, but I think it would be lumped in, too (or else completely forgotton, I'm afraid). "Far East" is clear, but for some reason, sounds dated to me, as I would use "Asia," although I think the entire continent of Asia is more than what you are referring to with "Far East." I think both those are clear, though.

The term "continent" might be trickier. Do you really intend to exclude all of Britain and Ireland? That's how I read the term, anyway. I hesitate to feed the idea that much of America is somehow less cultured than the rest of the world (we seem to get that reputation sometimes . . . ). However, I think many American readers might not care about the distinction British people like to make between themselves and the continent sometimes. I'm oversimplifying, but I would say "Europe" is "Europe" to most Americans, unless you are talking about one country in particular.

Finally, I would advise caution in using the term "Middle East" casually. Depending on you audience, the localized term "Middle East" may make a reader here think of anything from all Arab countries, to all Islamic countries, or just Israel and its immediate neighbors. I'm not sure I know what region the term refers to anymore here, or where the borders are. Any way I look at it, I have to say, the term is more political than geographical. It refers mostly to the Israel/Palistine region. As for alternatives, I'm afraid I'm not sure what to suggest. I think you could use it very broadly without a problem. ("X is a traditional dish throughout the Middle East and in parts of Europe.") However, if you know specifically which countries you are referencing, you may just want to list them.

Yikes -- this topic is much more involved than I thought! I think I've rambled a bit, but I hope there is something helpful in here. Please, someone else (from another part of the country, maybe) chime in.

Charlotte

To someone in the UK "the Continent" would refer to the part of Europe not on the islands of the UK - more specifically France, Italy, Germany etc. In the US most people would not understand the term although we have the term "continental breakfast" which implies a certain type of light breakfast originating in Europe.

The Far East to me is a dated term referring to China/Japan/Korea. Now I'm more specific - Northern Asia, Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent etc.

Downunder we know means Australia thanks to Mic on Crocodile Dundee.

Middle East means... what CharlotteAndrews said.

And for a little inspiration:

`When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'

`The question is,' said Alice, `whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

`The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, `which is to be master -- that's all.'

Alice was too much puzzled to say anything; so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. `They've a temper, some of them -- particularly verbs: they're the proudest -- adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs -- however, I can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That's what I say!'

`Would you tell me please,' said Alice, `what that means?'

`Now you talk like a reasonable child,' said Humpty Dumpty, looking very much pleased. `I meant by "impenetrability" that we've had enough of that subject, and it would be just as well if you'd mention what you mean to do next, as I suppose you don't mean to stop here all the rest of your life.'

`That's a great deal to make one word mean,' Alice said in a thoughtful tone.

`When I make a word do a lot of work like that,' said Humpty Dumpty, `I always pay it extra.'

`Oh!' said Alice. She was too much puzzled to make any other remark.

jadedragon wrote: Middle East means... what CharlotteAndrews said.

Thank you jd -- I've been cited!

And thanks for the reminder of one of my favorite passages. It's been ages since I looked at it. I don't have a blog, but if I ever do start one about writing I think I've found my mission statement:

jadedragon wrote:`When I make a word do a lot of work like that,' said Humpty Dumpty, `I always pay it extra.'

Many thanks everyone. That was quite illuminating.