In reply to Steve Grant.

Yes a pattern is industry jargon in many different industries.

I also think it is possible that it may be widely understood outside of those industries as a reusable template that can be used to help with creating something.

Over the weekend I was thinking about this after reading your comment, Steve. I was a bit concerned that patterns wouldn't be understood as I have created quite a few of them.

I asked a few friends and relatives, non of whom work in web dev/design or any industry where they would use design templates.

The question I asked (trying not to bias the replies) was this: "When I say the word pattern, what do you think of?"

Some of the answers were such things as "a patterned wallpaper", or "a dress with a nice pattern".

Other answers were things like "a sewing pattern", or "a pattern with woodworking instructions", or "a sort of template to show how to cut something to a shape". Approx three-quarters replied with variations of these.

Most of those who didn't immediately think of a reusable template, did understand the concept of using a pattern as a reusable template, when I further asked what would be another use for "a pattern".

I'm in northern England in the UK and it may be possible other regions/countries may have completely different thoughts on what a pattern is, and also I have no idea how it translates into other languages.

My very small sample is entirely un-scientific and may not be at all representative, but it did make me think that it is possible it may not be such an issue to use the pattern terminology.