I am trying to define the following types data MyStringType a = String deriving (Eq, Ord, Show) data QADouble a = Double deriving (Eq, Ord, Show) data HType a = QADouble a| DDTraceType a deriving (Eq, Ord, Show) So HType can represent strings or doubles. later I want to do something like the following: let a1 =QADouble 1 let a2 =QADouble 2 let a3 = a1 + a2 First, it is not working because Haskell complains about a3. it does not know how to calculate it. Is it a way to give him a hint? QADouble is Double...am I doing something absolutely wrong and silly? many thanks, vladimir _________________________________________________________________ Are you using the latest version of MSN Messenger? Download MSN Messenger 7.5 today! http://join.msn.com/messenger/overview