How Galaxies Disguise Their Ages

We calculate the contribution to Balmer line indices from far ultraviolet component sources. We find that this is significant, and may lead to identification of spurious age differences of the order of a total span of $\sim 6$ Gyrs or $\sim 15$ size bursts observed a few Gyrs after star formation stops. We suggest that claims for intermediate age populations in early-type galaxies may need to be reconsidered in the light of this new evidence.