A region with two interfering fold phases is considered. If it is assumed that the early (F(n)) and later (F(n+1)) fold phase are cylindrical and that F(n+1) formed by shear folding, then it is shown how the a- and b-directions of F(n+1) can be determined. A technique for determining the original orientation of F(n) and 'S(n) is presented provided that similar amounts of simple shear occurred on opposing limbs of F(n+1) folds. The cause of variability in fold axial orientations is investigated and information to be extracted from fold axial distributions is presented.A region with two interfering fold phases is considered. If it is assumed that the early (F(n)) and later (F(n+1)) fold phase are cylindrical and that F(n+1) formed by shear folding, then it is shown how the a- and b-directions of F(n+1) can be determined. A technique for determining the original orientation of F(n) and 'S(n) is presented provided that similar amounts of simple shear occurred on opposing limbs of F(n+1) folds. The cause of variability in fold axial orientations is investigated and information to be extracted from fold axial distributions is presented.