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What are electrical adapter plugs?

From Catherine Roseberry, for About.com

Question: What are electrical adapter plugs?
Answer: Certain countries overseas have wall outlets that are recessed, designed for three prongs or will only accept rounded pins making it impossible to use standard North American flat two or three-pin plugs without an adapter plug.
Two styles of adapter plugs:
The first accepts 2-pin polarized appliances such as hair dryers, shavers and 2-pin converters and transformers.
The second style is the grounded adapter plug that will accept 2- and 3-pin grounded, polarized appliances and transformers.
Mobile office professionals should use grounded pin adapter plugs.
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