Hi all, it's not meant to be a silly question.

What's the best way of wiring a screw-terminal plug with flex?

I don't think solid-core flex exists - in any case all the flex I've
come across has conductors composed of multiple small strands of
copper wire. How best should they be used in a plug with the standard
hole in the pin with a grub screw to screw down?

Some commercially supplied equipment has plugs where the end of the
conductors is tinned, which makes it easy to insert in the hole in the
pins, then seems* to provide a good connection when the grub screw is
tightened up.

(* I say seems, as there is some debate about the dissimilar metal
interface providing a good, long-lasting contact)

If I don't tin the conductors, then what is the best way?

1) Stuff the stranded core into the hole in the pin, and tighten up
the grubscrew?
2) Twist the stranded core, put in the hole and tighten up the
grubscrew?
3) Twist the stranded core, fold back on itself and re-twist, place in
hole and tighten up grubscrew?
4) Use some other method?

I ask because I'll be wiring up a lot of screw terminals in the near
future and I'd like to do a good job that I don't have to come back
to.

I did know an American at university, now a high power lawyer, who
approached the unfamiliar English electrical system in an interesting
way. Having bared the conductors, the flex was stuffed into the plug
and wiggled about until 'it worked', then left alone. I was
speechless, but then spent a brief period rewiring all the plugs in
the said lawyer's rooms.

Many thanks,

Sid