Guidance

on the use of terms relating to

cement and
concrete

2003
 Introduction

This guidance has been prepared on behalf of the Quarry Products Association and the
British Cement Association in order to help all those who are working with or writing about
cement and concrete to communicate accurately and consistently. In particular this guidance
should:
• Ease the introduction of the many new terms that have recently been developed as a
result of co-operation with our CEN partners in the writing of new European Standards.
• Help authors avoid a number of common errors.
• Encourage the use of a consistent terminology in all publications, papers and other
written material.

This guidance is not a complete glossary of terms used in the cement and concrete
industries, but concentrates instead on those terms and words that are new or about which
there may be some confusion and subsequent misunderstanding.

Its production has been supported by:

The Quarry Products Association
The British Cement Association
The Concrete Society

In the list of terms on the following pages, a bold typeface has been used to make it clear
which are preferred terms and those that are not

Prepared by Professor Tom Harrison, QPA-BRMCA, and Gillian Bond, Words & Pages.

Based on the House style for BCA publications (1988), with additions from current British
standards and other material.

97.389 Published by The Concrete Society on behalf of Quarry Products Association

and British Cement Association
First published 2003
ISBN 0 7210 1594 8 The Concrete Society
Century House, Telford Avenue
Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6YS
Telephone (01344) 466007
 The British Cement Association
Fax (01344) 466008

The recommendations contained herein are intended only as a general guide and, before being used in connection with any
report or specification, they should be reviewed with regard to the full circumstances of such use. Although every care has
been taken in the preparation of this Report, no liability for negligence or otherwise can be accepted by The Concrete Society,
the members of its working parties, its servants or agents.

Concrete Society publications are subject to revision from time to time and readers should ensure that they are in possession of
the latest version.

2
A
abbreviations Generally, abbreviations of single words should end with a full stop when the
letters omitted come at the end of the word, but not when they come in the
middle. Thus capital (letter), paragraph and plural are abbreviated cap., para.,
and pl., whereas Mister, Doctor and Limited are shortened to Mr, Dr (pl. Drs)
and Ltd (no stop). See also units.
Omit stops and spaces in abbreviations consisting of the initial letters (or parts)
of several words. Thus BSc, FIStructE, USA, RILEM, BS, RCA, ggbs, pfa, etc.
Exceptions are abbreviations for two-word phrases where neither word begins
with a cap., such as i.e., a.m. or r.h. and abbreviations that could be confused
with complete words, e.g. no. for number.
Most abbreviations should be explained the first time they are used in a
document.
See also full stops.
acceptance test (for Avoid. Use identity test.
concrete)
addition (to concrete) The collective noun for constituent materials such as fly ash, silica fume, ggbs
etc. when added at the concrete mixer. This term is not used when these
materials are used as a main or minor constituent of a factory-made cement.
An addition is defined in BS EN 206-1 as a finely divided inorganic material used
in concrete in order to improve certain properties or to achieve special
properties. Additions are sub-divided into:
type I - nearly inert additions;
type II - pozzolanic or latent hydraulic additions.
Fly ash conforming to BS EN 450, pfa conforming to BS 3892-1, ggbs
conforming to BS 6699, silica fume and metakaolin are all type II additions.
Pigments conforming to BS EN 12878 and pfa conforming to BS 3892-2 are
regarded as type I additions. Limestone fines conforming to BS 7979 are not
classified in BS 8500 as either a type I or type II addition. When used in
Portland-limestone cement or in a combination, the limestone counts fully
towards the cement content.
additive (to cement) A material, such as grinding aid, added to cement in small quantities during
manufacture, to increase manufacturing efficiency or improve subsequent
properties.
admixture Material added during the mixing process of concrete in small quantities related
to the mass of cement to modify the properties of fresh or hardened concrete.
When a powdered admixture is added to factory-made cement during its
production, it is called an ‘additive’ and not an ‘admixture’.
affect/effect See effect/affect.
aggregate For technical publications, use the terms in BS EN 12620 namely ‘coarse
aggregate’ and ‘fine aggregate’. For DIY type publications, ‘gravel’ and ‘sand’
may be more appropriate. Avoid the use of local terms such as ‘ballast’.
The term, e.g. limestone aggregate concrete, means that the coarse aggregate
is limestone. It does not indicate the nature of the fine aggregate.
alkali-aggregate reaction The more general term. It covers all forms of these reactions, not just alkali-
silica reaction. Abbreviate AAR.
alkali-silica reaction The most common form of AAR and the form addressed in BS 8500-2.
Abbreviate ASR.
among Preferable to amongst.
ampersand (&) Avoid, except in company titles in which it has been adopted.
analyse Not analyze.
annex A part of a document joined to the main text. Where this information is
essential, it is called an annex, where it is not, it is called an appendix.

1
anticipate Its proper meaning is ‘forestall’ or ‘act in advance of’. Do not use as a synonym
for ‘expect’.
apostrophe Used to show possession, e.g. concrete’s properties. Singular words take ‘s when
possessive, even if already ending in s or ss. Thus Smith’s car, Jones’s garden,
Guinness’s beer. Plural words ending in s take an apostrophe, thus, workers’
holidays, builders’ merchants, while plural words not ending in an s take ‘s, thus
ten men’s work.
Beware of using an apostrophe incorrectly when merely indicating a plural, e.g.
use cars not car’s.
The word it’s means it is (not generally used in formal writing), and its means
belonging to it.
appendix Section added to the end of a publication (usually after the references),
containing matter not essential to the main text but of use to anyone making a
thorough study of the subject. Plural: appendices (except in anatomical sense).
See also annex.
arris Sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces. Plural: arrises.

B
based on (or upon) ‘Our recommendations are based on these test results’ is correct; ‘Based on these
test results, we recommend as follows’ is not. Change to ‘On the basis of …’.
batch Different standards define this term in slightly different ways. BS EN 206-1 uses
‘Quantity of fresh concrete produced in one cycle of operations of a mixer or the
quantity discharged during 1 minute from a continuous mixer’.
Use this term to also include the quantity of concrete delivered in a truck mixer,
even if the concrete was centrally batched.
Do not use the term ‘batch weights’, use ‘batch quantities’.
See also load.
bibliography See references.
billion Can mean 109 or 1012. In the US and elsewhere 109 (a thousand million) is used,
while in the UK 1012 (a million million) is used). Either define or avoid.
binary cement Formal term for cement with two main constituents.
binder Avoid. Use cement, combination, cement plus addition or hydraulic
binders for road bases, as appropriate.
binder content (of Avoid except with hydraulic binders for road bases. Use cement content,
concrete) combination content or cement plus addition content.
blast-furnace Include hyphen when using as a noun. It becomes one word when used
adjectivally, as in ‘Portland-blastfurnace cement’.
blended cements A general word for cements having more than one main constituent. Where
possible, be specific, e.g. Portland-limestone cement. Do not use composite
cements except where its specific meaning is intended.
When describing the way in which a cement is manufactured, use ‘cement made
by blending’ (as opposed to ‘made by intergrinding’).
British standards and Generally, the title of a standard or code need not be quoted in a line of text,
similar documents provided the subject matter of the standard is clear from the context or the
standard is included in a list of references. Thus: ‘Portland cement conforming
to BS EN 197-1’; ‘the cores were tested in accordance with BS EN 12504-1’.
There is no need to include the date of a standard except when referring to a
particular edition, e.g. ‘the table was included in BS 8500-2: 2002 but was
withdrawn two years later’.
Use a hyphen before the part number not the word Part, unless there is also a
Section in the standard name. Close the colon up to the number, and leave a
space between it and the date, see example in the paragraph above.
bypass One word.

2
C
capitals Apart from basic uses such as at the start of a sentence or in proper names,
capitals should be used for:
1. Jobs or positions, but only if unique; thus ‘the Prime Minister’, ‘the
Engineer’ (meaning the Resident Engineer in particular);
2. Names of organisations, again only if unique; thus ‘the Government’,
‘the Association’ (meaning, for example, the Quarry Products
Association if the full title has already been given), but ‘the
manufacturers have formed an association’;
3. Inanimate objects specifically referred to earlier; thus ‘given in the
Code’, ‘shown in the Figure’, but ‘given in various codes of practice’,
‘included as an appendix’. It is difficult to give hard and fast rules, but
the avoidance of ambiguity must be a prime consideration;
4. Names of historical periods or events; thus ‘the Second World War’, ‘the
Seventh FIP Congress’;
5. Registered trade names (see trade names, but note exceptions).
See also references.
cast-in-situ See in-situ.
cement BS EN 206-1 defines cement as ‘Finely ground inorganic material which, when
mixed with water, forms a paste that sets and hardens by means of hydration
reactions and processes and which, after hardening, retains its strength and
stability even under water’. This definition covers both factory-made cements
and combinations made in the concrete mixer.
Most readers will not be interested in the subtle differences between these two
methods of production, so in general publications only use the word ‘cement’.
In a few publications, e.g. BS 8500, the term ‘cement’ has been reserved for the
factory-made product and thus it is necessary to use ‘cement or combination’
where both are acceptable.
cement compounds These are the mineralogical constituents of cement. In cement chemistry the
following ‘shorthand’ is often used:
A = Al2O3
C = CaO
F = Fe2O3
S = SiO2
Thus, for instance,
C3A = 3CaO.Al2O3 (tricalcium aluminate).
cement mixer Incorrect, use concrete mixer or mortar mixer, as appropriate.
cement plus addition The first term is suitable for use when both a cement and type I addition are
content included in the concrete. Both terms are appropriate when using the k-value
cement plus (k x concept.
addition) content Do not use these terms when the addition is being used via the combination
concept.
cement replacement Do not use when referring to additions. Use addition.
cement/combination In general publications use ‘cement content’ to mean the content of a factory-
content made cement or the combination content. In some cases, it is necessary to be
more specific, e.g. the Portland cement content of the combination.
cement/combination An identifier comprising the letters, usually ‘CEM’ for a factory-made cement
designation and ‘C’ for a combination followed by the cement/combination type and the
strength class, e.g. CEM I 42,5N; CIIB-V 42,5; CIIIB 32,5.
For general use, do not use the ‘CEM’ or ‘C’, e.g. the properties of IIIB cements
(meaning the properties of both CEM IIIB cements and CIIIB combinations).
The exception is for cement type CEM I. In this case always use ‘CEM I’ (there
is no equivalent combination).
In some cases it is necessary to be specific. For example, in a report on the

3
 concretes used in a research project, one should use ‘CIIB-V’ if Portland cement
and fly ash were added as separate components and ‘CEM II/B-V’ if a Portland-
fly ash cement was batched.
The abbreviations that should be used for cements and combinations are given
in BS 8500, and reproduced in the appendix to this guidance.
cement/combination type A description of the composition of a cement or combination, e.g. type IIB
meaning a cement or combination with 65 to 79% Portland cement clinker and
21 to 35% of other main constituents. One can also be more specific and
describe a particular composition, e.g. Portland-silica fume (II-D). The terms
and abbreviations to use for cements are given in the cement standards, and
the terms and abbreviations to use for combinations are given in BS 8500 and
are reproduced in the Appendix.
Note, for example:
Type II stands for any cement or combination with 6 to 35% of other main
constituents, i.e. it includes both sub-divisions A and B.
Type IIB stands for any cement or combination with 21 to 35% of other main
constituents.
Type IIB-V stands for a cement or combination with 21 to 35% of siliceous fly
ash.
cementing factor The factor, k, by which the mass of addition is multiplied when calculating the
equivalent cement content.
cementitious material Avoid if possible, unless the intention of the author is clear. Use the specific
term for the material, e.g. Portland cement, addition, fly ash.
cement-sand, Use the first for a cement-sand mortar,
cement/sand, the second for a ratio (e.g. 0.33),
cement : sand and the third for mix proportions (e.g. 1 : 3).
centimetre Abbreviated cm, but not recommended for use in the construction industry.
Therefore convert centimetres to millimetres or metres, except when the unit is
used loosely (‘a few centimetres long’) or in other contexts (e.g. clothing).
See also volume.
centre-line With hyphen.
centring, centering Centring is the action of putting an object in the centre of a space, or words in
the centre of a page or column. Centering is a temporary support for an arch
under construction: it is not to be used as a more general term for formwork.
characteristic strength Value of strength below which 5% of the population of all possible strength
(of concrete) determinations of the amount of concrete under consideration, are expected to fall.
In research reports, do not use when you mean the mean strength obtained
from testing one or more specimens or the target strength.
You need to be aware that this term can have different interpretations. To a
concrete producer working to BS EN 206-1, the characteristic strength is based
on the total volume of concrete produced in an assessment period. To a
designer, it can mean the characteristic strength of a specific element.
chloride content class The permitted maximum chloride content in concrete. In the context of
European and British specifications for concrete, use a chloride content class
and not the maximum chloride content. See BS EN 206-1 and BS 8500 for
chloride content classes.
clinker Shorthand for ‘Portland cement clinker’. Use Portland cement clinker in
all cases unless this meaning is clear in the context, such as second and
subsequent uses in a single document.
coffer-dam With hyphen.
colon Do not follow by a dash (:-), or by a capital, except in a caption or where the
colon separates a series designation from the main title (e.g. ‘Farm
construction: Buildings’; ‘Appendix 1: Test results’).
Use to denote ratios, such as ‘a 1 : 2 : 4 mix’, but not ‘a water : cement ratio of

4
 0.5’; since a single value is given; the correct form here is ‘water/cement ratio of
0.5’. Thus it is proper to say either ‘an aggregate : cement ratio of 4.5 : 1’ or ‘an
aggregate/cement ratio of 4.5’, the latter being preferable on the grounds of
economy of words.
When used for a ratio, leave a space either side of the colon for clarity. When
referring to British Standards and their dates leave a space after but not before
the colon.
Take care to avoid splitting a ratio between two lines as this is confusing. Use
non-breaking spaces either side of the colon. (In Word this is CTRL + SHIFT +
SPACE).
combination This is defined in BS 8500 as ‘Restricted range of Portland cements and
additions which, having been combined in the concrete mixer, count fully
towards the cement content and water/cement ratio in concrete’.
A procedure for establishing the suitability of combinations for use in concrete
is specified in BS 8500-2: 2002, Annex A.’
There are subtle differences between combinations and cements made in a
factory, but the differences are of no interest to the majority of concrete users.
In general publications, use only the word cement to include the option of
producing this as a combination. For further guidance, see cement.
company names At the first mention, use the proper name of the company, preferably as it appears
on the company’s letter heading; subsequent mentions may be abbreviated. Do not
prefix the name with Messrs unless - rarely - this is part of the official name.
compass points When writing in full, use lower case; when abbreviating, use capitals (without
stops): e.g. ‘south-east’ or ‘SE’.
For the adjective, use a capital only when part of a place name; thus ‘Northern
Ireland’, but ‘northern England’.
complement/compliment Complement means that which fills and completes (e.g. the complementary
BS), while compliment means a flattering comment, and complimentary means
free, e.g. a complimentary copy.
comply/conform People ‘comply with’, while products ‘conform to’. For example, the contractor
complies with the specification; the concrete conforms to BS 8500-2.
compliance testing Use conformity testing or identity testing as appropriate.
composite The word ‘composite’ is used in Portland-composite cement and composite
(cement/combination) cement to mean cement with three or more main constituents. Reserve for
this use. Composite cements are a specific type of blended cement, but
blended cements are not necessarily composite cements.
composite construction A structure comprising two or more materials that structurally act together, e.g.
structural steel and in-situ concrete, precast downstands with an in-situ slab.
See also mixed construction and hybrid construction.
compressive strength Avoid. Be specific, e.g. cube strength, cylinder strength.
(of concrete)
compressive strength Classification comprising the type of concrete (normal-weight or lightweight),
class (of concrete) the minimum characteristic 150 mm diameter by 300 mm cylinder strength plus
the minimum 150 mm cube strength, e.g. C40/50, LC25/28.
Use in the context of specifications.
comprise Means ‘consist of’’, not merely ‘include’. Do not confuse with ‘compose’: the
phrase ‘is comprised of’ is incorrect.
conclusions Readers, especially of reports, tend to read the title, the summary and the
conclusions before deciding whether to read the rest. However, they may read
the rest, so the conclusions should always arise from what is reported and/or
discussed in the body of the text. They should not just repeat well-known facts,
or prejudices that are not actually supported by the work reported.

concrete A construction material formed by mixing cement, coarse and fine aggregate
d ih ih h i i f d i d ddi i

5
 and water, with or without the incorporation of admixtures and additions,
and which develops its properties by hydration of the cement.
A specifier specifies concrete, not a mix. A producer develops a mix that
satisfies the concrete specification. Use terms such as designated concrete,
designed concrete and prescribed concrete and not the old BS 5328 terms
of designated mix, designed mix and prescribed mix.
concrete family Group of concrete compositions for which a reliable relationship between
relevant properties is established and documented.
concrete mixer Use instead of cement mixer.
condensed silica fume Use silica fume.
conform/comply See comply/conform.
conformity A technical assessment, usually involving testing, to verify that the claims made
on the delivery ticket are valid. As the producer makes these claims, it follows
that he should undertake a conformity evaluation to validate the claims.
conformity test Test performed by the producer to assess conformity of the concrete.
(on concrete)
considered Use as thought about, not discussed or presented.
consistence To align with BS EN 206-1 and BS 8500, use instead of workability.
contractual Not contractural.
cover to reinforcement Use only in a general sense, e.g. the cover to reinforcement was measured. Do not
use where a specific cover is intended, e.g. minimum cover, nominal cover.
cross-section With hyphen; the adjective is cross-sectional.
cubic As measure of volume use superscript 3 with the appropriate unit, e.g. 5m3/s
(= five cubic metres per second).
cylinder-splitting strength Use tensile splitting strength as in BS EN 206-1.

D
data Plural of datum (Latin: something given). Thus,’ data are quoted’.
date Follow style ’24 March 2002’, or ‘Wednesday 3 June’ for the current year. Avoid
using st and th, especially as superscripts, as they just provide visual clutter.
In tables, months may be abbreviated to save space, and dates may be written
thus: 24 3 02.
Decades should be expressed as follows: 1960s, etc., not sixties.
In the UK, it is usual to put the day first, followed by the month and then the
year, but be aware when reading literature from other countries that the
sequence may be different.
decimal point Usually represented by a full point on the line; a comma is generally used in
European standards and foreign-language texts. A value such as .76 should never
be used without the 0. In a column of figures that are being compared, align the
decimal points vertically, even if the number of significant figures varies.
Continue to use the full point except for class designations that use a comma,
e.g. 42,5, Cl 0,40.
degrees, honours See abbreviations. Omit in the body of the text.
de-icing salt Use a hyphen.
design chemical class Designation used in BRE Special Digest 1 and BS 8500 to describe a concrete
quality capable of resisting the selected aggressive chemical environment for
the concrete, provided that any specified additional protective measures are
correctly applied to the structure.
The design chemical class and ‘design sulfate class’ are not interchangeable
terms, see BRE Special Digest 1.

6
design life The terms ‘design life’ and ‘required service life’ are not interchangeable.
BS 7543: Guide to durability of buildings and building elements, products and
components defines the required service life as the ‘service life specified to
meet user’s requirements (e.g. as stated in the client’s brief for a project or in
a performance specification)’. The term design life is defined as ‘the period of
use intended by the designer (e.g. as stated by the designer to the client to
support specification decisions)’.
The design life would not be les than the required service life, but it may be
longer. Eurocodes use the term ‘design working life’ and BS 8500 uses the term
‘intended working life’. These terms can be regarded as being equivalent to the
required service life in BS 7543.
designated concrete Use in place of the BS 5328 term,’ designated mix.’
designed concrete Use in place of the BS 5328 term, ‘designed mix.’
disinterested Means ‘impartial’, not ‘uninterested’.
dispatch Not despatch.
double negative Double negatives, e.g.’ not incorrect’, are not uncommon in modern writing,
but they are best avoided, see repetition.
durability This is the ability of concrete to resist weathering action, chemical attack and
abrasion. It is not a ‘limit’ state’, but a lack of adequate durability could result in
one of the limit states not being achieved, e.g. collapse, serviceability.

E
e.g. ‘Exempli gratia’ (Latin), meaning ‘for example’. Include stops. Not to be
confused with i.e.
early strength (of cement A classification of the early strength development of a cement or combination based
or combination) on compressive strength testing at 2 days or 7 days in accordance with BS EN 196-
1. There are three classes of early strength, low (L), normal (N) and rapid (R).
economic, economical An economic price is one that fairly reflects the cost of providing a service. An
economical charge means that the customer is getting the service cheaply.
effect/affect Effect (verb) means to bring about; effect (noun) means the result of an
action; affect (verb) means to have an effect on.
E.g. Moisture effects a thermal resistance change in concrete
The effect of moisture is to alter the thermal resistance of concrete
Moisture affects the thermal resistance of concrete.
effective water content (of The total water content less the water absorbed by the aggregates to
concrete) achieve a saturated surface dry condition, i.e. it is what has previously been
referred to in the UK as ‘free water content’.
electro- Combines without hyphen; e.g. ‘electrothermal’. An exception, made to assist
pronunciation, is ‘electro-osmosis’.
ellipsis (…) Denotes text omitted from a quotation. Usually three points.
energy The SI unit is the joule (J), with its multiples kilojoule (kJ), megajoule (MJ) and
gigajoule (GJ). The kilowatt-hour (kW h) is often used as a unit of electrical
energy: 1 kW h = 3.6 MJ.
enquire Formal word for ‘ask’; the latter is usually preferable.
enquiry, inquiry An enquiry is a question, or a series of questions, usually asked by an individual
in order to gain information. An inquiry is a more formal investigation (e.g. a
public inquiry into a planning proposal).
ensure, insure To ensure is to make certain (that) or to make something safe (‘stability was
ensured by …’). To insure something denotes that payment has been made to
an insurance firm.
environmental actions Those chemical and physical actions to which the concrete is exposed and
which result in effects on the concrete or reinforcement or embedded metal

7
 that are not considered as loads in structural design. An exposure
classification is used to categorize environmental actions.
equation Number equations consecutively in Arabic numerals, if numbering is necessary.
Numbers should be in parentheses ranged right alongside the equation, but not
in references made to them in the course of the text, such as ‘see Equation 17’.
Do not abbreviate as ‘eq.’ or ‘eqn’. (See also mathematics.)
equivalent cement The content of factory-made cement plus cementing factor (k) times some or
content (using k-value all of the type II addition content.
concept) See BS EN 206-1 for more details.
established suitability In drafting first generation CEN standards, not all constituent materials and
procedures were included. So that materials and procedures outside of CEN
standardization could be included, the requirement was made for the material or
procedure to have ‘established suitability’. A statement listing materials or
procedures with ‘established suitability’ at the European level followed this. National
provisions are then used to extend these lists to local materials and procedures.
For example, BS EN 206-1 requires constituent materials to have ‘established
suitability’. Any constituent material for concrete conforming to a European
standard is in BS EN 206-1. BS 8500-2 adds to these lists materials such as SRPC,
ggbs and metakaolin. These lists give ‘general suitability’ which means that the
material is suitable for at least one particular type of concrete. Guidance on
‘specific suitability’ under different environmental actions is given in BS 8500-2.
etc. ‘et cetera’ (Latin) meaning ‘and the rest’ or ‘and other things’. Avoid whenever
possible. Never use when referring to people. Note the stop. Never use when
you cannot cite examples not listed.
euro (currency) Use a lower case ‘e’. The plural is also euro.
evaluation of conformity Systematic examination of the extent to which a product fulfils specified
requirements.
exposure classification In general, use the exposure classification given in BS EN 206-1 and BS 8500.
Note that this is completely different from that used in BS 8110 and BS 5328.

F
-f Suffix implying force or weight, as distinct from mass: e.g. kgf. Avoid,
preferring the SI unit N (newton) and its multiples.
falsework Any temporary structure that is able to support the permanent structure until is
can support itself. Avoid the term ‘shoring’.
figures (illustrations) Use capital only when referring to a particular illustration. Number all figures
consecutively in Arabic numerals.
figures (numerals) When referring to objects, spell out if ten or less, but always use figures with
units: e.g. five nibs, but 5 mm.
Use figures for 11 or more objects, unless approximate (‘about three hundred
beams’), or when numbers below ten are linked with numbers above ‘seven
load cells and fifteen strain gauges’).
Note that full points and commas are used differently in Continental Europe.
See also decimal points.
Use words where approximations are intended: e.g. ‘about one million’ in
preference to ‘about 1 000 000’ or ‘about 106’. However, powers of ten are
appropriate in more accurate expressions; preferably keep to multiples of three,
e.g. 0.175 x 109 or 175 x 106 rather than 1.75 x 108.
Avoid cumbersome ‘shorthand’ such as ’12 No. 8 mm dia. bars’ - ‘twelve 8 mm
bars’ is preferable.
filler aggregate A term used in BS EN 12620 to describe material that mostly passes the
0.063 mm sieve. Avoid this term for limestone fines conforming to BS 7979
used in a combination or limestone fines used in Portland-limestone cement.
fly ash Fly ash may be used as a main or minor constituent of cement or as a
II ddi i V fl h b l d I ddi i

8
 type II addition. Very coarse fly ash may be classed as a type I addition.
In conformity with European and international usage, ‘fly ash’ is now preferred
to ‘pulverized-fuel ash’. However, when referring to material conforming to
BS 3892, the term pulverized-fuel ash (pfa) should be used.
Do not abbreviate the term fly ash.
flyover Spelt thus.
focus, focusing, focused Spelt thus.
footnotes Use when necessary to remove clumsiness in text, but avoid over-usage. Use
numbers for footnote references.
formwork, form Avoid ‘shuttering’ or ‘shutter’.
fractions Avoid their use, preferring a decimal equivalent e.g. 0.5. But fractions can be
used in descriptive text, e.g. about half of the cement …..
freeze-thaw damage Use this term instead of frost damage.
free water content Use effective water content.
free water/cement ratio This is now called ‘effective water/cement ratio’.
fresh concrete Concrete fully mixed and still in a condition that is capable of being compacted
by the chosen method.
frost damage Frost is frozen dew, and there is no record of this causing problems for
concrete. Use the term freeze-thaw damage.
full stops Minimize their use within a sentence as they produce visual clutter. For
example use BSc not B.Sc. and pfa not p.f.a. but note exception such as e.g.
and i.e. The main exceptions are their use in references.

G
GB See UK/GB.
ggbs Abbreviation for ground granulated blastfurnace slag.
giga- Prefix meaning x 109. Abbreviate G.
grade (of concrete) This was the term used in BS 5328 for the required minimum characteristic
cube strength. It is not used in the new concrete standards. Use compressive
strength class.
gram, kilogram No longer spelt gramme, kilogramme. Abbreviate g, kg.
Greek letters The Greek alphabet is listed in the Appendix. In mathematical setting, italic
(sloping) type is used for variables. Roman (upright) type is used for the
operators ∆, δ, Π, Σ; also for µ (‘micro-‘), π (ratio of circumference of circle to
its diameter) and Ω (‘ohms’). Be aware of the affect that different typefaces
have on the appearance of Greek letters.
ground granulated Ground granulated blastfurnace slag (abbreviation ggbs) may be used as a
blastfurnace slag main or minor constituent of cement or as a type II addition.
Use term in full on its first appearance in text or talk. The abbreviation may be
used on second and subsequent appearances.
groundwater One word.

H
heavyweight aggregate Aggregate having an oven-dry particle density of at least 3000 kg/m3 when
determined according to BS EN 1097-6.
heavyweight concrete Concrete having an oven-dry density greater than 2600 kg/m3.
hectare Unit of area equal to 104 m2 (i.e. a 100 m square or 2.47 acres). Abbreviate ha.
high pressure, high speed, Use hyphen if adjectival. For example, the high-pressure pump delivered
etc. concrete at a high speed.

9
high-strength concrete Use to mean concrete with a compressive strength class higher than
C50/60 in the cases of normal-weight or heavyweight concrete and
LC50/55 in the case of lightweight concrete.
Holland Use the Netherlands instead, unless referring to the specific region of the
Netherlands called Holland.
hybrid construction A collective term for a structure where two or more materials are used. They
may act together structurally (see composite construction) or independently
(see mixed construction).
hydraulic binder All cements and combinations are hydraulic binders, i.e. they react with
water to give hydrates that bind the aggregates together. Avoid this term
except in the context of hydraulic binders for road bases.
hyphen Compound nouns originally separated by a hyphen tend to be written as one
word once they have become well established, provided no clumsiness, ambiguity
or possibility of mispronunciation results. Thus: bypass, electromagnetic,
microprocessor, precast, prestress, uniaxial (and other -axials); but co-operation,
co-worker, lay-by (pl. lay-bys), pre-tension, post-tension, stop-end.
Generally, follow the Concise Oxford Dictionary except in cases where non-
hyphenated usage is well established in the industry.
The hyphen is generally used in compound adjectives: cross-sectional area,
high-tensile steel, lightweight-aggregate concrete, sulfate-resisting Portland
cement, low-heat cement, pulverized-fuel ash (because the fuel is pulverized
before it becomes ash).
Hyphens are not generally used in combinations of adverbs and adjectives (e.g.
a doubly reinforced section’), or in expressions containing numerals (’28 day
strength’), but note the usage ‘three-day course’.

I
i.e. ‘id est’ (Latin), meaning ‘that is’. Include stops, and precede by a comma. Not
to be confused with e.g.
identity test (on concrete) Test used on site to determine if the batch or batches of concrete are as
specified. Use instead of acceptance test or compliance test.
illustrations The first reason for including an illustration is to make something clear, often
by example. All illustrations should be relevant; photographs, as far as possible,
should be free of distracting detail.
A second reason for using illustrations is to break up unrelieved text and give
added interest; a better general effect can be achieved if the illustrations are
referred to at intervals rather than in bunches (though pairs for comparison, or
sets for stages in a process are, of course, acceptable).
Remember the reader will notice the illustrations first and, depending upon
their suitability, will be initially guided or misguided regarding the intentions of
the text. It is therefore worth taking some care over choosing them.
All photos and line drawings should be numbered in a single sequence. Tables
should have their own sequence.
impermeable concrete Do not use. No concrete is impermeable.

in situ Keep as two words, without hyphen or italics, except when used adjectively,
e.g. in-situ concrete.
indirect tensile strength test Use tensile splitting test.
inert addition Do not use. Use type I addition.
initial test Test or tests to check before the production starts how a new concrete or
concrete family shall be composed in order to meet all the specified
requirements in the fresh and hardened states.
In general, use in place of ‘trial mixes’.
initials See abbreviations, names.

10
inquiry A formal investigation (see enquiry).
insure See ensure.
intended working life In the context of conventional durability design, it should be expressed as ‘at
least YY years’, as the recommendations in BS 8500-1 are expected to provide
structures that fulfil their performance requirement for periods in excess of the
intended working life. See also design working life.
interground cement A cement, having more than one main constituent in which the separate
constituents are intimately mixed by grinding them together.
Avoid. Use ‘cement made by intergrinding’.
Ireland Use Republic of Ireland, not Southern Ireland or Eire.
-ize, -ise Prefer the first, following the Concise Oxford Dictionary, but remember
exceptions: e.g. advertise, advise, apprise, analyse, comprise, compromise,
despise, devise, exercise, improvise, prise (meaning to force up by leverage),
revise, supervise, surmise, surprise, televise.
A useful rule-of-thumb is that – ize often means ‘make’; e.g. to plasticize is to
make plastic.

K
kerb Not curb, except in abstract or equestrian sense.
kilo- Prefix meaning x 1000. Abbreviate k (not K).
k-value concept See cementing factor and equivalent cement content.
K Avoid the use of 0 kelvin (see temperature).

L
laitance Not laitence.
latent hydraulic material A material which is hydraulic, but at such a slow rate it is normally activated,
e.g. by Portland cement. Ground granulated blastfurnace slag is a latent
hydraulic material. See also pozzolanic.
lay-by With hyphen. Plural lay-bys.
layout, lay out The first is the noun, the second the verb.
lightweight aggregate Use to mean aggregate of mineral origin having an oven-dry particle density
not greater than 2000 kg/m3 when determined according to BS EN 1097-6 or a
loose oven-dry bulk density not greater than 1200 kg/m3 when determined
according to BS EN 1097-3.
lightweight concrete Use to mean concrete having an oven-dry density of not less than 800 kg/m3
and not more than 2000 kg/m3. It is produced using lightweight aggregate for
all or part of the total aggregate.
lime/quicklime/hydrated These terms are not interchangeable - be specific. See BS EN 459-1 for
lime etc. definitions of these and other forms of lime.
lintel Not lintol.
lists The presentation of lists needs to be consistent. Follow the housetyle if
available, and ensure that the intentions are clear regarding lists within lists.
litre The international symbol is l (ell) (with occasional use of L), but to avoid
confusion it is often better, in text, to spell out ‘litre(s)’ in full (see volume).
load Quantity of concrete or constituent material transported in a vehicle comprising
one or more batches. If concrete is transported in a truck mixer, it should be
called a batch.
loadbearing One word.
located, situated Though often used as synonyms, the words have different meanings in
technical literature, the former implying that an object is ‘fixed in position’. For

11
 example a gearwheel is located laterally on a shaft by a collar, whereas a
bridge is situated at a particular point over a river.

M
main constituent Inorganic constituent of cement used in a proportion exceeding 5% by mass.
(of cement/combination)
mass In scientific work avoid confusion with weight. Units are grams (g), kilograms
(kg), tonnes (t).
massive concrete Any volume of concrete with dimensions large enough to require measures to be
taken to cope with heat generated from hydration of the cement and the resultant
volume change. The term ‘mass concrete’ is used for unreinforced massive concrete.
mathematics Punctuation is never put at the end of a displayed equation.
The solidus (/) is a useful replacement for the line of division in a
mathematical expression that is to be incorporated in a line of text. But beware
of changing the sense:
a
becomes a/(b – c) not a/b – c
b−c
Be careful to distinguish between O (cap. ‘oh’), o (lower-case ‘oh’) and 0
(nought); l (‘ell’), 1 (one) and ‘ (prime). Also between Greek letters (See
Appendix ) and similar English letters, such as:
α and a
κ and k
υ and v
ρ and p
υ and u
ω and w
χ and x
Avoid using both in a paper.
See also decimal point.
maximum aggregate size Term used in BS 8500. Use in preference to the longer term in BS EN 206-1,
namely ‘maximum nominal upper aggregate size’.
mega- Prefix meaning x 106. Abbreviate M.
micro- Prefix meaning x 10-6. Abbreviate µ. Also used (loosely) to mean ‘very small’
(e.g. microprocessor). Combine without a hyphen.
microsilica Use silica fume.
micrometer, micrometer, A micrometer (pronounced with accented second syllable) is a device for
micron accurate measurement; a micrometer (accented on the first syllable) is 10-6 m.
Use the latter (abbreviated µm) in preference to ‘micron’.
microstrain See strain.
mid-span With hyphen.
miles per hour Abbreviate mph, or write out in full. The corresponding SI unit is km/h.
milli Prefix meaning x 10-3. Abbreviate m, e.g. ms.
minimum cover Cover to reinforcement assumed for the purposes of durability design.
minor additional A specially selected inorganic material added to cement in a proportion not
constituent (of cement) exceeding 5% by mass of the sum of the main and minor constituents of the
cement. Abbreviate mac. See also additive (to cement).
mix Use when referring to the specific composition of a concrete, e.g. the mix
proportions were ...
Do not use when the word concrete should be used.
mixed construction A structure where two or more materials are used, but act structurally
independently, e.g. precast cladding on a steel frame, hollow-core flooring units on

12
 masonry walls. See also composite construction and hybrid construction.
mixer-blend Do not use. Use combination.
model, modelling, Spelt thus
modelled
modulus of elasticity Symbol E with appropriate subscript; metric units kN/mm2. Avoid ‘Young’s
modulus’.
Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr, Prof No stops.
multiplication sign (x) In text use instead of ‘by’ in expressions such as ’85 x 12 mm’. Note that the
multiplication sign is flanked by single spaces and the unit is not repeated
unnecessarily.
Avoid the use of a full stop or star symbol to denote multiplication. However, if
being used in conjunction with a spreadsheet, the use of a ‘*’ is acceptable.
Also in European standards, the full stop or dot multiplier is used in equations
where symbols/parameters are multiplied rather than numbers.

N
names Follow this style for the name of an author of a publication:
J M Smith, BSc(Eng), MICE, MIStructE
The comma following the surname is omitted when (as is usual in typeset copy)
the qualifications are set in smaller type than the name itself.
Avoid including qualifications or initials in a line of text; the surname is
sufficient provided a full reference is given at the end of the text.
See also full stops.
nano- Prefix meaning x 10-9. Abbreviate n.
NB Abbreviation for the Latin nota bene (mark well). Use capitals, no stops.
newton SI unit of force, roughly equal to 0.1 kgf. Abbreviate N. When used in full it is
spelt with a lower case n (newton).
no-fines concrete Spelt with a hyphen.
nominal cover Cover to reinforcement shown on the drawings comprising the minimum cover
plus a tolerance ∆c, to accommodate fixing precision.
normal-weight aggregate Use to mean aggregate with an oven-dry particle density greater than 2000
kg/m3 and less than 3000 kg/m3, when determined according to BS EN 1097-6.
normal-weight concrete Use to mean concrete having an oven-dry density greater than 2000 kg/m3 and
not exceeding 2600 kg/m3.
notation All symbols should be defined: a list of notation included after the summary at
the beginning of a report is often desirable.
numbered paragraphs Although it may be helpful to number the paragraphs in a draft, which is to be
commented upon by a number of people, it is a good general policy to dispense
with such numbers in finished publications, to reduce visual clutter. The chief
exception would be specifications.
numbers See figures (numerals).

O
OPC Do not use this term. Use Portland cement or the notation CEM I.
overbridge Bridge spanning the route being described (see underbridge).

P
pascal (Pa) SI unit for pressure or stress: 1 Pa = 1 N/m2, therefore 1 MPa = 1 N/mm2. Use
N/mm2 whenever possible. Do not alternate between pascal and N/mm2.
percentages Use % with figures (close up), per cent with words, e.g. 5%, five per cent.

13
photo All ‘photo’ prefixes combine without a hyphen, e.g. photoelectric.
pico- Prefix meaning x 10-12. Abbreviate p.
place Sounds better than pour particularly when the fresh concrete is being vibrated.
pleonasm, tautology See repetition.
plural When an originally foreign word has become anglicized, it should preferably
take an English-type plural: thus, prefer crocuses to croci. Common
exceptions are: datum, data; formula, formulae; thesis, theses. See also
appendix.
polythene Common abbreviation for polyethylene. No longer a trade name.
polyvinyl chloride Abbreviate pvc, no stops, no spaces.
Portland cement Capital P always.
Portland-composite This is cement comprising 65 to 94% Portland cement clinker and two or more
cement other main constituents, e.g. Portland cement with ground granulated
blastfurnace slag and silica fume.
pour The word ‘pour’ is in very common use, either as a noun or as a verb, and is
quite appropriate when self-compacting concrete is being placed. See also place.
pozzolanic (material) A material that acquires hydraulic properties when combined with lime
(normally that released by the hydration of Portland cement) and water. Fly
ash, silica fume and metakaolin are pozzolanic materials.
practice, practise The first is the noun, the second the verb. For example, the consultant’s
practice; the consultant who practises in our town.
pre-, post- Use precast, prestress, postgraduate, but pre-tension, post-tension.
precast concrete Concrete cast and cured in a place other than the final location of use.
prescribed concrete Concrete for which the composition of the concrete and the constituent
materials to be used are specified to the producer who is responsible for
providing a concrete with the specified composition.
Use in place of the BS 5328 term,’ prescribed mix.’
principal, principle The first is the adjective (except when meaning the head of a college or similar
establishment), the second the noun. For example, ‘the main aim of the principal
engineer was to set out his guiding principles’. ‘In principle’ means in theory.
producer Person or body producing fresh concrete. In publications dealing with concrete,
reserve for this purpose and use the word ‘supplier’ in the context of
constituent materials for concrete.
program(me) Use ‘program’ for the computer noun and ‘programme’ in all other cases. The
verb is ‘to programme’.
proprietary concrete A new method of specifying concrete. Concrete for which the producer assures
the performance subject to good practice in placing, compacting and curing and
for which the producer is not required to declare the composition.
provided (that) Not ‘providing’.
pulverized-fuel ash Use fly ash except in the specific context of BS 3892. Abbreviate pfa, no stops,
no spaces.
purchaser The specifier of ready-mixed concrete. Only use where ready-mixed concrete
is the only option.

Q
quotations Use double quotation marks for quoted speech or when quoting verbatim from
printed or written material. Use single quotation marks for slang words, or for unusual
or obscure trade or technical terms when introducing them for the first time; then
drop them. Any punctuation following the quote should be placed outside the
quotation marks unless it is part of the quoted material. See also ellipsis.

14
R
ratios See colon.
rebar An accepted abbreviation for reinforcing bar.
rc A commonly used abbreviation for reinforced concrete. Avoid use unless it is
cumbersome to keep repeating the full version.
ready-mixed concrete Use hyphen. Avoid the use of readymix, which is a trade name. It may be
abbreviated to rmc (all lower case) but this is best avoided.
recycled aggregate Aggregate resulting from the reprocessing of inorganic material previously used
in construction. Abbreviate RA.
recycled concrete Recycled aggregate principally comprising crushed concrete. Abbreviate RCA.
aggregate RCA is a type of RA.
references The aim of references is to provide enough information for the reader to identity
accurately the publication cited. In a line of text, references to other publications
should be as brief as possible, accompanied by a number in brackets, referring to
a list at the end of the publication. Examples are given below.
Books
HOBBS, D. W. Minimum requirements for durable concrete. Crowthorne, British
Cement Association, 1998. 172 pp.
Articles in journals
FOY, C., PIGEON, M. and BANTHIA, N. Freeze-thaw durability and de-icer salt
scaling resistance of a 0.25 water-cement ratio concrete. Cement and Concrete
Research, Vol. 18, No. 4. pp. 604 - 614.
Papers in proceedings
LAWRENCE, C.D. Measurements of permeability. 8th International Congress on
the Chemistry of Cement. Rio de Janeiro, Finaciadora de Estudios e Projetos,
1986. Vol. 2. pp. 29-34.
Standards
BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. Concrete. Part 1: Specification,
performance, production and conformity. London. 70 pp. BS EN 206-1: 2000
Note the use of italics and of capital letters - the style is to aid reading and
understanding.
Most journals have their own style for references, but it helps if you provide all
the information.
relative humidity Can be abbreviated r.h.
relay, re-lay Relay is a noun or a verb, e.g. to relay a broadcast; re-lay is a verb meaning to
lay again.
render, rendering Rendering is the substance (whether freshly applied or hardened) or the
process. Render is what you do.
repetition Known correctly as pleonasm and tautology. These terms mean practically the
same thing and are almost synonymous. Pleonasm means the use of more words
than is necessary to convey the meaning (‘current research now being carried
out’), while tautology means unnecessary repetition (as in the second sentence).
Avoid such expressions as pre-planning (= planning), weather conditions (=
weather), the strength level (= the strength), a temperature of 15˚C (= 15˚C),
the amount of expansion (= the expansion), gale-force winds (= gales),
compressive cube strength (= cube strength) and a consistence of slump class
S2 (= slump class S2).

S
safety Aspects of safety need to be considered in the drafting of every publication,
both in giving specific advice and in relation to incidental detail of illustrations.
In choosing photographs, consider not merely whether they illustrate the point,
but whether they show good, safe site practice. Hard hats, for example, should
be worn wherever there is work (including deliveries) at head level or above.

15
 Ensure that people engaged in relevant activities are wearing gloves, eye-
shields and/or other protective clothing, including footwear.
scales Follow this style: ‘a 1 : 4.5 scale model’ or ‘a one-third scale model’.
seawater One word.
self-compacting concrete Concrete that, under the action of gravity, is capable of flowing and filling a
form without segregation and of providing an adequate bond to reinforcement
and other embedded materials.
set A cement sets and concrete hardens. Cement has a setting time, not concrete.
shutter, shuttering Use form, formwork.
SI See units.
silica fume Silica fume is a pozzolanic material and a type II addition.
Do not abbreviate.
sill Not cill.
siphon Not syphon.
soil-cement With hyphen.
solidus, oblique, forward Usually indicates division, occasionally an alternative (e.g. ‘and/or’). Use in such
slash(/) expressions as ‘water/cement ratio’ but not ‘stress-strain curve’ (see colon). Do
not use in dates. Do not use more than one solidus in any one expression; e.g.
m/s/s and W/m2/˚C are wrong and should be written, respectively, m/s2 and
W/m2 ˚C.
See also mathematics.
specification With respect to concrete, reserve for the final compilation of documented
technical requirements given to the producer in terms of performance or
composition.
specifier Reserve for the person or body establishing the specification for the fresh and
hardened concrete, i.e. the person or body who gives the specification to the
producer.
split-cylinder test Use tensile splitting test.
sprayed concrete Preferred term to shotcrete or gunnite (which is dry-mix sprayed on concrete).
square As a measure of area, use superscript 2 with the appropriate unit, e.g. 6 mm2,
not 6 sq. mm. Note that a ‘6 mm square’ has an area of 36 mm2, not 6 mm2.
standard strength (of A classification of cement/combination strength based on compressive strength
cement or a combination) testing at 28 days in accordance with BS EN 196-1. The lower characteristic
strength for the permitted band is used to define the standard strength, e.g.
32,5; 42,5.
standardised prescribed The new term for what was called in BS 5328 ‘standard mixes’.
concrete
storey Not ‘story’, except in bedtime sense. Plural ‘storeys’.
strain Dimensionless; thus ‘mm/mm’ is a pleonasm (see repetition). Millistrain,
microstrain and nanostrain are strains of 10-3, 10-6 and 10-9 respectively. As an
annotation, use µε.
strength class (of cement The standard strength together with the early strength, e.g. 42,5R.
or a combination)
strength class (of concrete) See compressive strength class.
stress In preference use N/mm2 or kN/mm2 (for concrete and steel respectively).
Some European standards use MPa or GPa (see pascal).
style Styles vary from one writer to another and no purpose is served by trying to
enforce a uniform style of writing. However, there are certain points that, if
borne in mind, will add to the interest and readability of any text.

16
 Generally, prefer:
The singular to the plural;
The concrete to the abstract;
The short word to the long;
The precise to the imprecise;
The active to the passive;
The particular to the general.
Above all, bear the probable reader in mind. Thus ‘solar radiation’ may be
appropriate in one context and ‘sunshine’ in another.
sub-base, subcontractor, Spelt thus (see hyphen).
subgrade, subsoil
sulfate Sulfur and its derivatives, sulfuric acid, sufate, etc. are now spelt with an ‘f’.
summary Longer publications should have a formal summary, in the author’s words or at
least agreed by him. Summaries are often quoted verbatim as abstracts and so
should reflect the contents as accurately as possible without going into too
much detail. If they are too long, there may be a temptation to leave out some
vital part when they are reprinted elsewhere. A length of 160 words is usually
quite enough. Any abbreviations that cannot be avoided should be defined in
the summary.
supersede Not supercede.
supplementary cementitious Do not use. Use addition.
material Sometimes this term has been used incorrectly to mean main constituents
other than Portland cement clinker. Do not use in this way.

T
target strength This is the strength the producer intends to achieve. It usually comprises the
(of concrete) characteristic strength plus a margin.
tautology See repetition.
temperature Use ˚C to denote degrees of temperature in the Celsius (colloquially centigrade
scale); e.g. 50˚C .While differences in temperature should be expressed in
units of K (Kelvin), this will not be understood by most readers, and it is
acceptable to use °C.
tensile splitting test Preferred term as this is used in BS EN 206-1.
time In conjunction with numbers, abbreviate seconds, minutes, hours and years to
s, min, h and yr* both singular and plural. Days*, weeks and months are
written in full.
* The SI abbreviation for ‘year(s)’ is ‘a’ (from ‘annum’); however, ‘yr’ is
recommended for the time being since ‘a’ is likely to be unintelligible to British
readers. Similarly, ‘days’ should be written out in full even though ‘d’ is the SI
symbol.
To express the time of day use the 24 h clock in preference to a.m., p.m., e.g.
09.30, 21.30.
that See which/that
thaumasite attack A specific form of external sulfate attack that destroys the calcium silicate
structure in cement paste.
title A catchy phrase may be suitable for a newspaper headline. The title of a
publication should indicate as clearly, but as concisely as possible, what it is
about. The title of a technical report may (but need not) be longer than is
appropriate for a guide or a handbook. This is because it is sometimes
necessary to be more specific.
Consider the use of a brief main title with an explanatory sub-title, e.g.
Concrete industrial ground floors: A guide to their design and construction.
tonne 1000 kg, often known as the ‘metric ton’. Abbreviate t.

17
total water content Added water plus water already contained in the aggregates and on the surface
(of concrete) of the aggregates plus water in the admixtures and in additions used in the
form of a slurry, plus water resulting from any added ice or steam heating.
trade names and Initial capital always; e.g. Demec, Perspex, Metastar.
trademarks Note that nylon, gunite and polythene are no longer registered trade names. In
cases of doubt, a useful guide is Chambers Dictionary of Science and
Technology.
trial mix Avoid – use initial test.
truck mixer Concrete mixer mounted on a self-propelled chassis capable of mixing and
delivering a homogeneous concrete and capable of maintaining fresh concrete
in a homogeneous state.

U
U value No hyphen. U italic when typeset.
UK/GB The United Kingdom = The United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland
and Wales) and Northern Ireland. The terms are not interchangeable, they
have precise meanings.
underbridge Bridge carrying the route being described (see overbridge).
units Leave space between figure and unit, e.g. 5 mm, not 5mm. Also leave space
between units multiplied together, e.g. 7 kN m. Units are set in roman type.
Spell out the unit when unaccompanied by a numerical value; e.g. ‘to the
nearest millimetre’ but ‘to the nearest 5 mm’.
Note the exceptions listed in this guidance under litre, stress and time. See
also decimal point, figures (numerals).
user BS EN 206-1 defines this as ‘the person or body using fresh concrete in the
execution of a construction or a component’. Avoid the use of the term in
another context.

V
verification Confirmation by examination of objective evidence that specified requirements
have been fulfilled.
versus Avoid in references to graphs.
vogue word These are often used as a lame substitute for the correct term. Avoid adjectives
such as overall, satisfactory, involved (with or in), viable, and nouns (often
even vaguer when plural) such as condition, level, problem, situation (see
repetition).
volume For fluid volumes intermediate between cubic millimetres and cubic metres, use
millilitres (ml) and litres (l - but often better written in full) in preference to
cubic centimetres (cm3) and cubic decimetres (dm3). Mixer capacity is given in
litres if less than 1 m3.
volume batching Two words, no hyphen.

W
water/cement ratio Ratio of the effective water content to cement (or combination) content
by mass in the fresh concrete.
Not water : cement ratio
Abbreviate w/c ratio.
waterproof concrete Do not use. Use water-resisting concrete.
weighbatching One word, no hyphen.
weight Although often used loosely as a synonym for mass, the weight of an object is
really the downward force exerted on it by gravity; if transported to the moon,
the object would have the same mass, but only about one-sixth the weight.

18
 Units of weight are therefore the newton (N) and its multiples.
A weight is also, of course, an object used to apply a (generally downward)
force.
weights and measures See units.
which/that The word ‘which’ should be used to introduce a non-restrictive clause, which
gives extra information. The rest of the sentence can stand without it. The
word ‘that’ should be used to introduce a definitive clause, which cannot be
omitted from the sentence without altering its meaning.
For example, ‘The concrete, which was red, had been delivered’; ‘The concrete
that was red had been delivered’. In the first, the colour was incidental, while in
the second, the colour helps identify the concrete.
workability Use consistence.
working life Without qualification, the meaning of this term is not clear. Always qualify, e.g.
intended working life.

X
x-axis, y-axis, z-axis Use lower case and a hyphen.
X-ray Capital and hyphen.

Y
Young’s modulus The preferred term is modulus of elasticity or ‘elastic modulus’.

19
APPENDIX
References
1 Concise Oxford Dictionary
2. The Chambers Dictionary of Science and Technology

The Greek alphabet

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
α β χ δ ε φ γ η ι ϕ κ λ µ ν ο π θ ρ σ τ υ ϖ ω ξ ψ ζ

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Α Β Χ ∆ Ε Φ Γ Η Ι ϑ Κ Λ Μ Ν Ο Π Θ Ρ Σ Τ Υ ς Ω Ξ Ψ Ζ

When keying in symbols, use the following letters.

Name Type Symbol SYMBOL Name Type Symbol SYMBOL

Alpha aA α Α Nu nN ν Ν
Beta bB β Β Xi xX ξ Ξ
Gamma gG γ Γ Omicron oO ο Ο
Delta dD δ ∆ Pi pP π Π
Epsilon eE ε Ε Rho rR ρ Ρ
Zeta zZ ζ Ζ Sigma sS σ Σ
Eta hH η Η Tau tT τ Τ
Theta qQ θ Θ Upsilon uU υ Υ
Iota iI ι Ι Phi fF φ Φ
Kappa kK κ Κ Chi cC χ Χ
Lambda lL λ Λ Psi yY ψ Ψ
Mu mM µ Μ Omega wW ω Ω

20
Abbreviations used for cements and combinations
Portland cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 CEM I
Portland-silica fume cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 CEM II-D
Portland-limestone cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 CEM II/A-L
CEM II/A-LL
Portland-pozzolana cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 CEM II/A-Q
CEM II/B-Q
Portland-slag cements conforming to BS EN 197-1 CEM II/A-S
CEM II/B-S
Portland-fly ash cements conforming to BS EN 197-1 CEM II/A-V
CEM II/B-Va
Blastfurnace cements conforming to BS EN 197-1 CEM III/A
CEM III/Ba
Pozzolanic cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 CEM IV/Ba
Sulfate-resisting Portland cement conforming to BS 4027 SRPC
Blastfurnace slag cements conforming to BS 146 BIIIA
BIIIBa
Pozzolanic pulverized-fuel ash cement conforming to BS 6610 PIV/B-Va
Combinations conforming to BS 8500-2: 2002, annex A manufactured in the concrete mixer from
Portland cement and fly ash, pfa, ggbs or limestone fines:
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 6% to 20% CIIA-V
of combination of fly ash conforming to BS EN 450 (Option A) or pfa
conforming to BS 3892-1 (Option B)
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 21 % to CIIB-V
35 % of combination of fly ash conforming to BS EN 450 (Option A)
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 21 % to CIIB-Va
35 % of combination of pfa conforming to BS 3892-1 (Option B)
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 36 % to CIVB-V
55 % of combination of fly ash conforming to BS EN 450 (Option A)
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 36 % to CIVB-Va
55 % of combination pfa conforming to BS 3892-1 (Option B)
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 6% to 35% CII-S
of combination of ggbs conforming to BS 6699
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 36% to 65% CIIIA
of combination of ggbs conforming to BS 6699
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 66% to 80% CIIIBa
of combination of ggbs conforming to BS 6699
CEM I cement conforming to BS EN 197-1 with a mass fraction of 6% to 20% CIIA-L
of combination of limestone fines conforming to BS 7979 CIIA-LL
a
Where the proportions and properties for sulfate resistance are required, add to the abbreviation “+SR”.

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