You talk, we understand – The way out of the tower of Babel

Significance of the topic

Clear, consistent language in metrology and analytical measurement is essential for producing data that are fit for purpose. Diverse natural languages, varying professional jargon and multiple interpretations of key terms create barriers to reproducible results, comparable reporting and fair laboratory assessment. Harmonised terminology supports accreditation, regulatory compliance and efficient communication among analysts, quality managers, proficiency test providers, reference material producers and accreditation bodies.

Objectives and overview of the article

The source text highlights the problem of linguistic and conceptual ambiguity in measurement science and presents the role of the International Vocabulary of Metrology (VIM) and a complementary Eurachem guide. The primary objective is to promote a shared vocabulary and to provide accessible, context-rich explanations of measurement terms most relevant to chemical and biological laboratories, thereby reducing misinterpretation and improving the quality of analytical results.

Methodology and related documents

The approach described is normative and educational rather than experimental. It relies on established international documents: the third edition of the VIM (JCGM 200:2012) as the normative vocabulary used by ISO standards such as ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189 and ISO/IEC 17043, and a Eurachem guide that translates VIM concepts into practical, sector-specific explanations and examples. The Eurachem output is designed to bridge the gap between concise VIM definitions and everyday laboratory practice, with emphasis on chemical and biological measurement contexts.

Main results and discussion

The principal conclusions are conceptual and instructional: widespread confusion exists around many metrological terms, and formal VIM definitions can be terse and difficult to interpret in applied laboratory settings. Translation issues and differing historical usage across sectors further complicate understanding. The text uses the example of accuracy, trueness and precision to illustrate how a single everyday term can mask multiple, distinct metrological concepts:

• Precision: closeness between independent measurement results.
• Trueness: closeness of the mean of results to a reference value (absence of systematic error).
• Accuracy: closeness of an individual result to the true value, arising from combined effects of trueness and precision.

Graphical scenarios (described verbally) demonstrate combinations of high/low precision and trueness and how improving both tends to improve accuracy. The Eurachem guide aims to clarify such distinctions and to map them to laboratory activities (calibration, verification, validation, traceability, standards and measurement procedures), emphasizing that terms like method verification vs method validation or calibration vs performance verification have distinct implications for laboratory practice.

Benefits and practical applications

Adoption and dissemination of a common metrological vocabulary yields multiple practical benefits:

• Improved consistency in test requests, method selection, and interpretation of results across laboratories and jurisdictions.
• Better alignment between accreditation assessments and laboratory practice, reducing subjective interpretation of requirements.
• Reduced risk of inadequate fulfilment of measurement requirements that could lead to financial loss or unsafe decisions.
• Enhanced training resources for analysts and students, facilitating clearer teaching of quality concepts.
• Support for providers of proficiency testing and reference materials to use and interpret terms consistently.

Future trends and potential applications

To further reduce ambiguity and to increase uptake, the following developments are envisaged:

• Sector-specific explanatory material that expands VIM concepts with concrete examples for different measurement types, especially evolving fields such as molecular diagnostics and environmental nanometrology.
• Improved, standardized translations and local-language glossaries to avoid inconsistent terminology across regions and sectors.
• Integration of metrological vocabulary into laboratory information management systems and electronic reporting to enforce consistent metadata and reduce misinterpretation.
• Use of digital tools and AI to assist in term disambiguation, guided method selection and automated conformity checks against normative definitions.
• Broader educational campaigns and continuing professional development modules that teach practical distinctions between terms like validation, verification, traceability and detection limits.

Conclusion

Clear, unambiguous terminology is a foundational requirement for reliable analytical measurement and harmonised laboratory assessment. The VIM provides the normative backbone, while accessible interpretative guidance such as the Eurachem guide translates abstract definitions into laboratory-relevant practice. Widespread adoption of a shared vocabulary, together with better translations, sectoral examples and digital support, will strengthen measurement quality, comparability and trust in analytical results.

References

1. International Vocabulary of Metrology – Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM), 3rd edition. JCGM 200:2012.
2. Barwick V. (Ed.), Eurachem Guide: Terminology in Analytical Measurement – Introduction to VIM3, 2nd ed., 2023. ISBN 978-0-948926-40-2.