The WikiProject Figure skating terminology guide applies to articles within the scope of WikiProject Figure skating. It is based on the official rules and scoring guidelines published by the International Skating Union and the terminology and style guidelines presented by U.S. Figure Skating and Skate Canada. At the same time, it tries to meet the standards of Wikipedia's Manual of Style (especially MOS:TECHNICAL, MOS:JARGON, and MOS:NUM). This guide represents the consensus view of editors maintaining Wikipedia's articles about the sport of figure skating. However, if you notice any errors or disagree with certain recommendations, feel free to discuss them on this talk page.

Figure skating is a complex sport and performing art with a long list of technical terms and competition rules. It is subject to continuous changes in performed elements, competition rules, and judging systems, which require a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy in wording. However, figure skating is a sport that casual readers may only watch every four years at the Winter Olympics, not being familiar with its rules and terms. This guide gives an overview of the most important terms, their correct spelling, abbreviation, concise definition, and distinction from each other, while giving guidance in how to make figure skating articles accessible to the widest possible general audience.

Main sources[edit]

The terminology and style guidelines presented on this page are based on the latest official terminology and style guidelines published by the International Skating Union (ISU), U.S. Figure Skating, and Skate Canada, as of April 2024:

• ISU Special Regulations & Technical Rules: Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance, published in September 2022^[1]

• ISU Technical Panel Handbooks, published in July 2023 for singles and pairs,^[2][3] and in August 2023 for ice dance^[4]

• ISU Scale of Values, published in 2022 for singles and pairs,^[5] and in 2023 for ice dance^[6]

• ISU Judges' Details per Skater, based the official score sheets used for the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships^[7]

• ISU Judging System, accessible on the ISU's official website^[8]

• ISU Figure Skating Statistics, accessible on the ISU's official website^[9]

• U.S. Figure Skating Style Guidelines, published in December 2019^[10]

• Skate Canada Info Centre, official figure skating terminology glossary provided by Skate Canada^[11]

General terminology advices[edit]

Spell out technical terms

In the prose part of articles, with few exceptions, figure skating-specific terms should generally be spelled out at every mention. This goes especially for technical elements, competition names, and segments. Abbreviations like "3Lz+2T", "GPF" or "SP" should not appear anywhere in the prose on their own. If appropriate, the official abbreviation can be added in parentheses after the spelled-out term at first mention, which is common practice in articles about the term itself.

In tables or templates, abbreviations can be used to keep columns and table cells at reasonable size, but each abbreviation must be introduced with the full spelled-out term either in an explanatory legend placed above the table or with an annotation using the template {{abbr}}. If the term has its own article on English Wikipedia, a respective link should be added. Always keep in mind that casual readers may not be familiar with the ISU's official abbreviations.

Use technical terms sparingly

It is recommended to only use figure skating-specific terms in articles if they are (a) notable in content or (b) essential to understand the context.
Example: Only mention special scores like the "technical element score" (TES) if it is a notable record, personal best, a required minimum score to qualify for a competition or an otherwise important score.

Use more general terms

It is recommended to simplify and generalize figure skating terms, especially technical elements, without compromising the meaning of the sentence or the term itself. Omit technical additions like "backward" or "flying" if the context allows it.
Example: Instead of writing "The flying sit spin with change of foot got invalidated", it is often sufficient to reduce it to "The sit spin element got invalidated". The core statement is still true, but much easier to understand.

Write in descriptive style

It is recommended to visually describe or explain complex terms, especially in the case of technical elements.
Example: Instead of writing "counter triple Axel", it is better to describe the element as a "triple Axel jump entered by a counter turn" or "triple Axel jump performed with a difficult counter turn entry". Even if the reader doesn't know what an Axel or counter is, the phrasing "jump entered by a (difficult) turn" helps to visually imagine what the element looks like.

Explain all parts of a compound term

It is recommended to only use complex compound terms like "counter triple Axel" if every part of that compound is important for the context. In that case, all parts of the compound should be sufficiently introduced to the reader, either in the prose (recommended) or an explanatory footnote using {{NoteTag}} or a similar template. The single terms should be linked to the respective articles like Axel jump and counter turn, providing easy access to precise definitions.

Be consistent and avoid ambiguous terms

Note that the ISU is not always consistent in the use of figure skating terms themselves. On the summary page of the ISU Judging System for example, the term "presentation" is ambiguously used for the full "program component score" (PCS) on the one hand and "presentation" (PR) as a single program component on the other. Another issue is the variety of different terms used for the same subject like "total element score", "technical element score", and "technical score", which all refer to the same score (officially abbreviated with TES).

Key rule: Be consistent with the choice of terms. Do not use "total element score" in the first sentence and "technical element score" in the second. Stick with one of the two, otherwise it may be confusing to the reader. This page gives some guidance in which terms to use to avoid ambiguity, inaccuracy, and vague or confusing wording.

General style advices[edit]

Capitalization of terms

Note that the ISU has a strong preference for using uppercase letters for all types of nouns, which does not comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style guidelines in many cases. For that reason, the following recommendations regarding capitalization are based on the U.S. Figure Skating Style Guidelines.

General rule of thumb: only the names of governing bodies, judging systems, competitions, ice shows, pattern dances, program titles, and technical elements named after people should be capitalized.

American English vs. British English

The International Skating Union as the main governing body of figure skating uses American English in their official documents. There are many common figure skating terms like "short program" (instead of "short programme") or "backward" (instead of "backwards") spelled in American English. Hence, it is recommended to write figure skating articles in American English to avoid awkward compromises, but it is also accepted to use British English as long as it is applied consistently in the article.

To inform editors which variation is used in the article, place one of these two templates at the top of the article:

• {{Use American English}} (Example: {{Use American English|date=April 2024}})
• {{Use British English}} (Example: {{Use British English|date=April 2024}})

Use of no-break spaces

Following MOS:NBSP, make sure to use a no-break space with the markup code {{nbsp}} or   in the following cases, especially in the prose part of articles:

Note: The standard no-break space does not work with the season format 20XX–YY.
Example: 2018–19{{nbsp}}season may be displayed with an unwanted line break after the en dash.

To properly enforce a no-break space after a season, use the template {{nowrap}}.
Example: {{nowrap|2018–19 season}} forces the full content into one line if desired.

• If not otherwise stated, the recommendations presented in this section are based on the U.S. Figure Skating Style Guidelines.

General figure skating-related terms^[10]

Official term	Abbr.	Correct terminology	Wrong terminology
International Olympic Committee	IOC	The official name of the organization is "International Olympic Committee", uppercased. At first mention, the full term should be spelled out, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. At subsequent mentions, the abbreviation IOC is accepted.	The abbreviation I.O.C. is incorrect.
International Skating Union	ISU	The official name of the organization is "International Skating Union", uppercased. At first mention, the full name should be spelled out, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. At subsequent mentions, the abbreviation ISU is accepted.	The abbreviation I.S.U. is incorrect.
National figure skating federations		The official term is "national figure skating federation", lowercased if used as a general term. The shortened terms "national skating federation" and "national federation" are accepted if their full meaning is clear from the context. The name of a specific national federation like "U.S. Figure Skating" (USFS), "Skate Canada" or the "Japan Skating Federation" (JSF) is uppercased. At first mention, the full name should be spelled out with the official abbreviation, if there is one, added in parentheses. At second or later mentions, it is accepted to use the abbreviation by itself like JSF.	The term "national body" is discouraged.
Figure skating occupations		Occupations like "skater", "coach", "choreographer", "ice show producer", "commentator" or "announcer" are always lowercased. They are job descriptions, not titles. Examples: "his coach Stéphane Lambiel" or "she collaborated with choreographer David Wilson".	"His Coach Stéphane Lambiel" is incorrect.
Women vs. ladies		The official term is "women", which should be used in all cases with exception of direct quotes, following the recommendation of the IOC Gender Equality Review Project from 2021, which is supported by the ISU.[12]	The term "ladies" should no longer be used, unless it is part of a direct quote.
Figure skating seasons		The official term is "figure skating season" or "season", lowercased. A figure skating season starts on July 1 and ends on June 30 the following year. A specific figure skating season uses the format "20XX–YY season" with an unspaced en dash, not a hyphen. Example: "The rule change was first applied in the 2018–19 season".	The format "2018–2019 season" is discouraged.
Amateur figure skating		The term used on U.S. Figure Skating is "amateur figure skating", lowercased.[13] It refers to all figure skating events at "amateur level" and skaters with "amateur status", meeting the eligibility criteria of the ISU and national federation they are registered with. The terms "competitive figure skating" and "competitive level" are also accepted, but it must be clear from the wording that they only refer to competitions at amateur level, not professional figure skating competitions.
Professional figure skating		The term used on U.S. Figure Skating is "professional figure skating", lowercased.[13] It refers to all figure skating events at "professional level" and skaters with "professional status", including the discontinued World Professional Figure Skating Championships. Professional figure skaters usually do not meet the eligibility criteria for events sanctioned by the ISU or national federations, including the Olympic Winter Games. The shortened term "pro skating" is accepted but not preferred.	"Professional figure skating" must not be mixed up with "adult figure skating".
Pro-am figure skating		The official term is "professional-amateur figure skating", lowercased with a hyphen, which should be used at first mention. It can be shortened to "pro-am" at second or later mentions. The compound term "professional-amateur" refers to all figure skating events that allow the participation of skaters with amateur or professional status. Examples for ongoing pro-am events are the annual Japan Open competition and various ice shows like Stars on Ice or Fantasy on Ice.
Adult figure skating		The official term used by the ISU is "adult figure skating", lowercased. The five disciplines are called "free skating", "artistic free skating", "pair free skating", "ice dance", and "synchronized skating". ISU competitions in adult figure skating have a required age minimum of 28 years (25 for synchronized skating), reached by July 1.[14]	"Adult figure skating" must not be mixed up with "professional figure skating".
Retirement		In recent years, the term "retirement" or "retired" was commonly used by news outlets for skaters who concluded their competitive careers at amateur level and were no longer eligible for ISU-sanctioned competitions. However, this terminology repeatedly caused confusion among casual readers, assuming that the skaters were no longer performing at public skating events at all, even though many of them were still active as professionals. To avoid such misunderstandings and make figure skating articles accessible to the largest possible audience, it was decided by WikiProject Figure Skating to only use the term "retirement" for skaters who officially concluded both, their amateur AND professional skating career. Example: "Johnny Weir competed in the men's singles discipline from 1996 to 2013, turned professional in 2013, and retired from figure skating on June 25, 2023".	Do NOT use the term "retired" for skaters who are still active at professional level. Do not use the term "former competitive skater" without clarifying the skater's professional status in the same sentence.

• The titles of specific figure skating competitions are written with uppercase letters like "World Championships" or "2014 Winter Olympics". When referring to competitions in general like "19 records in international competition", it is lowercased.
• Disciplines and competition segments are all written with lowercase letters.
• Abbreviations should only be used in tables or templates, not in the prose part of articles with exception of JGP to mark competitions of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series and CS for competitions of the ISU Challenger Series. See examples below.
• If not otherwise stated, the recommendations presented in this section are based on the ISU Special Regulations and Technical Rules and U.S. Figure Skating Style Guidelines.

Overview of competitions[edit]

Major international competitions^[1][10]

Official term	Abbr.	Correct terminology	Wrong terminology
Olympic Games	OG	The official name used by the IOC is "The Olympic Games" or more specifically "The Olympic Winter Games" (note that in 1908 and 1920, figure skating was part of the Olympic Summer Games).[15] As first alternative, "Winter Olympics" is recommended, but "Winter Games" is accepted as well. At second or later mentions, it can be shortened to "Olympics", but it must be clear from the context if it refers to the Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics or both. The official name for a specific competition uses Roman numerals for the edition (e.g. the "XXIII Olympic Winter Games"), but in figure skating articles it should be replaced by the year the Games took place like the "2018 Winter Olympics".	The Olympic Games (competition) must not be mixed up with the respective "Olympiad", the full cycle between two Olympics. Example: the "2014–2018 Olympic cycle is called an Olympiad". Make sure to clearly distinguish between individual and team events at the Olympics to avoid confusion among casual readers.
		For linking Olympic figure skating competitions of a specific year, use either the main article like Figure skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics or the article about the specific event like Figure skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics – Men's singles. When referring to figure skating at the Olympics in general, use Figure skating at the Olympic Games.
Youth Olympic Games	YOG	The official name used by the IOC is "The Youth Olympic Games" or more specifically "The Youth Olympic Winter Games".[16] As first alternative, "Winter Youth Olympics" is recommended. At second or later mentions, it can be shortened to "Youth Olympics", but it must be clear from the context if it refers to the summer edition, winter edition or both. Similar to the Winter Olympics, a specific edition should use the format ""20XX Winter Youth Olympics".	The terms "Junior Olympic Games" and "Winter Junior Olympics" are incorrect. Make sure to clearly distinguish between individual and team events at the Youth Olympics to avoid confusion among casual readers.
		For linking Youth Olympic figure skating competitions of a specific year, use either the main article like Figure skating at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics or the article about the specific event. In singles, use the terms "boys' singles" and "girls' singles" like Figure skating at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics – Boys' singles. When referring to figure skating at the Youth Olympics in general, use Figure skating at the Winter Youth Olympics.
World Championships	WC	The official name is "20XX ISU World Figure Skating Championships", which should be used at first mention in the article about the specific competition, then "World Championships" at subsequent mentions. In general articles, "20XX World Championships" is sufficient at first mention. The term "Worlds" is accepted but not preferred.	The terms "World Cup" or "World Games" are incorrect.
World Junior Championships	JWC	The official name is "20XX ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships", which should be used at first mention in the article about the specific competition, then "World Junior Championships" or "Junior Worlds" at subsequent mentions. In general articles, "20XX World Junior Championships" is sufficient at first mention.	The order "Junior World Championships" is incorrect.
European Championships	EC	The official name is "20XX ISU European Figure Skating Championships", which should be used at first mention in the article about the specific competition, then "European Championships" at subsequent mentions. In general articles, "20XX European Championships" is sufficient at first mention. "Europeans" is accepted but not preferred.	The term "Euros" should not be used.
Four Continents Championships	4CC	The official name is "20XX ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships", which should be used at first mention in the article about the specific competition, then "Four Continents Championships" or "Four Continents" at subsequent mentions. In general articles, "20XX Four Continents Championships" is sufficient.	The shortened form "Four Conts" should not be used.
Grand Prix Final	GPF	The official name is "20XX–YY ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final", which should be used at first mention in the article about the specific competition, then "Grand Prix Final" or "Final" if it is clear from the context. In general articles, "20XX–YY Grand Prix Final" is sufficient. Make sure to use an unspaced en dash for the season, not a hyphen. Example: "Yuna Kim won the 2009–10 Grand Prix Final".	"2009 Grand Prix Final" and "2009-10 Grand Prix Final" are both incorrect.
Junior Grand Prix Final	JGPF	The official name is "20XX–YY ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final", which should be used at first mention in the article about the specific competition, then "Junior Grand Prix Final" or "Junior Final" if it is clear from the context. In general articles, "20XX–YY Junior Grand Prix Final" is sufficient. Make sure to use an unspaced en dash for the season, not a hyphen.

Other competitions^[1][10]

Official term	Abbr.	Correct terminology	Wrong terminology
Grand Prix Series	GP	The official name of the full series is "20XX–YY ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating", which should be used at first mention in the article about the specific series, then "Grand Prix Series" or "Grand Prix" at subsequent mentions. In general articles, "20XX–YY Grand Prix (Series)" is sufficient. Make sure to use an unspaced en dash for the season, not a hyphen. For specific competitions of the series, the term "Grand Prix" or abbreviation GP does not have to be added, "20XX NHK Trophy" is sufficient.	"2016 Grand Prix" and "2016-17 Grand Prix" are both incorrect. "20XX GP NHK Trophy" should not be used.
Junior Grand Prix Series	JGP	The official name of the full series is "20XX–YY ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating", which should be used at first mention in the article about the specific series, then "Junior Grand Prix Series" or "Junior Grand Prix" at subsequent mentions. In general articles, "20XX–YY Junior Grand Prix (Series)" is sufficient. Make sure to use an unspaced en dash for the season, not a hyphen. Specific competitions of the series have the title structure "ISU Junior Grand Prix in [country]" like the "ISU Junior Grand Prix in Poland". Specific editions use the abbreviation JGP like "2022 JGP Latvia" or "2022 JGP Poland II" with Roman numerals.	"2022 JGP Poland 2" should not be used.
Challenger Series	CS	The official name of the full series is "20XX–YY ISU Challenger Series", which should be used at first mention, then "Challenger Series" at subsequent mentions. Make sure to use an unspaced en dash for the season, not a hyphen. Specific competitions of the series use the abbreviation CS like "2019 CS Autumn Classic International". Note that some editions may not have been part of the Challenger Series like the 2015 Autumn Classic International.	"2019 ISU Challenger Series" and "2019-20 ISU Challenger Series" are both incorrect.
Asian Games	AG	The official name is "The Asian Games" or more specifically "The Asian Winter Games". The terminology and style guidelines are analogous to the Olympic Games.	It must not be mixed up with the "Asian Open Trophy", which was held annually from 2007 to 2023.
World Team Trophy	WTT	The official name is "20XX ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating", which should only be used at first mention in the article about the specific competition. In general articles and later mentions, "20XX World Team Trophy" is sufficient.
National championships		The official term is "national figure skating championships" or "national championships", lowercased if used as a general term. Each national figure skating federation has its own official name for the respective competition, which should be used at first mention in the specific article. Examples are the "20XX–YY Japan Figure Skating Championships", "20XX Canadian Figure Skating Championships", and "20XX U.S. Figure Skating Championships". At subsequent mentions, shortened forms like "Japan Championships" or "U.S. Championships" are accepted. In general articles, "20XX–YY Japan Championships" or "20XX U.S. Championships" is sufficient. At subsequent mentions, "Nationals" is accepted but not preferred. For competitions that use the season format 20XX–YY, make sure to use an unspaced en dash, not a hyphen.	"US Championships" without periods is incorrect. "2021 Japan Championships" and "2021-22 Japan Championships" are both incorrect.
Regionals and sectionals		The terms "regional competition" or "regionals" as well as "sectional competition" or "sectionals" are all lowercased if used as general terms. If they are part of the competition's official name like "Southwest Pacific Regional Figure Skating Championships" or "Midwestern Sectional Figure Skating Championships", then it is uppercased.	Only mention regional or sectional competitions if encyclopedically notable and supported by reliable secondary sources.

Competitive levels and medals[edit]

Disciplines and segments[edit]

• Terms for scores and marks should be written with lowercase letters, following the guidelines for mathematical terms (see MOS:MATH).
• In the article about the ISU Judging System, official abbreviations should be added at first mention after the spelled out term in parentheses.
  In general articles, it is recommended to spell out the terms for scores and marks at every mention, while the use of abbreviations should be limited to tables and templates. Only exception is the unit "GOE", which can be placed after a specific score like "1.24 GOE", but it is important to spell out the full term "grade of execution" at first mention.
• In general figure skating articles, the mention of scores should be limited to total segment scores (SP/RD, FS/FD, combined total). Exceptions are encyclopedically notable scores like records and firsts or judging controversies. Same goes for single marks.
• If not otherwise stated, the recommendations presented in this section are based on the ISU Judges' Details per Skater (official competition score sheet), the ISU Judging System (overview), and ISU Figure Skating Statistics.

Types of judging systems[edit]

Standard markup code for the explanatory footnote on the change of the ISU Judging System in 2018:

{{NoteTag|name=HR|With the change of the [[ISU Judging System]] in 2018, the [[International Skating Union]] decided to start the recording of [[List of highest scores in figure skating|highest scores]] statistics from zero and declared all records [[List of highest historical scores in figure skating|historical]] that were achieved before the [[2018–19 figure skating season|2018–19 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isu.org/media-centre/press-releases/2018-8/18119-new-grade-of-execution-2018-final/file|title=The new range of Grade of Execution|work=[[International Skating Union]]|location=[[Lausanne]]|format=PDF|date=September 26, 2018|archive-date=December 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201031850/https://www.isu.org/media-centre/press-releases/2018-8/18119-new-grade-of-execution-2018-final/file|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Renders as^{[note 1]}

Scores and marks[edit]

Scores and marks^[7]

Official term	Abbr.	Correct terminology	Wrong terminology
Combined total score		The official term is "combined total score" or "combined total", which is recommended to be used at every mention. It is the sum of all total segment scores (TSS) achieved by a skater or team in one event. Usually, it is the sum of the short program and free skating score (rhythm dance and free dance score in ice dance). If a skater or team did not qualify for the free skating (free dance) segment, the combined total equals the short program (rhythm dance) score.	The "combined total" should be clearly distinguished from the "total segment score" (TSS). Avoid using ambiguous terms like "total score", "final score" or "total".
Total segment score	TSS	The official term is "total segment score", which is recommended to be used at every mention. The abbreviation TSS can be added after the spelled-out term in parentheses at first mention. The TSS is the sum of the technical element score (TES) and program component score (PCS) in one competition segment. If the segment is not clear from the context, specify it like "total segment score in the short program".	"TSS score" is incorrect, since the TSS already includes the term "score". The TSS should not be shortened as "total score" to avoid confusion with the "combined total score".
Technical element score	TES	The official terms used by the ISU are "technical element score"[18] and "total element score",[7] which are both correct with equal preference. However, it is recommended to use one of the terms consistently across an article to avoid confusion among casual readers. The abbreviation TES can be added after the spelled-out term in parentheses at first mention. The TES is a cumulative score, with the executed elements being evaluated locally and isolated from each other by difficulty and quality. It is the sum of all base values (BV) and grades of execution (GOE) of a skater's or team's performed elements in a competition segment. The qualification criteria for various competitions include a required "TES minimum" that must be achieved at previous ISU-sanctioned events.	"TES score" is incorrect, since the TES already includes the term "score". Though occasionally used by the ISU, the term "technical score" should not be used for the TES, since the program component score (PCS) is a technical score as well.[note 2] The TES also must not be mixed up with the "technical merit" and "technical mark(s)" of the 6.0 System.
Base value	BV	The official term for the score is "base value". It is made up of an element's level or value of difficulty and possible errors or invalidations called by the technical panel. The "level of difficulty" or "level" of a technical element is uppercased if followed by an integer, otherwise lowercased. Examples: "four level features", "spin level", "a Level 4 step sequence" or "The spin was downgraded to Level 3".	Do not hyphenate the level of an element like "Level 4-spin".
Grade of execution	GOE	The official term for the score is "grade of execution" with the unit GOE, which should be added after the spelled-out term in parentheses at first mention. The grade of execution of a technical element is based on a set of positive and negative quality criteria called "GOE bullets". The final "GOE score" (e.g. 1.24 GOE) for an element is the average of all "GOE marks" (e.g. +2) across the judging panel after dropping the highest and lowest mark and factoring the remaining with an element-specific number based on the ISU Scale of Values (SOV).	Make sure to clearly distinguish between the final "GOE score" and single "GOE marks" for a technical element.
Program component score	PCS	The official term is "program component score", which is recommended to be used at every mention. An extended term used by the ISU is "total program component score" to better distinguish it from scores for single components. The abbreviation PCS can be added after the spelled-out term in parentheses at first mention. The PCS is a quantification of different technical aspects called "program components" or "components" globally across the full program.[note 2] In the current judging system, the PCS is the sum of the three components "composition" (CO), "presentation" (PR), and "skating skills" (SK). Until the 2021–22 season, the five components were "skating skills" (SS), "transitions" (TR), "performance" (PE), "composition" (CO), and "interpretation" (IN).	"PCS score" is incorrect, since the PCS already includes the term "score". Do NOT use "presentation score" for the PCS! "Presentation" is only one of the three current components. The PCS also must not be mixed up with the "presentation" and "presentation mark(s)" of the 6.0 System. Do NOT use "artistic score" for any of the terms above, unless it is part of a direct quote. Neither "artistry" nor any derived term has been used in any official scoring guideline published by the ISU.[19]
Mark vs. score		The term "mark" refers to all numerical entries on an ISU score sheet made by a single judge (GOE marks and component marks). Example: "Judge 6 did not award any GOE marks higher than +3 and component marks higher than 8.50." The term "score" refers to all numerical entries that are based on marks of the full judging panel and calls by the technical panel. Note that the terms "score" and "point(s)" can be used interchangeably. Example: "The triple Axel jump was awarded a GOE score of 1.52" and "The triple Axel jump received 1.52 GOE" are both correct with the same meaning.	Single marks should not be called "scores" or "points". Examples: Judge 4 gave 8.50 points for skating skills. → Judge 4 gave a (mark of) 8.50 for skating skills. The jump got a negative mark of -1.03. → The jump got a negative score of -1.03 GOE.
Format of scores		Figure skating scores are always written as numbers with two decimal places and are not preceded by a "+"-sign. This goes for base values, GOE scores, single component scores as well as TES, PCS, TSS, and the combined total. Note that GOE scores can be negative like -2.35 GOE, using an unspaced hyphen, not an en dash.	Examples for scores: 126.2 points → 126.20 points +1.24 GOE → 1.24 GOE –2.04 GOE → -2.04 GOE
Format of marks		GOE marks are single digit integers between -5 and +5 and are not followed by the unit GOE to distinguish them from the final GOE score. Though it is practiced differently on the official ISU score sheets, positive GOE marks should be preceded by a "+"-sign for clarity.[8] Negative GOE marks use an unspaced hyphen, not an en dash. It is possible to use the plural form "three +5s and six +4s". PCS marks are positive numbers with two decimal places between 0.25 and 10.00. To indicate the range of awarded marks, the plural form "8s" can be used. Example: "The pair was awarded 9s for composition". Marks awarded in the old 6.0 System are positive numbers with one decimal place, ranging from 0.0 to 6.0. To indicate the range of marks, the plural form "5s" can be used.	Examples for GOE marks: 3 GOE → +3 –1.00 → -1 +0 → 0 Examples for PCS marks: 8.5 → 8.50 10 → 10.00 +9.50 → 9.50
Correct use of verbs		Technical elements are identified and named by the technical panel. Levels of difficulty, errors, and invalidations are called by the technical panel. Deductions are called by the referee or technical panel. GOE marks and component marks are awarded or given by the judging panel. Scores are computed or calculated by the computer system.

Highest scores and best scores[edit]

Scoring records^[9]

Official term	Abbr.	Correct terminology	Wrong terminology
Highest score (world record score)	WR	The official term used by the ISU is "ISU highest score" or "highest score", which refers to records achieved in the +5/-5 GOE System since the 2018–19 season. While Guinness World Records still recognizes highest scores as "world records", the ISU itself no longer uses that term since the system change, as stated on their official website.[9] It is up to the discretion of the editor to refer to a highest score as a "world record score". It is important to clarify in which competition segment the highest score was achieved, distinguishing between the "highest combined total score", "highest short program score", and highest "highest free skating score".	The ambiguous term "record score" is discouraged.
		Note that the term "highest score" always refers to records achieved at international ISU-sanctioned events, considering both senior AND junior level. For records at junior level in specific, the official term is "(ISU) highest junior score" or "junior record (score)". The term "(ISU) highest senior score" or "senior record score" should only be used if the respective ISU highest score was achieved at junior level. In this case, it is recommended to add an explanatory footnote for clarification.	Record scores achieved at domestic events like national championships must be clearly distinguished from ISU highest scores.
Highest TES and PCS		The official terms used by the ISU are "(ISU) highest technical element score" and "(ISU) highest program component score", which should be used at first mention. The term "highest total element score" is correct as well. At subsequent mentions, the abbreviations "highest TES" and "highest PCS" are accepted. Note that these records are not recognized by Guinness World Records. It is important to clarify in which competition segment the highest TES or PCS was achieved. Example: "Sui Wenjing and Han Cong hold the highest program component score in the pairs' short program with 38.45 points".	Do not use the terms "highest score" or "world record score" for these records.
Highest historical score	HR	The official term is "ISU highest historical score" or "highest historical score", which refers to records achieved in the +3/-3 GOE System until the 2017–18 season. The terms "historical world record (score)" and "historical record (score)" are correct as well. The other terminology and style guidelines are analogous to "highest score", "highest TES", and "highest PCS".	The term "highest score" should not be used for records achieved until the 2017–18 season. The ambiguous term "record score" is discouraged.
National record score	NR	The term "national record score" or "national record" refers to highest scores achieved by skaters representing a specific nation at international ISU-sanctioned events. The other terminology and style guidelines are analogous to "highest score", "highest TES", and "highest PCS".	The "national record score" must not be mixed up with records achieved at domestic events like national championships.
Personal best score	PB	The official term is "ISU personal best score" or "personal best (score)". It refers to the best score achieved by a skater or team in a specific judging system at international ISU-sanctioned events. It is important to clarify in which system and competition segment the personal best score was achieved. In comparison to absolute best scores, lists of personal bests include only one score by a skater or team. Example: "Evgenia Medvedeva's personal best combined total score was 241.31 in the +3/-3 GOE System and 225.76 in the +5/-5 GOE System".
Season's best score	SB	The official term is "ISU season's best score" or "season's best (score)". It refers to the best score achieved by a skater or team in a specific figure skating season at international ISU-sanctioned events. It is important to clarify in which competition segment the season's best score was achieved. Example: "Kaori Sakamoto's best short program score in the 2023–24 season was 77.35".	For season's bests, the judging system is redundant information and does not have to be added.
Absolute best score	AB	"ISU absolute best scores" or "absolute bests" refer to a list of best scores achieved in one discipline in a specific judging system at international ISU-sanctioned events. In comparison to personal bests, lists of absolute best scores can include multiple scores by one skater or team. It is important to clarify in which discipline and competition segment the absolute best scores were achieved. Example: "Yuzuru Hanyu scored the four highest absolute best scores in the men's short program in the +3/-3 GOE System".

• Technical elements are written with lowercase letters, unless they are named after a person.
• In the prose part of articles, the name of the element or skating movement should always be spelled out. In the article about the element itself, the official abbreviation can be added after the spelled-out term in parentheses at first mention.
• In tables and templates, abbreviations must be annotated with the spelled-out term for readers who are not familiar with the ISU's abbreviation system.
• Technical terms should be used sparingly, and elements should only be mentioned if they are encyclopedically notable like a skater's signature moves, elements of particular difficulty or a record score, costly mistakes or elements with controversial judging.
• The recommendations presented in this section, if not otherwise stated, are based on the official ISU Technical Panel Handbooks and ISU Scale of Values.

Skating moves and elements[edit]

Skating elements^[2][3][5]

Official term	Abbr.	Correct terminology	Wrong terminology
Nomenclature of skating moves		Skating moves are characterized and distinguished by their execution (1) on the left (L) or right (R) foot (2) in forward (F) or backward (B) skating direction (3) on the inside (I) or outside (O) edge of the blade (4) resulting in a clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW) rotation along the skating curve. There are eight basic variations to enter a skating move: LFI, LFO, LBI, LBO (and the same with the right foot). Example: an "RBO-rocker turn" is performed on the right foot, entered backward on the outside edge.	Only use this type of nomenclature in articles if it is essential for the context (supported by an explanatory footnote if needed). Follow the correct order of abbreviations (foot, direction, edge). Abbreviations like OBR or FIL are incorrect.
Forward and backward		When used as an adjective, it is always "forward" or "backward" like "backward counter turn". When used as an adverb, the preferred term is "forward" or "backward" in American English, and "forwards" or "backwards" in British English.[20]	The term "backwards counter turn" is incorrect. The phrase "skating backwards" is not preferred in American English.
Figure skating step		The official term is "figure skating step" or "step". It is defined as a visible tracing on the ice executed on one foot featuring a change of foot.[21] The ISU lists six types of skating moves as a "step" for singles and pairs: the "toe step", "chassé", "cross roll", "Mohawk turn", "Choctaw turn", and the "change of edge" (which has no change of foot, but it is still considered a step).[2]: 3	If used, the terms "mohawk" and "choctaw" should not be lowercased as they are named after the respective Native American people.
C step and S step		With the aim to "decolonize figure skating terminology", Skate Canada officially changed the terms "Mohawk turn" to "C step" and "Choctaw turn" to "S step", named after the shape of their skating traces. On English Wikipedia, both variations are accepted, but only one of them should be used consistently in an article. Ideally, the change of terminology by Skate Canada is mentioned in a sourced footnote.[22]	As defined by Skate Canada, the terms "C-step" and "S-step" should not use hyphens but a no-break space.
Figure skating turn		The official term is "figure skating turn" or "turn". It is defined as a rotational skating move with a change of direction, distinguishing between a "one foot turn" and "two foot turn".[23] The ISU lists six types of skating moves as a "turn" for singles and pairs: the "three turn" (or "3 turn"), "bracket turn", "rocker turn", "counter turn", "loop turn", and the "twizzle turn", which are all one foot turns.[2]: 3  The Mohawk and Choctaw turn, though listed as steps, also count as two foot turns due to the change of foot and skating direction.	The ambiguous term "loop" should not be used to avoid confusion with the more common "loop jump". For other types of turns, the addition "turn" can be omitted at second or later mentions. The term "three-turn" or "3-turn" should not use a hyphen. The variation "3 turn" must be written with a no-break space.
Difficult turn		The ISU lists six types of turns as a "difficult turn" for singles and pairs: the Choctaw, bracket, rocker, counter, loop turn, and the twizzle. The Mohawk and three turn are not considered difficult turns and do not contribute to the level of difficulty in a step sequence.
Step sequence	StSq	The official term for the element is "step sequence". It is a sequence of steps, turns, and other skating moves with an assigned level of difficulty (B for basic or an integer between 1 and 4). Until 2012, the ISU distinguished two mandatory types of step sequences in singles and pairs by the shape of the skating pattern: the "straight line step sequence" (SlSt) and "circular step sequence" (CiSt). A key level feature for step sequences is the correct execution of a "combination of three difficult skating turns", also called a "skating cluster", "one foot cluster" or "cluster". Example: a "rocker-counter-loop combination".	Do not shorten "step sequence" with the ambiguous term "sequence", which can also refer to a "choreographic sequence", "jump sequence" etc. The term "skating sequence" should not be used either, since the "choreographic sequence" is a type of skating sequence as well. Clusters should be written with hyphens, not en dashes like "rocker–cluster–loop combination".
Choreographic sequence	ChSq	The official term for the element is "choreographic sequence", which should be used at first mention. At subsequent mentions, it can be shortened to "choreo sequence". Though it is not assigned any level of difficulty, it is abbreviated with ChSq1 on ISU score sheets.	The term "choreographed sequence" is incorrect. Do not use the ambiguous terms "skating sequence" or "sequence" either.
Move in the field		The official term is "move in the field", which should be used at first mention. At subsequent mentions, it can be shortened to "field move". Moves in the field cover all types of skating movements that demonstrate edge control, extension, and ice coverage, including the "spiral", "spread eagle", "hydroblading", and the "Ina Bauer", named after Ina Bauer.[1][24]
Compulsory figures		The official term is "compulsory figures" for the full competition segment and "compulsory figure" for a single figure. Until 1990, the required compulsory figures included the "figure eight" (or "figure 8"), "three turn", "bracket turn", "rocker turn", "counter turn", and the "loop turn".

Jump elements[edit]

Spin elements[edit]

Spin elements^[2][3][5]

Official term	Abbr.	Correct terminology	Wrong terminology
Nomenclature of spins		The full term for a specific spin element includes the performed basic position(s), the type of entry if notable, and the change of foot if executed. The level of difficulty is optional. Example 1: "a flying upright spin Level 4" or "a Level 4 flying upright spin". Example 2: "a spin combination with change of foot", abbreviated with CCoSp.	Use full terms for spins sparingly. In most cases, the basic position is sufficient like "camel spin".
		The official abbreviation for a spin element has the structure: (1) flying spin entry (F) if executed (2) change of foot (C) if executed (3) basic position (USp, LSp, SSp, CSp, CoSp; see meanings below) (4) optional level of difficulty (B for basic or integer between 1 and 4). Example 1: FUSp4 for a flying upright spin Level 4. Example 2: CCoSp for a spin combination with change of foot.	Only use this type of nomenclature in articles if it is essential for the context. Follow the correct order of abbreviations (entry, foot change, positions, level).
Position vs. variation		The official terms are "spin position" and "spin variation". The ISU distinguishes between four "basic spin positions", namely "upright", "layback", "sit", and "camel", and "non-basic positions" like the "windmill", also called "illusion". The layback position is considered a special type of upright position. Each spin position can be executed in different variations, some of them being considered a "difficult variation" like the "doughnut variation" of the camel position. Variations should only be mentioned if notable like a new invention or skater's signature variation.	Positions and variations must not be mixed up. The term "doughnut position" for example is incorrect.
Upright spin	USp	The official term for the basic position is "upright spin". Common variations are the "A spin", "I spin", "Y spin", "crossfoot spin", "corkscrew spin", and "headless spin".	Following
Layback spin	LSp	The official term for the basic position is "layback spin" or "upright layback spin". A common variation in women's singles is the "layback Biellmann spin", named after Denise Biellmann. It should only be shortened to "Biellmann spin" if it is clearly distinguished from the "camel Biellmann", also called "half-Biellmann", which is considered a camel spin variation.
Sit spin	SSp	The official term for the basic position is "sit spin". Common variations are the "pancake spin", "shoot-the-duck spin", "broken leg spin", and "tuck-behind spin".
Camel spin	CSp	The official term for the basic position is "camel spin". Common variations are the "doughnut spin", "bent-leg layover spin", also known as "Yuna camel spin" named after Yuna Kim, and the "camel Biellmann spin" or "half-Biellmann spin", which must be clearly distinguished from the "layback Biellmann spin". The "flying camel spin entry" or "flying camel" is also known as the "Button camel", named after Dick Button.
Spin combination	CoSp	The official term used in the ISU Technical Panel Handbook is "spin combination". It is defined as a spin element with a change of position. A spin element that only includes a change of variation within one basic position, is not considered a spin combination.	The term "combination spin", though commonly used by news outlets, is incorrect.
Spin vs. spin element		A "spin element" can consist of multiple spins if they immediately follow each other by a change of foot, rotation direction or a mid-spin jump. According to the ISU Technical Panel Handbook 2023–24, a spin element with these features is considered as one spin,[2] so these two terms can be used interchangeably, unless the context requires a clear distinction.
Pair spin	PSp PCoSp	The official term is "pair spin" if executed in one position or "pair spin combination" if executed with a change of position. Example: "a pair spin combination Level 2" or "a Level 2 pair spin combination", abbreviated as PCoSp2.	The pair spin must not be confused with the "dance spin" in ice dance.
Solo spin vs. pair spin		In pair skating, the term "solo spin" refers to a spin element that is executed side-by-side, while a "pair spin" is peformed with the skaters touching each other. The "solo spin" must not be called "pair spin", even though it is an element specific for pair skating. Solo spins are abbreviated the same way as spin elements in single skating.	The "solo spin" must not be mixed up with a spin performed in one position or a spin element that consists of one spin.

Other elements[edit]

• The general recommendations regarding style and usage are essentially the same as for singles and pairs above.
• The names of specific pattern dances are always uppercased.
• Abbreviations in ice dance can be particularly long and complex with many required explanations like "SqTwW4+SqTwM3". They should only be mentioned if absolutely necessary.
• The recommendations presented in this section, if not otherwise stated, are based on the official 2023–24 ISU Technical Panel Handbook and ISU Scale of Values for ice dance.

Pattern dances[edit]

Pattern dances^[4][6]

Official term	Abbr.	Correct terminology	Wrong terminology
Pattern dance		The official term is "pattern dance", which should be used at every mention. A full pattern dance usually comprises two or more technical elements called "pattern dance sequences", which can be performed back-to-back or enclose other elements in between. Depending on the type of pattern dance, a sequence can be divided into "sections", which are evaluated as distinct elements. The ISU distinguishes 34 types of pattern dances, of which 15 are defined by key points in the 2023–24 ISU Scale of Values, listed with their official abbreviations below.	This element must not be mixed up with the "pattern dance type step sequence". Make sure to clearly distinguish the "pattern dance" as a technical element from the discontinued "compulsory dance" competition segment.
Fourteenstep	FO	The official term is "Fourteenstep", written as one word.
Foxtrot	FT	The official term is "Foxtrot".	Make sure to clearly distinguish it from other Foxtrot-type pattern dances.
Rocker Foxtrot	RF	The official term is "Rocker Foxtrot".	Do not shorten it with "Foxtrot".
Tea-Time Foxtrot	TTF	The official term is "Tea-Time Foxtrot", using a hyphen.
European Waltz	EW	The official term is "European Waltz".	Do not shorten it with "Waltz".
American Waltz	AW	The official term is "American Waltz".
Westminster Waltz	WW	The official term is "Westminster Waltz".
Starlight Waltz	SW	The official term is "Starlight Waltz".
Kilian	KI	The official term is "Kilian". The official abbreviation uses a capital letter I, not a lowercase l.
Quickstep	QS	The official term is "Quickstep", written as one word.
Finnstep	FS	The official term is "Finnstep", written as one word.
Paso Doble	PD	The official term is "Paso Doble".
Tango	TA	The official term is "Tango".	Make sure to clearly distinguish it from other Tango-type pattern dances.
Argentine Tango	AT	The official term is "Argentine Tango".	Do not shorten it with "Tango".
Blues	BL	The official term is "Blues".
Key point	kp	The base value of a pattern dance sequence is determined by the number of successfully executed "key points", marked with Y for "yes". Missed key points are marked with N for "no". The key points determine the level of difficulty (B for basic or an integer between 1 and 4). Example: "The second Argentine Tango pattern dance sequence was called Level 3 with the first key point missed", abbreviated with 2AT3+kpNYYY.	Only use this nomenclature if absolutely necessary.

Other dance elements[edit]

The naming of figure skating programs follows the general conventions for music titles as per WP:NCMUSIC and MOS:MUSIC. Here is a quick overview:

• Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Figure skating
• Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers
• Wikipedia:Make technical articles understandable

• International Skating Union (official website)
• U.S. Figure Skating (official website)
• Skate Canada Info Centre (official website)