NEC4 Contract Preparation · Lesson 2 of 3
Italics and capitals
Why it matters
By June 2026 part one says 30 April 2027, but the date has moved
Compensation events move the date. Lesson 3 shows how.
Source: ECC 11.2(3), 66.2.
The rule
Italics point to the Contract Data, capitals to a definition
The type tells you where to look.
Italics
See the Contract Data. “terms identified in the Contract Data are in italics” (11.1).
completion date, fee percentage, period for reply
Capitals
Defined, mostly in clause 11.2.
Completion Date, Fee, Project Manager
Plain lower case terms are explained where used.
Source: ECC 11.1.
The rule
The entry stays put, while the defined term moves with change
Plan to the defined term as it stands today.
The Completion Date is “the completion date unless later changed in accordance with the contract” (11.2(3)).
A Key Date works the same way (11.2(11)).
Source: ECC 11.2(3), 11.2(11).
See it on the project
The Completion Date ends at 25 May 2027 after two compensation events and an adjudication
Part one never moves. Decide, then tap to check.
Days added to 30 April 2027
The Adjudicator decides disputes under W1.
The Contractor's revised programme goes in on 7 September 2026. Which completion date must it show?
ECC 11.2(3)
Source: ECC 11.2(3), 66.2.
Try it
Sort each term by where its meaning is
Six terms. Each answer says where the meaning is.
Hint: look at the type. Italic, capitals or plain lower case.
…
Contract Data entry
- A planner meets completion date in italics in clause 11.2(3).
- The winning tenderer must fill in the fee percentage, in italics.
Defined term
- Clause 62.2 says a quotation shows any delay to the Completion Date, in capitals.
- A quotation adds the Fee, with a capital F, to the cost of the work.
- Aldermere Power, the electricity utility, connects Mill Lane. It is one of the Others, capital O.
Explained by its clauses
- Old foundations under Station Road may be a compensation event, in plain lower case.
Source: ECC 11.1, 11.2.
Recap
Read the type of a term before you read its meaning
Habits that keep you on the right date.
On Monday at work
- Check an italic term against the Contract Data (11.1).
- Find a capitalised term in clause 11.2 or the main Option clauses.
- Plan to the Completion Date as it stands today (11.2(3)).
In the Toolkit: NEC4 Contract Checklists (ECC and ECS) (Excel) Members
Independent course material. It is not published or endorsed by NEC. Clause references are to the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, June 2017 with amendments January 2023, unless another NEC4 contract is named. The project and the people are invented. Short quotes from NEC4 (© NEC 2017) and the FIDIC Red Book (© FIDIC 2017) are used for review and comment. Read the full clauses in your own copy of the contract.
Source: ECC 11.1, 11.2(3), 66.2.
Go deeper (optional)
Four terms people often misread
Open any you are unsure of.
Is Dana Whitfield a Party?
ECC 11.2(13)
Is a firm that only supplies the pumps a Subcontractor?
ECC 11.2(19)
What passes to the Client at take over?
ECC 35, 80.1
What do Employer and Works Information mean today?
NEC4 ECC
Source: ECC 11.2(13), 11.2(19), 80.1.