The practice of designating bleaching stages and sequences using a symbolic shorthand has evolved through the years. Concurrent evolution of variations, combinations, and complexity in bleaching practice, coupled with variations in symbolism, has caused misunderstanding and errors regarding bleaching practices. This has created the need for a bleaching stage designation method. The following recommendations establish a coherent standard method for representing bleach plant stages and sequences. Adherence is urged to facilitate clarity in communication. To accommodate new developments in the rapidly changing field of bleaching process technology, additions, variations, or exceptions will most certainly be required. In such an event, the symbolic representation should be made very clear early in the corresponding presentation.