Recent data are consistent with the concept that human papillomavirus (HPV) is etiologically important in the causation of cervical squamous cell cancer. There appear to be certain important events in the process of HPV infection and neoplasia. It is suggested that the terminology of the HPV-related precursor lesions be modified and that two terms, rather than three, would best satisfy the requirements of both science and clinical care. The "early" lesions should be referred to as "low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) with HPV-related changes" and the lesions that have the features of cancer precursors as "high-grade CIN."