Abrasive Papers - papers covered on one or both sides with abrasive powder, eg emery, sand paper etc.

Absorbency - ability of paper or board to take up or retain aqueous solutions; printing inks and varnishes.

Absorbent Papers - duplicator, blotting and filter papers are the best known; drying royal, matrix paper and towelling are other examples.

Accepted Stock - that part of the stock which is not rejected by cleaning and/or screening.

Acid Free - term describing paper and board that can be used with anything that may be tarnished or otherwise harmed by acid.

Against the Grain - Folding at right angles to the grain direction of the paper being used, as opposed to with the grain. Also called across the grain and cross-grain. This can cause cracking on heavier papers unless the paper is scored or creased

Air Dry - Describing (1) the moisture content of a substance when in equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere; (2) woodpulp which contains approximately 10% of moisture, paper 8% of moisture.

Alum - the term used in papermaking for aluminium sulphate.

Antique - a quality bulky paper, particularly opaque, with a rough surface finish. It can be made in white or in colours, be deckle-edged , and either laid or wove. A good printing surface is a feature of this grade which is often used for more expensive books.

Apparent Density - quotient of the grammage of a paper and it's thickness in micrometers.

Art Paper - generic term given to woodfree coated papers, which has traditionally referred to papers in the upper quality bracket and which have a highly polished surface.