Grounding: Bonding to Earth: We Leave Out Something Big When We Just Say "Bonding"

Returning to basics, grounding is bonding to earth. While grounding electrodes are the only true bonds to earth, the term "grounding" has been traditionally applied when bonding to extended conducting bodies such as the ground bus in an electrical panel. That tradition is presently under fire, with suggestions that what is referred to as the equipment grounding conductor (EGC) should be renamed the equipment bonding conductor. Beyond semantics, the term "bonding" alone compared to grounding (bonding to earth) presents a clear omission, which is the reference to earth. This article challenges that omission, presenting the multifaceted approach for the reduction of electrical hazards that is provided by bonding to earth rather than simply bonding.