punch list

n. a to-do list (of items requiring immediate attention); any list of significance. Subjects: English, Architecture

Editorial Note: This term is strongly associated with building construction.

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Citations: 1961 Goodman A. Sarachan New York Times (June 30) “Text of Statement on School-Construction Hearings” p. 15: The innumerable reports, punch lists and letters of complaint written by principals, custodians and teachers taken from board files and introduced here serve to emphasize that most of these problems were brought to the attention of board officials over and over again without effective response or correction. 1965 Press-Gazette (Hillsboro, Ohio) (Nov. 5) “School Board Gets Report on Construction” p. 1: Archtects met with the board to go over what they term “punch-list items,” the checking and double-checking of numerous interior details. 1978 Peter G. Miller Washington Post (Mar. 11) “Tips For New Home Buyers” p. E6: Find out what obligations a builder has to complete work listed on the pre-inspection (punch) list. 1984 Darrel Rippeteau Washington Post (Nov. 8) “Working With an Architect”: This is the stage of the project called “substantial completion”; the architect makes his final list of corrections, or “punch list,” which the contractor must satisfy before receiving final payment. 1991 David Ferrell Los Angeles Times (Sept. 30) “Gag Man Tosses Schtick by Fax” p. 1: Shipper faxes it to New York along with a “punch list"—a checklist of news stories and other topics to be talked about during the four-hour show. 2004 Chattanoogan (Tenn.) (Sept. 9) “Weekly Road Construction Report”: This project is complete pending the contractor addressing the final punchlist items. 2004 Lynn Stanton (Telecommunications Reports) (Sept. 15) “Lawmakers See Problems in Justice’s Request For FCC to Ensure Electronic Wiretap Capabilities”: It has run into problems with some companies that have not developed the “punch list” of digital-age surveillance capabilities requested by law enforcement approved by the FCC under CALEA

Posted 17 Sep 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

I know the meaning Where did the term come from?

by Darryl Starr 02 May 06, 0323 GMT

It seems to me to be a fairly natural construction. Punch has various meanings that stress emphasis or force, and there’s a informal use of punch in “punch something up” meaning “to fix, perfect, or improve (something).” However, this is just speculation. Like most words, the origins of this term can never be fixed with certainty, nor if we did know them would they be likely to be interesting or useful.

by Grant Barrett 02 May 06, 0954 GMT

There is an interesting story that suggests each subcontractor used hand held hole punch tools that made specific shaped holes. The subcontractors would use this tool to “punch” the list of items that had been completed by their company.

by Kate B. 08 May 06, 0834 GMT

Hmmm, I’ve never heard nor read that story. Where’d you hear or read it?

by Grant Barrett 08 May 06, 0846 GMT

I work at a construction company and some of our employees had the same question. So an experienced assistant interviewed the senior superintendents and this was the definition they gave.

by Kate B. 09 May 06, 0117 GMT

The term comes from the telephone industry. where a installer was given a wiring list of wire pair terminations to be “punched down” on a terminal block using a punch tool.

by Ken 18 Aug 06, 0929 GMT

Ken, I doubt that. I’ve used a punch down tool and I understand what you’re saying, but there’s zero evidence to back that up. Any other explanation is just as likely.

by Grant Barrett 18 Aug 06, 0942 GMT

Can any body tell me when to issue punch list, . i mean can the contrcator request the employer to issue punch list if the projec i snot complete
regards
Q Awad

by Qasem 03 Jun 07, 1008 GMT

The phrase takes its name from the historical process of punching a hole in the margin of the document, next to one of the items on the list. This indicated that the work was completed for that particular construction task. Two copies of the list were punched at the same time to provide an identical record for the architect and contractor.

From wikipedia.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Punch_list)

by marta 20 Aug 07, 0851 GMT

I agree that the origin relating to the construction list being ‘punched’ by the various contractors - is the most plausible

by Don 17 Oct 07, 0711 GMT

Can an Architect add work to the Punch List that is additional work or can he only list items on the Punch List for which there are change orders issued for?

by Tom Orr 02 Apr 08, 1027 GMT