Terminology applied to the modes of vascular plant megafossil preservation is discussed in the paper. The problems about the terminology mainly concern the following two aspects: (1) the terms applied to fossilization are confused with those used for the modes of vascular plant megafossil preservation, and (2) different authors may have different interpretations to the same term. This practice is apt to cause confusion of understanding. The related discussions have been reviewed. The authors use the graphic approach in the classification and comparison of the modes of vascular plant megafossil preservation and suggest that terms used for the modes of vascular plant megafossil preservation should be reasonably distinguished from those applied to the fossilization to avoid confusion in the use of the terms to the best of our ability.