Synopsis Some experimental creep data are analysed with reference to recent ideas that creep can be separated into recoverable and irrecoverable basic creep and recoverable and irrecoverable drying creep. Data on lateral strain behaviour are also presented. It is shown that this division of creep on the basis of axial strain measurements is not satisfactory. The implications of the results for future work on creep under uniaxial and multiaxial loading are indicated.