thumb|left|, Britain's first battlecruiser Confusion about how to refer to these new battleship-size armoured cruisers set in almost immediately. Even in late 1905, before work was begun on the Invincibles, a Royal Navy memorandum refers to "large armoured ships" meaning both battleships and large cruisers. In October 1906, the Admiralty began to classify all post-Dreadnought battleships and armoured cruisers as "capital ships", while Fisher used the term "dreadnought" to refer either to his new battleships or the battleships and armoured cruisers together.Mackay, pp. 325–26 At the same time, the Invincible class themselves were referred to as "cruiser-battleships", "dreadnought cruisers"; the term "battlecruiser" was first used by Fisher in 1908. Finally, on 24 November 1911, Admiralty Weekly Order No. 351 laid down that "All cruisers of the "Invincible" and later types are for the future to be described and classified as "battle cruisers" to distinguish them from the armoured cruisers of earlier date."Admiralty Weekly Orders. 351. – Description and Classification of Cruisers of the "Invincible" and Later Types. ADM 182/2, quoted at The Dreadnought Project: The Battle Cruiser in the Royal Navy.
thumb|left| Britain's first battlecruiser Confusion about how to refer to these new battleship-size armoured cruisers set in almost immediately Even in late 1905 before work was begun on the Invincibles a Royal Navy memorandum refers to "large armoured ships" meaning both battleships and large cruisers In October 1906 the Admiralty began to classify all post-Dreadnought battleships and armoured cruisers as "capital ships" while Fisher used the term "dreadnought" to refer either to his new battleships or the battleships and armoured cruisers togetherMackay pp 325–26 At the same time the Invincible class themselves were referred to as "cruiser-battleships" "dreadnought cruisers"; the term "battlecruiser" was first used by Fisher in 1908 Finally on 24 November 1911 Admiralty Weekly Order No 351 laid down that "All cruisers of the "Invincible" and later types are for the future to be described and classified as "battle cruisers" to distinguish them from the armoured cruisers of earlier date"Admiralty Weekly Orders 351 – Description and Classification of Cruisers of the "Invincible" and Later Types ADM 182/2 quoted at The Dreadnought Project The Battle Cruiser in the Royal Navy