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Section through railway track and foundation showing the sub-grade.

Grading in civil engineering and construction is the work of ensuring a level (or possibly sloped to specific degree) base for a construction work such as a foundation or the base course for a road or a railway. The earthworks created for such a purpose are often called the sub-grade (see diagram).

In the case of gravel roads and earthworks for certain purposes, grading forms not just the base but the cover and surface of the finished construction.

See also

• Subgrade
• Grader (machine)
• Grade (slope) (civil engineering and geographical treatment)
• Slope (mathematical treatment)