The treatment of electric fields and flux in most textbooks on introductory physics, at least in the English language, differs radically from the nomenclature recommended by the relevant intergovernmental treaty organizations (CGPM, BIPM, IUPAP, IUPAC, NIST, etc). The general approach also conflicts with the usual methodology adopted in electrical engineering texts. Furthermore, it is at variance with the standard treatment of matter elsewhere in the introductory physics curriculum (e.g., mechanical or thermal properties). Historical reasons for this discrepancy are investigated and it is suggested that resolving this conflict would be beneficial to the teaching and learning of this and related topics.