...but it does appear in the CAA and JAA licence requirements documentation..
If people *understood* the difference between a revalidation and a renewal then we wouldn't have this thread, would we?
Can I revalidate my expired rating by experience?
For UK purposes, it doesn't make a whole load of difference but, for most member states, it makes a huge difference as to the procedures and documentation for the two.
Whilst the OP was, admittedly, very likely talking about a UK CAA issued rating, this is an international forum and the answers may be different to others, so we need to get it right whenever we can.