diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFunc.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFunc.C
index 22c7c999..5e3aefbb 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFunc.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFunc.C
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ DAObjFunc::DAObjFunc(
         objFuncCellValues_[idxI] = 0.0;
     }
 
-    calcRefDiffSquare_ = objFuncDict_.lookupOrDefault<label>("calcRefDiffSquare", 0);
-    if (calcRefDiffSquare_)
+    calcRefVar_ = objFuncDict_.lookupOrDefault<label>("calcRefVar", 0);
+    if (calcRefVar_)
     {
         objFuncDict_.readEntry<scalarList>("ref", ref_);
     }
@@ -318,15 +318,15 @@ scalar DAObjFunc::getObjFuncValue()
     return objFuncValue_;
 }
 
-void DAObjFunc::calcRefDiffSquare(scalar& objFuncValue)
+void DAObjFunc::calcRefVar(scalar& objFuncValue)
 {
     /*
     Description:
         Call the variable difference with respect to a given reference and take a square of it.
-        This can be used in FIML. This function is for calcRefDiffSquare_ == 1
+        This can be used in FIML. This function is for calcRefVar == 1
     */
 
-    if (calcRefDiffSquare_)
+    if (calcRefVar_)
     {
         if (ref_.size() == 1)
         {
@@ -338,7 +338,6 @@ void DAObjFunc::calcRefDiffSquare(scalar& objFuncValue)
             objFuncValue = (objFuncValue - ref_[idxI]) * (objFuncValue - ref_[idxI]);
         }
     }
-
 }
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFunc.H b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFunc.H
index f6bf097c..ab2b72a8 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFunc.H
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFunc.H
@@ -93,9 +93,9 @@ protected:
     List<List<word>> objFuncConInfo_;
 
     /// whether to calculate (obj-ref)^2
-    label calcRefDiffSquare_;
+    label calcRefVar_;
 
-    /// if calcRefDiffSquare_ is True, set the reference value list
+    /// if calcRefVar_ is True, set the reference value list
     scalarList ref_;
 
 public:
@@ -243,8 +243,8 @@ public:
     /// whether to compute reference coefficients for special objFunc treatment such as totalPressureRatio
     label calcRefCoeffs = 1;
 
-    /// calculate the varDiffSquare
-    void calcRefDiffSquare(scalar& objFuncValue);
+    /// calculate (var-ref)^2
+    void calcRefVar(scalar& objFuncValue);
 };
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncCenterOfPressure.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncCenterOfPressure.C
index d3df0556..aa481294 100644
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncCenterOfPressure.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncCenterOfPressure.C
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ void DAObjFuncCenterOfPressure::calcObjFunc(
 
     objFuncValue = scale_ * (weightedPressure / totalPressure + (center_ & axis_));
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncForce.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncForce.C
index 06b3cd30..8ca25357 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncForce.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncForce.C
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ void DAObjFuncForce::calcObjFunc(
     // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
     reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncLocation.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncLocation.C
index 5587ed4f..d0fe804e 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncLocation.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncLocation.C
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ void DAObjFuncLocation::calcObjFunc(
                                           << abort(FatalError);
     }
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMass.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMass.C
index 1a54be48..053a9941 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMass.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMass.C
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ void DAObjFuncMass::calcObjFunc(
     // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
     reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMassFlowRate.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMassFlowRate.C
index db9dbb3d..695d297d 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMassFlowRate.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMassFlowRate.C
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ void DAObjFuncMassFlowRate::calcObjFunc(
     // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
     reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMeshQualityKS.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMeshQualityKS.C
index 9f58f497..6e4bf687 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMeshQualityKS.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMeshQualityKS.C
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ void DAObjFuncMeshQualityKS::calcObjFunc(
 
     objFuncValue = log(objFuncValue) / coeffKS_;
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMoment.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMoment.C
index fbfd062c..2e3331fe 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMoment.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMoment.C
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ void DAObjFuncMoment::calcObjFunc(
     // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
     reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMean.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMean.C
index 2476f2b2..0abcaebf 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMean.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMean.C
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ void DAObjFuncPatchMean::calcObjFunc(
     // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
     reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPower.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPower.C
index 1fdaf56f..0edff5e1 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPower.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPower.C
@@ -168,8 +168,8 @@ void DAObjFuncPower::calcObjFunc(
     // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
     reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalPressure.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalPressure.C
index 5f28fa1e..5f7ebd5c 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalPressure.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalPressure.C
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ void DAObjFuncTotalPressure::calcObjFunc(
     // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
     reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalPressureRatio.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalPressureRatio.C
index 34fe7b4b..8f543b2a 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalPressureRatio.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalPressureRatio.C
@@ -217,8 +217,8 @@ void DAObjFuncTotalPressureRatio::calcObjFunc(
         }
     }
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalTemperatureRatio.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalTemperatureRatio.C
index 9e0c1f5e..9a110255 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalTemperatureRatio.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncTotalTemperatureRatio.C
@@ -207,8 +207,8 @@ void DAObjFuncTotalTemperatureRatio::calcObjFunc(
         }
     }
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncVariableVolSum.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncVariableVolSum.C
index a95d5f23..6141a5e3 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncVariableVolSum.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncVariableVolSum.C
@@ -167,8 +167,8 @@ void DAObjFuncVariableVolSum::calcObjFunc(
 
     objFuncValue /= totalVol;
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncVonMisesStressKS.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncVonMisesStressKS.C
index 5e3a0969..0bfb522d 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncVonMisesStressKS.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncVonMisesStressKS.C
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@ void DAObjFuncVonMisesStressKS::calcObjFunc(
 
     objFuncValue = log(objValTmp) / coeffKS_;
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncWallHeatFlux.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncWallHeatFlux.C
index 73108496..80affbf2 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncWallHeatFlux.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncWallHeatFlux.C
@@ -246,8 +246,8 @@ void DAObjFuncWallHeatFlux::calcObjFunc(
     // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
     reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
 
-    // check if we need to calculate refDiffSquare.
-    this->calcRefDiffSquare(objFuncValue);
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/tests/runTests_DAPimpleFoam.py b/tests/runTests_DAPimpleFoam.py
index c2a2f574..3d0c4eef 100755
--- a/tests/runTests_DAPimpleFoam.py
+++ b/tests/runTests_DAPimpleFoam.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
                 "center": [0.25, 0.0, 0.05],
                 "scale": 1.0,
                 "addToAdjoint": True,
-                "calcRefDiffSquare": True,
+                "calcRefVar": True,
                 "ref": [0.1, 0.05, 0.04, 0.02, 0.02, 0.01, 0.0, -0.01, -0.01, -0.02]
             }
         }
diff --git a/tests/runTests_DASimpleFoamAD.py b/tests/runTests_DASimpleFoamAD.py
index 6658ec86..9b8ab5ab 100755
--- a/tests/runTests_DASimpleFoamAD.py
+++ b/tests/runTests_DASimpleFoamAD.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@
                 "center": [0.25, 0.0, 0.05],
                 "scale": 1.0 / (0.5 * U0 * U0 * A0 * 1.0),
                 "addToAdjoint": True,
-                "calcRefDiffSquare": True,
+                "calcRefVar": True,
                 "ref": [0.1]
             }
         },