Quantifying SERS enhancements

We provide a review of the main aspects related to surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement factors (EFs), from their origins to the important issue of their practical quantification. The discussion also focuses on correcting some long-held misconceptions regarding the EFs in SERS, which still persist through the literature. We explain the main topics in simple terms, aiming at clarification of basic concepts rather than an in-depth overview of the already existing literature.