A survey is made of previously reported values of the surface shear viscosity of sodium dodecyl sulphate solution which reveals inconsistencies. The origin of these inconsistencies is thought to be due to the fact that, because SDS is a soluble surfactant, the surface deformation rate is governed by a three-dimensional sublayer adjacent to the surface and is therefore inherently experiment-dependent. Because of this, only an apparent surface shear viscosity that is specific to a particular experiment can be measured. However, for an insoluble surfactant, an intrinsic two-dimensional surface viscosity can be clearly defined. Some methods of measuring an apparent Surface shear viscosity assume that the surface shear viscosity is the only surface property that determines the drainage rate from foam or individual Plateau borders but there is experimental evidence to show that other surface properties may be significant. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.