<p>Grit embedment is the surface contamination by sand particles in the abrasive waterjet machining process. A higher amount of embedment increases the chances of material failure when used in applications of fluctuating stresses. This reduces the life of the material. This work deals with a critical review of grit embedment and a comparison of possible solutions. Quantification of grit embedment is the major hurdle for initiating any research in this area. A less efficient quantification method may lead to faulty results in experimental analysis and further research. Amongst all the methods, SEM along with image processing was found to be the more appropriate one in counting the grits. The major solutions for grit embedment are water-soluble grits, the nozzle oscillation method, ice abrasive jet machining, plain waterjet as a secondary operation, and submerged AWJ. Amongst all the processes, ice abrasive jet machining gave zero grit embedment but with a compromise in cutting ability. Only submerged AWJ gave grit removal with no compromise in cutting ability without much increase in setup cost. But further research is needed to improve the visibility issues in the submerged AWJ process. Hence, a literature review on grit embedment is much needed to have a complete source of information for researchers and industry personnel.</p>