diff --git a/src/ol/layer/vectorlayer.js b/src/ol/layer/vectorlayer.js
index bb773113ef..77dc6698fb 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/vectorlayer.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/vectorlayer.js
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ ol.layer.Vector.prototype.groupFeaturesBySymbolizerLiteral =
     } else {
       if (!goog.isNull(style)) {
         // layer style second
-        literals = style.apply(feature);
+        literals = style.createLiterals(feature);
       } else {
         literals = ol.style.Style.applyDefaultStyle(feature);
       }
diff --git a/src/ol/style/style.js b/src/ol/style/style.js
index 8401fafc56..dbb63c8df1 100644
--- a/src/ol/style/style.js
+++ b/src/ol/style/style.js
@@ -28,11 +28,12 @@ ol.style.Style = function(options) {
 
 
 /**
+ * Create an array of symbolizer literals for a feature.
  * @param {ol.Feature} feature Feature.
  * @return {Array.<ol.style.Literal>} Symbolizer literals for the
  *     feature.
  */
-ol.style.Style.prototype.apply = function(feature) {
+ol.style.Style.prototype.createLiterals = function(feature) {
   var rules = this.rules_,
       literals = [],
       rule, symbolizers;
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ ol.style.Style.prototype.apply = function(feature) {
  *     the feature.
  */
 ol.style.Style.applyDefaultStyle = function(feature) {
-  return ol.style.Style.defaults.apply(feature);
+  return ol.style.Style.defaults.createLiterals(feature);
 };
 
 
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/style/style.test.js b/test/spec/ol/style/style.test.js
index e1bb8838e9..52535c652d 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/style/style.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/style/style.test.js
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ goog.provide('ol.test.style.Style');
 
 describe('ol.style.Style', function() {
 
-  describe('#apply()', function() {
+  describe('#createLiterals()', function() {
 
-    it('applies a style to a feature', function() {
+    it('creates symbolizer literals for a feature', function() {
 
       var style = new ol.style.Style({
         rules: [
@@ -23,10 +23,12 @@ describe('ol.style.Style', function() {
         geometry: new ol.geom.Point([1, 2])
       });
       feature.set('foo', 'bar');
-      expect(style.apply(feature).length).to.be(1);
-      expect(style.apply(feature)[0].fillColor).to.be('#BADA55');
+      var literals = style.createLiterals(feature);
+      expect(literals).to.have.length(1);
+      expect(literals[0].fillColor).to.be('#BADA55');
+
       feature.set('foo', 'baz');
-      expect(style.apply(feature).length).to.be(0);
+      expect(style.createLiterals(feature)).to.have.length(0);
     });
 
   });