A useful starting point
An ingredient measured as pieces can occupy a different volume from the same ingredient measured after chopping. A short phrase may indicate the intended order, but ambiguous wording should not be treated as a precise guarantee.
Keep it in your kitchen notes
Read the ingredient line together with the method and any author’s notes. Identify whether preparation is specified before or after the measurement. Preserve that wording in your working notes, especially when a recipe uses volume for irregular pieces. If the distinction is essential and unclear, seek clarification. A clearer note helps repeat the method without inventing an exact conversion.