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The structure of BiVO₄ has been determined by the Rietveld method at 300, 573 and 898 K and confirms the space group of the ferroelastic phase as 12/a and that of the paraelastic phase as 14₁/a. The displacement vectors of the atoms involved in the switching of ferroelastic states are calculated and indicate that the Bi displacements are the controlling factors in the process. An analysis is given of the eigenvectors of the B_g mode responsible for the transition.