An electrical screw-on terminal assembly is provided for a connection to wires or cables, particularly those with eye connectors. The terminal assembly has a housing and a screw which, as it is screwed in, passes through a first plate, and when fully screwed in, a second plate. The first plate is mounted so that it cannot rotate or be moved longitudinally, while the second plate is mounted so that it can be moved longitudinally but not rotated. When the terminal is completely open, the second plate abuts a stop on the housing and is held in this position by a resistive force, which can be overcome by the screw, so that the aperture onto which the cable or cable eye is inserted remains unobstructed. The screw can be screwed into a bore in the first plate until it engages the second plate. The bore in the first plate has no internal thread, but has projections which engage the screw threads.