Style Matters!
nd
Adventures in the 2 edition
of the AAMT Book of Style.
Brenda J. Hurley, CMT, FAAMT
Director of Industry Relations
To hyphen or not to hyphen, what is your
answer?
He was found to have a T wave on his
earlier EKG.
He was found to have a T wave
abnormality on his earlier EKG.
1
To hyphen or not to hyphen, what is your answer?
ANSWER:
He was found to have a T wave on his
earlier EKG.
He was found to have a T-wave
abnormality on his earlier EKG.
Page 59.
1
Which is the preferred style?
TIS N0 M0
Tis N0 M0
TiS N0 M0
2
Which is the preferred style?
TIS N0 M0
Tis N0 M0
TiS N0 M0
ANSWER: Tis N0 M0
Page 55.
2
She has a ____________ degree
in political science.
Bachelor’s
bachelor’s
bachelors
3
She has a __________ degree in
political science.
Bachelor’s
bachelor’s
bachelors
ANSWER: bachelor’s
Page 35.
3
Which is the preferred style?
5 x 3 x 2 cm lesion
5- x 3- x 2-cm lesion
5 x 3 x 2-cm lesion
4
Which is the preferred style?
5 x 3 x 2 cm lesion
5- x 3- x 2-cm lesion
5 x 3 x 2-cm lesion
ANSWER: 5 x 3 x 2-cm lesion
Page 96.
4
She is not speaking to her
___________ at this time.
ex-husband
exhusband
X-husband
5
She is not speaking to her
___________ at this time.
ex-husband
exhusband
X-husband
ANSWER: ex-husband
Pages 99, 164-165.
5
What would you do with the following?
Jane Doe, MT
Mrs. Jane Doe, CMT
Dear Dr. Smith, MD:
6
What would you do with the following?
Jane Doe, MT
Mrs. Jane Doe, CMT
Dear Dr. Smith, MD:
ANSWERS:
Jane Doe
Jane Doe, CMT
Dear Dr. Smith:
Pages 65, 395, 114-115.
6
Is the following punctuated correctly?
John B. Smith, MD was his primary
care doctor.
7
Is the following punctuated correctly?
John B. Smith, MD was his primary care
doctor.
ANSWER: No, a comma is needed
after MD.
Page 248.
7
Which is the preferred style?
10 ml
10 ML
10 mL
8
Which is the preferred style?
10 ml
10 ML
10 mL
ANSWER: 10 mL
Page 257.
8
Which is the preferred style?
pro time
protime
pro-time
9
Which is the preferred style?
pro time
protime
pro-time
ANSWER: pro time
Page 337.
9
Does the following represent the
correct use of capitalization?
She is a Methodist who speaks
excellent Chinese.
10
Does the following represent the
correct use of capitalization?
She is a Methodist who speaks
excellent Chinese.
ANSWER: Yes.
Page 367.
10
The left biceps _______ (was or
were) weak.
11
The left biceps _______ (was or
were) weak.
ANSWER: was
Page 378.
11
The _________ (nonCMTs or
non-CMTs) registered today.
12
The _________ (nonCMTs or
non-CMTs) registered today.
ANSWER: non-CMTs
Page 331.
12
Bilaterally ________ (Babinski’s
or Babinskis) were negative.
13
Bilaterally ________ (Babinski’s or
Babinskis) were negative.
ANSWER: Babinskis
Page 161.
13
The fee for today’s office visit is
only ________ ($25 or $25.00).
14
The fee for today’s office visit is only
________ ($25 or $25.00).
ANSWER: $25
Page 143.
14
She moved to ________ (GA or
Georgia) several years ago.
15
She moved to ________ (GA or
Georgia) several years ago.
ANSWER: Georgia
Page 190.
15
Earlier 20 mEq _______ (was or were)
given.
16
Earlier 20 mEq _______ (was or were)
given.
ANSWER: was
Page 275.
16
The following represents preferred
style?
It was secured with a Ligaclip.
17
The following represents preferred
style?
It was secured with a Ligaclip.
ANSWER: Yes.
Page 266.
17
The cultures were negative ________.
x3
X3
x3
X3
18
The cultures were negative ________.
x3
X3
x3
X3
ANSWER: x3
Page 427-428.
18
Are the following sentences punctuated correctly?
It is a medication-resistant infection.
The infection was medication-resistant.
19
Are the following sentences punctuated correctly?
It is a medication-resistant infection.
The infection was medication-resistant.
ANSWER: Yes.
Page 95.
19
The Pap smear showed __________
a. Ascus
b. ASCUS
c. ASK US
20
The Pap smear showed __________
a. Ascus
b. ASCUS
c. ASK US
ANSWER: b. ASCUS
Page 51.
20
The following sentence is punctuated correctly.
The medication was self-administered.
21
The following sentence is punctuated correctly.
The medication was self-administered.
ANSWER: Yes
Page 331.
21
Demonstrate the following in
preferred style.
• Xylocaine with epinephrine 1:200,000
• I:E ratio
22
Demonstrate the following in
preferred style.
ANSWER:
• Xylocaine with epinephrine 1:200,000
• I-to-E ratio
Page 348-349.
22
Demonstrate the following in
preferred style.
•He visited the U.S. last year.
•She wants to become a U.S. citizen.
23
Demonstrate the following in
preferred style.
ANSWER:
•He visited the United States last year.
•She wants to become a U.S. citizen.
Page 403.
23
Which is the preferred style?
Internet
internet
24
Which is the preferred style?
Internet
internet
ANSWER: Internet
Pages 104, 470.
24
When dictated as “aeriation” how would you transcribe it?
aeriation
aeration
25
When dictated as “aeriation” how would you transcribe it?
aeriation
aeration
ANSWER: aeration
Page 381.
25
Which suture is smaller?
1-0
11-0
26
Which suture is smaller?
1-0
11-0
ANSWER: 11-0
Pages 380-381.
26
Which is preferred?
1. Echovirus
2. ECHOvirus
3. echovirus
4. echo virus
27
Which is preferred?
1. Echovirus
2. ECHOvirus
3. echovirus
4. echo virus
ANSWER: 3. echovirus
Page 419.
27
If “re-x-ray” was dictated, which of
the following would be preferred?
1. re-x-ray
2. x-ray again
3. x-ray x2
4. x-ray
28
If “re-x-ray” was dictated, which of
the following would be preferred?
1. re-x-ray
2. x-ray again
3. x-ray x2
4. x-ray
ANSWER: 2. x-ray again
Pages 428-429.
28
Which of the following is
preferred style?
The family history is only known from the
21st __________ (century or Century).
29
Which of the following is
preferred style?
The family history is only known from the
21st __________ (century or Century).
ANSWER: century
Page 432.
29
Which of the following
is preferred style?
He was studying the ________
(fifth or 5th) century in school.
30
Which of the following
is preferred style?
He was studying the ________
(fifth or 5th) century in school.
ANSWER: fifth
30
Page 432.
Which of the following is
preferred style?
We _________ (can not or cannot) make a
diagnosis without more studies.
31
Which of the following is
preferred style?
We _________ (can not or cannot) make a
diagnosis without more studies.
ANSWER: cannot
Page 56.
31
She is scheduled for surgery at
_________ tomorrow.
1. 10:00 a.m.
2. 10 a.m.
3. 10 AM
4. 10:00 AM
32
She is scheduled for surgery at
_________ tomorrow.
1. 10:00 a.m.
2. 10 a.m.
3. 10 AM
4. 10:00 AM
ANSWER: 10 a.m.
32
Pages 22, 391.
The federal ___________ offered the
Canadian ____________ a special trade
agreement.
1. Government
government
2. government
Government
3. Government
Government
4. government
government
33
The federal ___________ offered the
Canadian ____________ a special trade
agreement.
1. Government
government
2. government
Government
3. Government
Government
4. government
government
ANSWER: 4. government in both uses
Page 194.
33
The platelets were found to be
___________.
340,000
340K
34
The platelets were found to be
___________.
340,000
340K
ANSWER: 340,000
Page 227.
34
Hematocrits were in the
__________ range.
30-32
30 to 32
35
Hematocrits were in the
__________ range.
30-32
30 to 32
ANSWER: either one!
Page 347.
35
It is true that ______________ has
been very hard on Florida this year!
1. Mother Nature
2. Mother nature
3. mother Nature
4. mother nature
36
It is true that ______________ has
been very hard on Florida this year!
1. Mother Nature
2. Mother nature
3. mother Nature
4. mother nature
ANSWER: 1. Mother Nature
Page 313.
36
Thanks for letting me give my ________
(2 cents or 2 cents’) worth on style.
37
Thanks for letting me give my ________
(2 cents or 2 cents’) worth on style.
ANSWER: 2 cents’ worth
Page 144.
37
Appendix B (page 461)
Dangerous Abbreviations and Dose Designations
(Now on the JCAHO Do Not Use List.)
Do Not Use:
AU (each ear)
(mistaken for OU, each eye)
Do Use:
write out
D/C (discharge or discontinue) write out
Use complete spelling of all drug names.
I.U.
(International Units)
write out
38
q.o.d. (every other day) write out
q.d. (every day)
write out
t.i.w.
write out
(three times a week)
U or u
use unit
H.S.
write out
(half-strength or bedtime)
cc
(cubic centimeters)
use mL
MS
write out
(morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate)
39
Remember,
Style Matters!
Brenda J. Hurley, CMT, FAAMT
Director of Industry Relations
Bhurley@medwaremt.com