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#105941 - 08/02/08 12:22 PM
Comma Question
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VioletL
New Member
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 9
Loc: Lakeland, Florida
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How would I punctuate this sentence, which contains the word "with"? I would assume I can either put a period and capitalize the 'E' in exterior, or use a comma.
Betadine-soaked Adaptic, multiple 4x4's for bulky and compression dressing with exterior wrapping with Kling and bias stockinette was applied.
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#105946 - 08/02/08 01:47 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: VioletL]
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ebadrake
Moderator
Registered: 10/08/03
Posts: 2104
Loc: Tavares, FL; Peachtree City, G...
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Violet,
There's only one verb, so this is not a compound sentence. It's one sentence, and you have to treat it as such. If I'm reading it correctly, your series consist of three items: (1) Betadine-soaked Adaptic; (2) multiple 4 x 4s for bulky and compression dressing with exterior wrapping with Kling, (3) bias stockinette. So I would put a comma after Kling and change the verb to were. There's no apostrophe in 4 x 4s. There used to be but but it is no longer preferred style. (see BOS and Chicago Manual of Style). The two "withs" are awkward and the sentence could be "cleaned up," but I would just transcribe as dictated.
Betadine-soaked Adaptic, multiple 4x4s for bulky and compression dressing with exterior wrapping with Kling, and bias stockinette were applied.
Make sure he's not saying "bulky compression dressing..."
Ellen
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#105967 - 08/02/08 04:17 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: ebadrake]
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VioletL
New Member
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 9
Loc: Lakeland, Florida
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Thanks, I appreciate the help and for pointing out that it is one sentence. I will listen to the dictation to check out "bulky and compression dressing". I'm glad I found this forum, for I need some help with transcribing.
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#105969 - 08/02/08 04:28 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: ebadrake]
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VioletL
New Member
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 9
Loc: Lakeland, Florida
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He said bulky and compression dressing. Here is a sentence I punctuated: The patient still had active motion of the finger with no triggering at the end of the application of the dressing, and his sensation of the finger was returning.
It seems like a long sentence, would like to know how I can break it down like you did with the previous sentence. Also, the grammar check is accepting what I'm typing --- does that mean even though it may be correct, there are other ways to type the sentence? Would appreciate some help with this.
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#105973 - 08/02/08 05:09 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: VioletL]
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ebadrake
Moderator
Registered: 10/08/03
Posts: 2104
Loc: Tavares, FL; Peachtree City, G...
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Your new sentence is punctuated correctly, Violet. Here, you do have a compound sentence. The subject and verb of the first independent clause is "patient had," and the subject and verb of the second independent clause is "sensation was returning."
You shouldn't try to edit what the doctor says just in order to make the sentences shorter or to make them sound better to you. Edit only for true problems (like the subject-verb agreement error in your first example).
And, no, you can't trust the grammar checker. Doctors often dictate complicated sentences that the grammar checker can't follow. They also use passive voice a lot, which grammar checkers usually highlight. And, it's not uncommon to have what we call "clipped sentences," where the subject or the verb is missing (but understood). Sometimes (like in the physical exam or a diagnosis) a single word or phrase can stand alone.
I think you need to trust yourself and turn off the grammar checker. Even with your first sentence, the only serious problem was the verb. Omitting the final comma in a series is acceptable unless it alters the meaning of the sentence and the apostrophe was just a matter of changing styles.
If you have time, I suggest you just read through as many of the posts in this forum as you can. Many of them are very educational. You could even search for specific subjects (like commas, subject-verb, semicolons, etc.) and read a whole bunch of different posts all related to the same subject.
It also sounds like you're working without supervision; I hope not, because there will be times when you have questions only a supervisor or manager will be able to answer for you.
Ellen
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#105982 - 08/02/08 06:28 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: ebadrake]
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VioletL
New Member
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 9
Loc: Lakeland, Florida
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Thanks for the help with the compound sentence. About the 4x4s, where can I find AAMT BOS updates --- at the AHDI website? (I have the 2nd edition)
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#105984 - 08/02/08 06:39 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: VioletL]
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VioletL
New Member
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 9
Loc: Lakeland, Florida
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Also, in the compound sentence, the dictation is hard to understand, so cannot distinguish 'of' from 'in'...ie. 'motion of the finger' and 'sensation of the finger'. Is either 'of' or 'in' acceptable?
Are you an author of medical transcription books?
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#105986 - 08/02/08 06:48 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: VioletL]
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tropsicleAfter
Member
Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 2679
Loc: Vicksburg, MS
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Violet, 'of' and 'in' are two different words with different meanings. In your example, motion of the finger would be different from motion in the finger. They are not interchangeable.
_________________________
tropsicle
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#105991 - 08/02/08 07:00 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: tropsicleAfter]
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VioletL
New Member
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 9
Loc: Lakeland, Florida
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Thanks for the reply. I'm assuming then, that it would depend on the dictator's choice of words.
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#105992 - 08/02/08 07:02 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: VioletL]
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AnnR
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 18511
Loc: Ocean Park WA
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Violet, to answer your other question, Ellen was just named ADHI Educator of the Year. We are honored to have her contributing to this board. She is a special person.
Edited by AnnR (08/02/08 07:05 PM)
_________________________
so many docs dictate stuff that makes sense only to them. . .
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#105993 - 08/02/08 07:23 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: AnnR]
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VioletL
New Member
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 9
Loc: Lakeland, Florida
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Thanks for the reply. Yes, her contributing to this board is appreciated.
It seems that medical transcription is an on-going learning process and finding good resources is helpful. I'm finding that you can't always trust search engines to provide correct answers.
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#107899 - 08/17/08 07:30 PM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: VioletL]
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cathrynm
New Member
Registered: 05/24/08
Posts: 1
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I don't know how old this is, but VioletL is asking for help to transcribe a TEST dictation from the VLC medical transcription course. The reason I know this? Because I was having trouble with this same sentence, but I wasn't trying to cheat and have others decipher it for me...
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#107933 - 08/18/08 09:38 AM
Re: Comma Question
[Re: cathrynm]
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ebadrake
Moderator
Registered: 10/08/03
Posts: 2104
Loc: Tavares, FL; Peachtree City, G...
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I've taken care of it, Cathyn. Thanks for the heads-up.
Ellen
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Moderator: ebadrake
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