4 registered
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and 12 anonymous users online.
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#8587 - 01/27/05 05:08 AM
Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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Susan Francis CMT
Moderator-MTEC
Registered: 07/03/98
Posts: 472
Loc: Akron OH USA
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I posted this on the M-TEC forums for our students, but wanted to share it with everyone here as well.
I have spent a little time today looking for some information on the wonderful WorldWideWeb. Do you know what I found? It seems that improper English grammar, misspellings and slang terms are running rampant in our neighborhoods! I think I have something we can all do to help "the cause." (lol)
If you are guilty of misspelling the following, please repeat after me - I will NOT participate in poor English usage and misspelling in my neighborhood!
TERMS THAT MAKE ME SEE RED
alot (arrrrrrghhhh) - WRONG
Proper way to write that term is a lot.
atleast (sigh)
The correct term is at least. (I'm guilty of this one.)
seperate
The correct spelling is separate.
definately
This one is usually spelled phonetically. The correct spelling is definitely.
dispair
The correct spelling is despair.
I could go on, but I think if we can tackle at least (not atleast) these few, we have a good start on saving the world (hehe). Ok now, if you were guilty of misspelling any of the above.......your assignment is to check Webster's or any current English dictionary and write each of these terms 100 times! Class dismissed. 
Susan
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#8588 - 01/27/05 09:46 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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mptang
Member
Registered: 10/24/99
Posts: 3170
Loc: Freedonia
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I'm okay with combining medical terms, even those not found in a medical dictionary, if they make sense; however, I dig my heels in when I can't find a combined English word in a dictionary.
the one I see most often as an editor is "moreso" instead of "more so." to my knowledge, this isn't an acceptable spelling in any dictionary, yet there are several hundred thousand hits on Google. did I miss a memo?
whenever I see it in text, it always looks like a random Spanish word thrown in there {moh-RRRAY-so!}. since there so many MTs combining this word, I thought I'd throw it in the mix.
olé 
Tangioso
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#8589 - 01/28/05 06:32 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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Susan Francis CMT
Moderator-MTEC
Registered: 07/03/98
Posts: 472
Loc: Akron OH USA
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It does get fairly confusing when you see something that has become common place. It is similar to dictators who start using slang terms (epi or sig) and it becomes acceptable. Sure makes one wonder what is actually correct!
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#8590 - 03/19/05 06:47 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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cidalia
Member
Registered: 01/13/04
Posts: 303
Loc: ON, Canada
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One that drives me crazy is when people write "sence" instead of "sense."
Another common error is "advise" used in the place of "advice" as in, "Let me give you some advise" EEEK!
advice is a noun.
advise is a verb.
And they do not sound alike. Whereas the "c" in "advice" is a soft "c" and sounds like an "s," the "s" in "advise" actually sounds like a "z."
Okay, I've rambled on enough.
_________________________
Cidalia
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#8591 - 03/19/05 08:47 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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Susan Francis CMT
Moderator-MTEC
Registered: 07/03/98
Posts: 472
Loc: Akron OH USA
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Advice and advise are two more excellent examples. Who ever said English was easy!? 
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#8592 - 03/22/05 07:29 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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China
Member
Registered: 11/19/03
Posts: 57
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Hello from another M-TEC grad! The one that makes me crazy is "in tact". GRRRRR! It seems so easy to remember that this word needs to be kept "intact"~!!
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#8593 - 03/22/05 11:39 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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MTMore
Member
Registered: 11/22/04
Posts: 151
Loc: SW Oklahoma
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Quote:
One that drives me crazy is when people write "sence" instead of "sense."
Another common error is "advise" used in the place of "advice" as in, "Let me give you some advise" EEEK!
advice is a noun.
advise is a verb.
And they do not sound alike. Whereas the "c" in "advice" is a soft "c" and sounds like an "s," the "s" in "advise" actually sounds like a "z."
Okay, I've rambled on enough.
I totally agree with you on those 2 words. I'm a message board veteran, and I can't tell you how many times a day I see those words used improperly. It drives me bonkers! 
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#8594 - 03/23/05 09:50 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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Susan Francis CMT
Moderator-MTEC
Registered: 07/03/98
Posts: 472
Loc: Akron OH USA
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Quote:
Hello from another M-TEC grad! The one that makes me crazy is "in tact". GRRRRR! It seems so easy to remember that this word needs to be kept "intact"~!!
Hi, nice to see you here!:) That is another good one!
My all time favorite is "alot" and I can't tell you how many times I see it on open forums or on assignments! 
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#8595 - 03/23/05 11:04 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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ChadSines
Member
Registered: 11/24/04
Posts: 1173
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I admit to using alot in an informal setting, such as forums, MSN and email. I gotta (did that one just to annoy. hehe) stop using it.
In some ways the sheer speed of communication via email, MSN and forums has seemed to reduce the time people take in composing their thoughts. Everyone is so hurried to say things, they do not look to see if they say it right.
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#8596 - 03/25/05 09:55 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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Susan Francis CMT
Moderator-MTEC
Registered: 07/03/98
Posts: 472
Loc: Akron OH USA
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Quote:
I admit to using alot in an informal setting, such as forums, MSN and email. I gotta (did that one just to annoy. hehe) stop using it.
In some ways the sheer speed of communication via email, MSN and forums has seemed to reduce the time people take in composing their thoughts. Everyone is so hurried to say things, they do not look to see if they say it right.
I agree with you there, Chad. I think the best way to drop a bad habit is to just be aware of the problem. Seems like you are already one step ahead! I will be watching your posts more closely now though (hehehe).
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#8597 - 04/09/05 10:17 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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cidalia
Member
Registered: 01/13/04
Posts: 303
Loc: ON, Canada
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I have to add, one of the funniest errors I've seen was when someone typed "for all intensive purposes."
They meant "for all intents and purposes."
Tee hee.
_________________________
Cidalia
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#8598 - 04/14/05 09:11 PM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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ChadSines
Member
Registered: 11/24/04
Posts: 1173
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I think it is funny when people use phrases like that over and over and never seem to catch on until someone points it out.
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#8599 - 04/16/05 08:08 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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Jackie
Member
Registered: 08/11/98
Posts: 2283
Loc: Akron, OH
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I have to say, Susan, that I also see a lot of people misusing "affect" and "effect," and, believe it or not, in radiology, the word "nucular" for "nuclear." Whatever happened to the good ole' days when we were told to "look it up" if we were in doubt about how something was spelled...sigh... 
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#8600 - 04/16/05 01:31 PM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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ChadSines
Member
Registered: 11/24/04
Posts: 1173
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Silly. Those days are gone.
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#8601 - 04/18/05 08:22 PM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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Gentlsong
Junior Member
Registered: 07/27/03
Posts: 15
Loc: Tennessee
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Oh no they aren't! Just ask Susan or your M-TEC instructor!
Sylvia
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#8602 - 04/21/05 05:54 AM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
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Susan Francis CMT
Moderator-MTEC
Registered: 07/03/98
Posts: 472
Loc: Akron OH USA
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Quote:
Silly. Those days are gone.
Which days would that be? Not the look it up days, right? (lol) We've come a long way since I was in school and working full time in the hospital as an MT. They never heard of outsourcing WAY back then! We had possibly 2 books on our desk that we shared - a Dorland's and a PDR, and not always the most current editions either. We were lucky that we worked in a "pool" so that we could help each other out. We've definitely come a long way, baby! I still prefer hard text to internet searches though. Even when I google a term, I still cross reference it with Dorland's or Stedman's references. Just an old habit that won't die any time soon! It really is a good habit for all MTs to embrace, especially students in training (ahem). Whether you prefer hard text or electronic references, please be sure to cross reference everything until you get a good grasp of the terminology and origin of the process it relates to.
When it comes to medical terms, or proper English terminology, the "when in doubt leave it out" mantra just does not float. Now, if you want to talk commas............ that's a different class topic all together!
Great posts, everyone. Keep 'em coming.
Susan
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#102570 - 07/02/08 07:11 PM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
[Re: Susan Francis CMT]
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AnneMD001
New Member
Registered: 07/02/08
Posts: 5
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Oh my gosh! Reading these errors just makes me want to ball!!!
Oops! I meant "bawl!" 
I had to laugh the other day when someone wrote that they were so frustrated that "they fell to the floor and balled!"
Anne
Brand new M-Tec Student as of TODAY! 
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#102600 - 07/02/08 09:10 PM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
[Re: AnneMD001]
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Susan Francis CMT
Moderator-MTEC
Registered: 07/03/98
Posts: 472
Loc: Akron OH USA
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Hi Anne and welcome aboard!  I feel your pain concerning the misuse of terms. The one that has me a little frazzled lately is site versus sight versus cite. I think we might have to make everyone look those up and write applicable sentences for each!
Hope to see you over on the M-TEC forums soon.
Susan
http://www.mtecinc.com
Edited by Susan Francis CMT (07/02/08 09:11 PM)
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#102610 - 07/02/08 09:51 PM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
[Re: Susan Francis CMT]
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moaab
Member
Registered: 02/02/08
Posts: 480
Loc: Chicagoland
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How about the made up word "irregardless?"
_________________________
Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.........Abraham Lincoln's mother
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#102614 - 07/02/08 10:00 PM
Re: Writing Assignment -- Don't Be Afraid -- Look Inside! :)
[Re: Susan Francis CMT]
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elisha23
New Member
Registered: 05/27/08
Posts: 15
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One of my most recent grammar encounters was a good one. Compliment vs. complement.....I had written that I thought 2 things would complement each other well, and someone pointed out to me that I had spelled it wrong, that it should have been compliment. I was appalled at first, until I looked it up!
compliment: a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration
complement: either of two parts that mutually complete each other
Sadly, I think that complement is so infrequently used correctly that the majority of people don't even recognize it anymore.
And, just for fun - at my last job I worked doing patient registrations for a hospital. Sometimes employees would send e-mails out to the group just to state something like "when a certain patient calls back, they need their insurance updated." One girl sent out an e-mail with patient name and instructions, and then almost immediately sent another one with the correct spelling of the patient's last name and this comment - and I quote, "Sorry, I spelt it wrong." 
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Moderator: Susan Francis CMT
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