|
|
|
1 |
Spacing With Punctuation Marks |
|
|
Do Not Type a Space ...
- before or after a hyphen
- before or after a slash
- before or after a dash
- between a number and percent sign
- between parentheses and the enclosed material
- between any word and the punctuation following it.
- between the number and the colon used to indicate a dilute
solution or ratio, e.g. 1:4
- on either side of the colon when expressing the time of day
- before an apostrophe
- before or after a comma used within numbers
- before or after an ampersand in abbreviations, e.g., C&S
- on either side of the colon when expressing ratios e.g. 1:1
- after the closing parenthesis if another mark of punctuation
follows
- when using the word “times” as x – e.g.,
x3
Type One Space...
- between words
- after a comma
- after a semicolon
- after a period following an initial
- after the closing parenthesis
- on each side of the x in an expression of dimension, e.g.
4 x 4 type 2 spaces...
- after punctuation at the end of a sentence
- after a colon except when expressing time or a dilution ratio
|
2 |
Numbers |
|
|
- Spell out WHOLE numbers zero through nine, use numerals
for 10 and above (this may change in the near future as the
AAMT is trying to standardize using numerals only.
-
Use numerals when numbers are directly used with symbols.
-
Use numerals when expressing ages.
-
If it is an approximate age, spell it out.
-
Use numerals to express size and measurements.
-
Use numerals for everything metric. Centimeters, millimeters,
liters, etc.
-
Use numerals in all expressions pertaining to drugs - this
includes strength, dosage and directions. Z-PAK 2 daily on
day 1, then 1 daily on days 2-5.
-
Spell out and hyphenate fractions standing alone. He drank
one-half a gallon of apple juice.
-
Use numerals to express mixed fractions. 1 1/2 years.
-
Use commas only if there are 5 or more digits when expressing
numbers. e.g. 10,000, 4000.
-
Use numerals when expressing vital statistics including height,
weight, blood pressure, pulse and respiration.
-
Substitute a hyphen for the word "to". He is to
take 1-2 tablets of Tylenol every 4-6 hours p.r.n.
-
Leave a space between numerals and measurements unless they
form a compound modifier. It is 6 cm below the ...... It is
1200 mL....... A 4-cm nevus....... A 2 x 2-mm lesion.......
-
Always use 0 in front of the decimal point if the number is
not a whole number. 0.75 mg
-
Use decimal fractions with metric measurements. 1.5 cm
-
Use mixed fractions with English system measurements. 1 1/2
inch
-
Use numerals for: Ages, units of measure, vital statistics,
lab values and in other instances where it is important to
communicate clearly the number referenced. Examples: 4 inches,
3-year-old. She has three dogs who have eight fleas each.
A total of 7 basal cell carcinomas removed from his left arm.
(7 for clarity)
-
Do not start a sentence using a number. Spell out the number
or recast the sentence.
-
Dictated as: 10 milligrams of Reglan was administered stat.
Transcribe as: Reglan 10 mg was administered stat.
-
Exception - It is acceptable to begin a sentence with a date.
Example - 2004 is going to be a prosperous year.
-
Plurals - do not use an apostrophe to form plural numbers.
-
4 x 4s
-
She was in her 20s or twenties (this is acceptable because
it is not a definite number).
-
She was born in the 1970s.
-
Series of numbers - Use numerals if at least one is greater
than nine or if there is a mixed or decimal fraction.
-
Example - Jeff has 1 job, 1 place of employment and 18 hours
a day to do the work.
-
Cranial nerves - Preferred: Roman numerals I-XII
-
Diabetes type 1 and type 2, not Roman numerals I and II -
this was recently standardized by the American Diabetes Association.
-
Apgar scores - Use numerals for ratings and spell out numbers
relating to minutes. Rationale - to draw attention to the
scores. Example: The Apgar scores were 6 and 9 at one and
five minutes. Apgar is not an acronym.
-
Time Examples
-
8:30 a.m. - morning
-
8:30 p.m. - evening
-
noon, not 12:00 noon
-
midnight, not 12:00 midnight or 12 'o'clock or 12:00 p.m.
|
3 |
Measurements |
|
|
- Spell out all nonmetric measurements. Feet, inches, pounds,
ounces, yards, grain, dram, etc.
- Exceptions:
- Use tsp for teaspoon
- Use tbsp for tablespoon
- Abbreviate all metric measurements.
- Use F for Fahrenheit IF accompanied by the symbol for degree.
98.6°F
- Spell out Fahrenheit IF degree is spelled out. 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit.
- Use C for Celsius IF accompanied by the symbol for degree.
36°C
- Spell out Celsius IF degree is spelled out. 36 degrees Celsius.
- In tables and technical documents:
- Use ft or ' for feet
- Use " for inches
- Use yd for yard
- Use pt for pint
- Use oz for ounce
- Use fl oz for fluid ounce
- Abbreviate most unusual units of measure when accompanied
by numerals Dictated as Transcribed as:
- 0.8 centimeters squared 0.8 sq cm
- 22 millimeters of mercury 22 mmHg
- 3.0 liters per minute 3.0 L/min
- 40 millimeters per hour 40 mm/h
- 8 grams percent 8 gm%
|
4 |
Symbols |
|
|
- Spell out a symbol when used alone (with no number).
- Use symbols when they are used with numbers
- Common Symbols
Dictated as Transcribed as:
- Four to five 4-5
- Number 3 0 #3-0
- Twenty-twenty vision 20/20
- BP 120 over 80 120/80
- Grade two over six 2/6
- A positive A+
- Three point five centimeters 3.5 cm
- Point five centimeters 0.5 cm
|
5 |
Capitalization |
|
|
Capitalize...
- Abbreviations when the words they represent are capitalized
- The first word following a colon if it begins a complete sentence
or is part of an outline entry
- Most abbreviations of English words
- The first letter of chemical elements
- The names of the days of the week, months, holidays, historic
events and religious festivals
- The names of specific departments or sections in the institution
only when the institution name is included
- The names of diseases that include proper nouns, eponyms or
genus names
- The trade or brand names of drugs
- A quote when it is a complete sentence
- The names of races, peoples, religions and languages. Black,
as a race designation would be capitalized, however client
preferences may differ.
Do Not Capitalize...
- The spelled out names of the chemical elements
- The seasons of the year
- The common names of diseases
- The names of viruses unless they include a proper noun
- Generic drug names
- The common noun following the brand name. Example - Tylenol
tablets
- The names of medical or surgical specialties
- Designations based on skin color, like "a tall white
man."
|
6 |
Hyphenation |
|
|
- These prefixes do not require the use of a connecting hyphen
in compound terms:
- ante intra semi
- anti micro sub
- bi mid super
- co non supra
- contra over trans
|
7 |
Stage, Type, and Fracture Classifications |
|
|
- Lowercase the words "stage" and "type,"
and use roman numerals. For subdivisions of stages, follow
The AAMT Book of Style rules for cancer classifications, and
add on-line capital letters without spaces or hyphens:
- Examples
- complex regional pain syndrome stage I
- stage II-III
- type I radioulnar synostosis
- type II open fracture
- type IIIB
- Garden II femoral neck fracture
- Salter VI fracture
|
8 |
Grade |
|
|
- Lowercase the word "grade" and use arabic numerals:
- Examples:
- grade 1 chondromalacia patellae
- grade 2
- grade 3-4
|
9 |
Level, Phase, and Class |
|
|
- Lowercase the words "level," "phase,"
and "class," and use arabic or roman numerals according
to the system being referenced:
- Examples:
- Radiation Therapy Oncology phase III
- Haggitt level 4 colorectal adenocarcinoma
- physical status class 2E
|
10 |
Wrist Arthroscopy Portals |
|
|
- Use arabic numerals. Two numbers should be hyphenated without
spaces; add on-line capital letters with no space:
- Examples:
- 1-2 portal
- portal 3-4
- 6U wrist portal
|
|