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StayWell Style Guide for Digital and Print* Patient Education Content Created: July 2015 REFERENCES Dictionaries American Heritage Dictionary, 4th Edition Use the first spelling and first plural given. Capitalize words according to main entry or if a definition is labeled cap; lowercase if labeled often cap unless listed differently in this style guide. Style manuals First reference is this style guide. Second reference is AP. For further reference, consult the Chicago Manual of Style. Usage guides Use Words Into Type and The Elements of Style for grammar and usage. Medical references Dorland’s Medical Dictionary (31st and 32nd Editions) *For print-only items, see Print Addendum A *********** A1C AA Alcoholics Anonymous AARP Formal name of the organization; formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons abbreviations and acronyms • Generally, do not use abbreviations in running text for terms that normally are spelled out. If you need to avoid repeating long terms or phrases, use the full term first, then the abbreviation in parentheses: primary care physician (PCP). • NOTE: If abbreviation/acronym is well known (such as FBI, FDA, CDC), no need to spell out even on first reference. • Try to avoid “alphabet soup” as much as possible. Do not use an acronym for an organization or agency mentioned only once in an article. For example, write “American Heart Association (AHA)” on first reference and AHA for all other references. If the heart organization is mentioned only once, do not include the acronym. • In headlines and subheads, use abbreviation after full spelling ONLY if abbreviation is well known (for example, COPD). If abbreviation is not well known, use it after first mention in text only if it is used again in article. • Abbreviations may be used in tables, charts, and the like, with a footnote containing the full term if it is not a commonly used abbreviation. • Generally, avoid using etc., i.e., e.g., in text; use the phrases and so forth, that is, for example. • Generally, it’s OK to use an abbreviation for metric units on first reference, if widely recognizable (g, mg). Use your judgment. • Generally, eliminate periods in units of all kinds (mph, mg) unless confusing (in. for inch, no. for number). Also omit periods in recipe terms (tsp, tbsp), in acronyms (COBRA, FACS), and in shortened forms (HMO, COB). • No periods for academic degrees and professional titles: DDS, DO, FACS, MD, PhD, PsyD, RN • No periods in agencies/organizations: AMA, CDC, NIH, OSHA, WHO • No periods in common medical abbreviations/acronyms: CT, ECG/EKG, IV, MRI, RDA, STD, STI, TIA academic degrees Bachelor of Arts, BA (no spaces), bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Arts in history; Master of Arts, MA, master’s degree, Master of Arts in history; Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, doctorate: She received a master’s degree in nursing. Or: She received her Master of Arts six years ago. Use the abbreviations only after a person’s name: Mary Andrews, PhD. accreditation The NCQA awards four types: Excellent, Commendable, Accredited, and Provisional. Ace bandage “Ace” is capitalized because it is a trademarked name. -ache No hyphen: earache, headache, stomachache Achilles’ heel But Achilles tendon (no apostrophe) acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) The abbreviation, AIDS, is acceptable in all references. NOTE: AIDS is the disease; HIV is the virus. active voice, not passive A passive sentence is one containing any form of the verbs to be or to have plus a participle: 1. Studies have demonstrated that smokers are at high risk for smoke inhalation. 2. The bicycle was damaged beyond repair. 3. Time is running out. 4. Attention must be paid. 5. Injured climbers were airlifted to the nearest hospital by rescue workers. The occasional passive sentence is perfectly acceptable, and may in fact be unavoidable. It’s common in certain types of writing. Government, the military, and big business love it—especially for bad news—because it neatly sidesteps the question of who did what. The doubly passive “Your taxes have been raised” is much easier to say than “We raised your taxes.” But since passivity is the enemy of clarity, we don’t want to use it in our product. Seek and destroy passive sentences in your writing. Recast them using active verbs. Don’t go overboard—of the above examples, #2 and #3 are idiomatic and don’t need intervention, and #4 is a quote from Arthur Miller (hence unassailable)—but take the time to make the obvious repairs: “Studies show that smokers are at high risk for smoke inhalation.” “Rescue workers airlifted the injured climbers to the nearest hospital.” ADD attention deficit disorder (see ADHD); according to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, ADHD is preferred. additionally DO NOT USE. Use In addition. addresses • When giving or listing full addresses, use the following abbreviations for street designations: Ave., Blvd., St., Pkwy., Tpk. Spell out all others, and do not abbreviate street designations when they appear without the full address. Always spell out Road and Drive. • Use the two-letter post office abbreviation for a state only when it is followed by the ZIP code. For partial locations in text, use AP abbreviations (Walden Pond is in Concord, Mass.). See state names. Spell out state names when no city/town is given. • No comma between state and ZIP code. • Do not abbreviate North, East, South, or West when used before or after a street name, but use NW, SE, NE, and SW before or after a street name. • Building and suite come before street address (Midtown Plaza II, Suite 300, 1360 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309). ADHD attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (see ADD); according to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, ADHD is preferred. advance directive An advance directive describes the care a patient wants if he or she becomes unable to make medical decisions. Examples: living will (allows a terminally ill patient to describe the kind of treatment he or she wants in certain situations); durable power of attorney for healthcare (states whom the patient has chosen to make healthcare decisions if the patient becomes unable to do so); do-not-resuscitate order (patient’s request to not have CPR if his or her heartbeat or breathing stops). African American No hyphen if used as a noun; hyphenate as an adjective: African-American women. Make sure that this term (not black) is used in article sources; otherwise use black. aftercare aftereffect afterward Not afterwards. after-work Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ages Use figures for ages: 2-month-old baby, 5-year-olds, 25 years old, in her 50s, infants younger than age 6 months. Do not use aged as an adjective. For people: age 13 or older, age 25, teenage, school-age, ages 35 to 40, between ages 40 and 50, ages 65 and older. EXCEPTION: middleaged. See Over/Under. AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome. NOTE: AIDS is the disease; HIV is the virus. air bag Not airbag. airborne air conditioner Air conditioner and air conditioning are not hyphenated as nouns. But air-condition (verb) and air-conditioned (adj.). air-dry airtight Al-Anon, Alateen Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) all right Not alright. alpha-blocker a.m. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) American College of Sports Medicine, in Indianapolis American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) American Indian Not Native American. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) DO NOT USE. See bicycle helmets. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) DO NOT USE. See bicycle helmets. among For three or more. Use between for two. ampersand (&) Do not use in headings and in text except for medical tests and procedures (D&C), company names designated by initials (AT&T), or company names that include an ampersand as part of their official name (the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology). Exceptions may also be made for “Post & Save,” “Q & A,” “Lunch & Learn,” etc. May be OK in charts. and/or Rewrite to avoid this expression when possible. and more Avoid using this phrase at the end of a series, as in “Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, and more.” The word “including” indicates you are not offering a complete list. See including. anesthesia This refers either to a drug given for medical or surgical purposes to bring about the partial or total loss of sensation, or the loss of sensation itself brought about by the drug. anesthetic A drug or agent used to abolish the sensation of pain. ANSI American National Standards Institute. DO NOT USE. See U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. anti-inflammatory antivenin Not antivenom. apostrophe • Plural words ending in s need apostrophe only (two days’ work). Proper nouns ending in s need apostrophe only (Ms. Adams’ home). Common nouns ending in s need an apostrophe plus s. • Do not use with plurals of years (1990s). • Use after a single letter (p’s and q’s, z’s) but not after multiple letters together (ABCs). See also plurals. app, application application on first reference; app on second reference only and as shorthand in headlines Area Agencies on Aging armrest asthmatics DO NOT USE. Use people with asthma. ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) DO NOT USE. See bicycle helmets. at risk At risk for, not at risk of unless the word after of is a gerund. For example: at risk of developing, but at risk for heart disease. Capitalize both “at” and “risk” when they’re part of a headline. attention deficit disorder (ADD) According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, ADHD is preferred. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, ADHD is preferred over ADD. autoimmune avian flu awhile/a while After a preposition, use two words: stay for a while. Without a preposition, one word is OK: stay awhile. B *********** babysit, babysitting, babysat, babysitter backache bacteria bacteria is plural; bacterium is singular. For specific germs, see Latin names. Band-Aid Band-Aid is a brand name. Suggest using adhesive bandage instead. baseline because If the following clause is essential, don’t use a comma before because. (“I went to the doctor because I was sick.”) bed rest bedside bedwetting bellybutton beta agonist beta-blocker beta-carotene beta-2 agonist between Use between for two. Use among for three or more. bicycle helmets As of February 1, 1999, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tests bicycle helmets for their ability to protect the head from injury and administers safety standards. Helmets that meet impact standards have a CPSC label inside. Don’t use ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). birth weight But low-birth-weight babies. black See ethnic groups. black-and-blue bloodborne blood pressure Use mmHg as the measurement • Normal: lower than 120/lower than 80 • Prehypertensive: 120-139/80-89 • High: 140/90 and higher bloodstain bloodstream BMJ Preferred over British Medical Journal. body mass index (BMI) -bone Generally, one word with body part: anklebone, breastbone, collarbone, hipbone, jawbone, shinbone, thighbone. But arm bone. bone mineral density test brand-name drug A drug named and trademarked by the original manufacturer. Avoid using brand names (use ibuprofen instead of Advil; gelatin instead of Jell-O; adhesive bandage instead of Band-Aid; soda instead of Coke). Braxton Hicks contraction breastfeeding Also, breastfeed, breastfed breastmilk buildup (noun); build up (verb) bullet style • Use an initial cap in all cases. Always use a period at the end of the bullet item if it forms a complete sentence by itself. In general, do not use a period in lists of words or simple phrases, or when the phrase completes a statement. For example: If you want to help a person quit smoking, you can: o Not smoke around him or her o Throw away his or her cigarettes • Bullets should offer parallel construction. • Lists with terms followed by explanations should be in the format below, with the term in bold followed by a period, and the explanation in normal font. o Acute thrombocytopenic purpura. This is most often seen in children 2 to 6 years old. The symptoms may follow a viral illness, such as chickenpox. bursa A thin, fluid-filled sac C *********** calcium channel blocker capitalization • For titles of articles, books, and the like: Initial cap the articles that begin them and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and all forms of the verb to be. Also cap prepositions and coordinate conjunctions of five letters or more, all subordinate conjunctions, the first word after a colon or em dash, both words of a hyphenated compound, and the last word of a title. Lowercase conjunctions, articles, and prepositions of four or fewer letters, unless part of a verb (for example, Round Up and Check Out) or a word considered to be an “intimately qualifying word” (such as At Risk). (See Words Into Type, pages 146–147.) For example: When to Use Heat and When to Use Cold for an Injury, Are Your Kids At Risk for Heart Disease? • For professional titles: In text, initial cap a title when it precedes the name (Chief Executive Officer Marc Kimball, of Waban Professionals). Lowercase title when it comes after name or if set off by commas. Do not cap occupations (nurse-midwife, neurosurgeon). Cap proper name of a department/service but not informal or generic references: Customer Service Department. • Initial cap the edition of any of our publications: in the Spring 1994 issue of Digest. cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Use abbreviation first, then full term in parentheses if necessary. cardiovascular disease Cannot be used interchangeably with heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is a broad term used to describe all diseases of the heart and blood vessel system, including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. care Do not use a hyphen with compound modifiers that end with the word care if they are related to the health or medical industry: primary care physician, healthcare plan, urgent care facility, critical care nurse. See Words Into Type for compound modifier hyphenation guidelines. caregiver car seat CAT (computerized axial tomography) scan No longer used; now use CT scan catalog Not catalogue. CDC, in Atlanta Takes singular verb; abbreviation for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but abbreviation is acceptable on first reference cellphone certified nurse-midwife cesarean section Never use cesarean alone (without section). C-section OK if necessary for space. Do not capitalize cesarean. checkbox check-in check-out checkup (noun), check up (verb), check-up (adjective) cheddar cheese This cheese and other cheese types are lowercase: swiss cheese, parmesan cheese chemical dependency Do not hyphenate as an attributive adjective: chemical dependency programs. chi Italicize. An acupuncture term that means energy. chickenpox See immunizations. child-care options But He provided us with child care. cholesterol (see also HDL and LDL) Total cholesterol level includes HDL level and LDL level. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is called “good” cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is called “bad” cholesterol. In text, refer to it as: HDL (“good”) cholesterol (NOT HDL, the “good cholesterol”) LDL (“bad”) cholesterol (NOT LDL, the “bad cholesterol”) OK to say HDL level or LDL level. Total blood cholesterol: Lower than 200 mg/dL - Desirable 200–239 mg/dL - Borderline High Risk 240 mg/dL and higher - High Risk LDL: Lower than 100 mg/dL - Optimal 100 to 129 mg/dL - Near Optimal/Above Optimal 130 to 159 mg/dL - Borderline High 160 to 189 mg/dL - High 190 mg/dL and higher - Very High HDL: Lower than 40 mg/dL - Low Note the uppercase “L” in the measurement Choose My Plate This icon, in the shape of a plate, replaced the Food Guide Pyramid in 2011. In text, use MyPlate. Delete “Choose.” church services AVOID. Use religious services instead. collective nouns: verb agreement Nouns that denote a unit usually take a singular verb. Examples: staff, jury, audience, crowd, committee, group, orchestra. The exception is when the individual members of the group are to be emphasized. For example: “The staff is in a meeting,” but “The staff are in disagreement about the findings.” “The crowd shouts,” but “The crowd are running hither and thither.” colon • In text, use an initial cap after a colon if the material that follows it is a complete sentence, and use lowercase if it is not a complete sentence. Colons should be placed outside quotation marks or parentheses. • Use a colon to introduce formal statements or quotations of more than one sentence. • Use a colon after the following or as follows unless it precedes a series of long sentences or paragraphs. • For plain language, use colons sparingly. comma • Use the serial comma: We bought apples, peaches, and pears. Generally, a comma is not needed before the conjunction in a compound predicate: She wanted a new car and had saved for the down payment. A comma may be needed to prevent misreading (see Words Into Type, p. 186) and may be used before but. • Use a comma after introductory adverbial phrases of five words or more and when such a phrase ends with a verb or preposition and precedes a noun: Soon after, their bus arrived. • Use a comma after introductory infinitive phrases: To get to the doctor’s office, she had to take two buses and walk a half mile. • Use a comma after introductory clauses: When you make an appointment, be sure to have your CIGNA HealthCare ID number handy. If you have diabetes, it’s important to... • Use a comma with numbers of more than three digits: 1,000. • Use a comma after specifying phrases: Call Member Services at 800-523-6000, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Avoid using a comma after the first word in a sentence unless clearly necessary. • Dates: June 1987; In 1941 the war…; On June 15, 1987, we went… • Do not use a comma between two imperative sentences: Go to your room and do your homework. • Use a comma before and after a state (whether spelled out or not) if a city precedes the state: We went to Athens, Ga., for our vacation. • No comma before Jr. or Sr., per AP. compared to/compared with Use compared to when you want to put two things in the same category: The new antibiotic is so effective that it has been compared to penicillin. Use compared with to examine the difference between two things: The woman was in good physical shape compared with other women her age. (Hint: If you can use the term “versus” instead of “with,” then “with” is the correct preposition. For example, instead of using “with” in the above italicized sentence, you could use “versus other women her age.”) compound words (see also hyphenation) See Words Into Type, pages 226–237, or AP. computed tomography (CT) scan Use CT scan; do not use CAT scan. computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan No longer used. Now use CT scan. consumer-directed health plan Also referred to as “consumer-driven” or “consumer choice” health plan. A relatively new type of health plan designed to give consumers more control over a portion of their health benefit dollars, typically through a health fund or account that can be used to pay for covered medical expenses. congestive heart failure Use heart failure. contractions It’s much friendlier to use them. Don’t you agree? courtesy titles (Mr., Mrs.) DO NOT USE. coworker COX-2 inhibitor CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Use abbreviation first, then full term in parentheses if necessary. CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. See bicycle helmets. credentialing CT scan • Now used in place of CAT scan. D *********** D&C Use ampersand in text and headers. No space between letters and ampersand. dashes See em dash and en dash. data Uses a singular verb in most cases, particularly when used to mean “information.” (See the American Heritage Dictionary for usage note.) dates June 1987 (no comma) In 1941 the war … (no comma) On June 15, 1987, we went… the 1970s (no apostrophe) the mid 1890s (no hyphen) the 25th of the month the 5th of January the ’60s the first and third Wednesdays of the month; BUT the first or third Wednesday of the month Always spell out months except in charts. daycare (noun and adjective) daylight saving time days Use an en dash or through to indicate a range (in text: Monday through Friday; in chart: Monday– Friday). Spell out days except in charts. Keep consistent. deaf and hard of hearing Use for TTY (do not use TDD unless client requests) and in text. But: If you are deaf or hard of hearing … This is preferred usage per American Association of the Deaf. DEET An insect repellent degrees, temperature In text and charts, always use the symbol, not the word: a temperature of 101°; a 101° fever; water temperature of 120°. Always add F for Fahrenheit after the numerals, followed by the Celsius equivalent in parentheses: 98°F (37°C). NOTE: Standard fever temperature is 100.4°F (38°C). degrees, academic Doctor of Medicine (MD), a degree, not a person. Incorrect: She is an MD. Correct: She has an MD. Doctor of Optometry, OD Doctor of Osteopathy, DO Doctor of Pharmacy, PharmD dental treatment Not dental work. diabetes type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes Avoid the outmoded terms of insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes for type 1 and non-insulindependent and adult-onset diabetes for type 2. diabetics DO NOT USE. Use people with diabetes. die of, not die from dietary reference intake (DRI) This series of recommended daily nutrient intakes is gradually replacing the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The Institute of Medicine sets DRIs. dietitian different from/different than Different from is the correct usage. dimensions Examples: not larger than 6 by 6 feet from 6 to 12 inches high 2-by-4-inch lumber two-by-fours (noun) 12- and 14-foot lengths a 12- to 15-foot tree 6-square-foot room 1.2 million-square-foot building With by, use hyphens and close up. With to, use hyphens but don’t close up. diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) This is preferred over DTP. The CDC recommends it because DTaP is less likely to cause an adverse reaction. Also see immunizations. Use acronym first, then spell out. directions Spell out; don’t abbreviate. For example: East Main Street. disk/disc Use disc for optical, laser, and CD/record references. Use disk for medical- and computer-related instances. DNR A do-not-resuscitate order is a patient’s request not to have CPR if his or her heartbeat or breathing stops. Spell out on first reference. do’s and don’ts doctor’s advice or doctor’s request Not doctor’s orders. doughnut Down syndrome Dr. Use Dr. (Dr. Welby) after previously using whole name and degree (Marcus Welby, MD). Avoid using Dr. for a person with a PhD. In text, healthcare provider is preferred over doctor; doctor is preferred over physician. drawsheet drinks, alcoholic Serving sizes are considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. drugs Initial cap the names of brand-name drugs; lowercase the names of generic drugs. DO NOT USE drug or drugs in text when referring to medications. Use the term only when referring to street drugs or illicit drugs. durable power of attorney dysfunction, dysfunctional E *********** earache eardrops eardrum earmuff earplug earwax e-book, e-newsletter, e-reader ECG For electrocardiogram. Use this acronym as the default. Because some people still say “EKG,” we sometimes use ECG or EKG. If it doesn’t raise the reading level and you think it will help the reader, you can leave in EKG. echocardiogram Can use echo after first reference. E. coli (Escherichia coli) See Latin names. e-commerce e.g. Avoid this abbreviation, which means for example. Also not interchangeable with i.e. eldercare elderly Avoid this term. Use mature adults or older adults instead. ellipses Use spaces before and after, but no spaces between periods. If a period precedes the ellipses, put a space between the period and the ellipses, per AP. em dash Use em dashes to (1) denote a change of thought in a sentence, (2) create an emphatic pause, (3) perform the same function as parentheses, and (4) attribute text to a source. Do not add space on either side of em dash. email en dash An en dash is shorter than an em dash but longer than a hyphen. It represents the word to and indicates continuous or inclusive numbers or time. In general, we use to instead of the en dash in text. It’s OK to use the en dash if needed for a hot field or in a table. Do not use en dashes in from-to or between-and constructions: from May to June 1984, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. end user eponym A person that something—like a disease—is named after. Do not use apostrophe “s” with diseases named after people. For example: Addison disease, Alzheimer disease, Asperger syndrome, Down syndrome, Gaucher disease, Paget disease, Parkinson disease, Reye syndrome, Sjogren syndrome. Exceptions: OK to use Crohn’s disease and Saint John’s wort until further notice. ethnic groups African American and black are not interchangeable. Look at article sources to make sure the correct term is being used. Hyphenate African-American, Asian-American, and MexicanAmerican when used as adjectives. DO NOT hyphenate French Canadian, American Indian, or Latin American. Hispanic is preferred over Latino. Refer as specifically as possible to country of origin. Both Caucasian and white are acceptable. eustachian tube exam Do not use examination. eyeThese are all one word: eyeball, eyebrow, eyecup, eyelash, eyelid, eyestrain, eyewash These are all two words: eye care, eye drops, eye patch, eye shield F *********** faceguard facemask facepiece Fahrenheit Use degree symbol, and follow with Celsius equivalent in parentheses. See degrees. FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration (NOT Federal Drug Administration); abbreviation acceptable on first reference. Don’t use FDA-approved. fecal occult blood test (FOBT) A test for blood in the stool. fever Standard fever temperature is 100.4°F (38°C). fewer, less User fewer for individual items and less for bulk or quantity: for instance, fewer dollar bills and less money. first aid, first aid kit flare-up (with hyphen; noun) Capitalize both words in headers/titles. flare up (without hyphen; verb) flextime flu (influenza) See immunizations. FOBT (fecal occult blood test) A test for blood in the stool. follow-up (noun and adjective), follow up (verb) Capitalize both words in headers/titles. Food Guide Pyramid This is an outdated term. The new icon, unveiled in 2011, is called Choose My Plate. Both of these icons were developed by the USDA and supported by the Department of Health and Human Services. foodborne footrest foramen (singular), foramina (plural) foreign phrases Set common phrases that are in the dictionary in roman, all others in italics. FORTUNE 500 fractions For fractions less than one in text, spell out in articles, using hyphens between the words: onehalf, two-thirds, four-fifths, seven-sixteenths. In tabular material and recipes, use figures exclusively. Also see AP. For numbers greater than one that require a figure (see numbers), use a super and subscript if possible (½). Another option is to use a decimal point (1.5). For words that incorporate half and quarter, look them up in the dictionary to see whether they’re hyphenated. For example: half brother. If the word is not in the dictionary, hyphenate it. For example: quarter-century. -free (adjective combining form) As in toll-free, drug-free, fat-free. But no hyphen if following a noun: This product is fat free. free-weights friend, follow Acceptable as both verbs and nouns when writing about social media. Typically, you friend someone on Facebook, and you follow them on Twitter. french fries (noun), french-fry (verb) fruits and vegetables When discussed as a food category. G *********** gallbladder gallstone general dentist Not general practice dentist. generic drugs The active ingredient in a generic drug is identical to that of its brand-name equivalent. Don’t confuse generic drugs with similar drugs, using different ingredients, that may be used to treat the same ailment. ginkgo glaucoma closed-angle (acute angle-closure glaucoma), narrow-angle (chronic angle-closure glaucoma) gonorrhea good night grades fourth-grader, 10th-grader, fourth grade, 10th grade gray Not grey. group A β-hemolytic streptococcus grownup (noun) gumline H *********** Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) See immunizations. half For words that incorporate half, look them up in the dictionary to see whether they’re hyphenated. For example: half brother. If the word is not in the dictionary, hyphenate it. For example: halfcup. See fractions. half-and-half A dairy product. half-hour Per American Heritage. hammer toe handheld handhold handout handrail hands and knees Not all fours. handwashing hardworking HbA1C Glycated hemoglobin. Make the b lowercase, and capitalize the other letters. H-2-receptor antagonist/H-2 blocker Used to reduce stomach acid and symptoms of gastric ulcers. HDL High-density lipoprotein. See cholesterol. he/she Avoid where possible by using plurals, or use he or she and him or her. healthcare (noun, adjective) healthcare coverage healthcare provider Healthcare provider is preferred over doctor; doctor is preferred over physician. health risk appraisal healthy Preferred over healthful or healthfully. For example: Eat a healthy diet. hearing-impaired DO NOT USE. Use deaf or hard of hearing in text and deaf and hard of hearing with telephone numbers, per preferred usage of the American Association of the Deaf. heart attack, heart failure, cardiac arrest A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when one or more arteries supplying blood to the heart becomes blocked. Heart failure is a chronic condition that occurs when a weakened heart can no longer effectively pump blood. Cardiac arrest, or sudden cardiac arrest, occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It can be because of a heart attack or a heart rhythm problem or as a result of electrocution or other trauma (per AP). heartbeat heartburn heart failure Use this term, not chronic heart failure or congestive heart failure. NOTE: Congestive heart failure is a specific type of heart failure that results in a patient retaining excessive fluid, often leading to swelling of legs and ankles and congestion in the lungs. Use this term only when an article specifically addresses this form of heart failure. heart-healthy Hyphenate: a heart-healthy diet; a diet that is heart-healthy heart rate Heimlich maneuver DO NOT USE. Use abdominal thrusts. help/helping Avoid adding “to” after them unless it seems necessary. Use your judgment. helpline hemoglobin A1C test or HbA1C hemorrhage hepatitis A and B vaccines See immunizations. high and low When used as part of a compound adjective, use a hyphen. For example, low-dose radiation, high-quality doctor. But, You may be at high risk for pneumonia. high-density lipoprotein (HDL) See cholesterol. HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Hispanic See ethnic groups. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) DO NOT say HIV virus. Usage: He tested positive for HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS. NOTE: AIDS is the disease; HIV is the virus. HIV is acceptable on first reference. HIV-positive home care home healthcare agency home page hotline housework human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) See HIV. hyphenation/hyphens (See also compound words, fractions.) • Looking a word up in the American Heritage is virtually the only way to be sure whether a permanent compound word is spelled with or without a hyphen. • Generally, prefixes and suffixes don’t take hyphens: nonmember, preregister, copayment. The exceptions include compounds that include a capitalized word (un-American), a numeral (pre1940), an already hyphenated term (non-life-threatening), when the prefix ends with the same vowel that begins the following word (anti-inflammatory), and homographs (re-creation). See also prefixes. • For print: Avoid two-letter breaks in hyphenated compounds at the end of a line. • Don’t hyphenate compounds such as 8 p.m. • Hyphenate compound modifiers when they appear before the noun, except when the modifier is a compound noun form that is a nonhyphenated entry in the American Heritage. I–K * * * * * * * * * ID card i.e. Avoid this abbreviation, which means that is to say. Also not interchangeable with e.g. immunizations • combined tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) • diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) - Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease; tetanus is also known as lockjaw; pertussis is also known as whooping cough. (DTaP preferred over DTP per CDC.) • tetanus-diphtheria (Td) • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) • hepatitis A • hepatitis B (hep B) • HPV • inactivated poliovirus (IPV) - the ACIP, AAP, and AAFP recommend that all doses of poliovirus vaccine be IPV • influenza (flu) • measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) - hyphenate this per the American Academy of Pediatrics. Rubella is also known as German measles. • oral poliovirus (OPV) - no longer recommended • pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) • rotavirus • varicella (chickenpox) iningrown, inpatient. But in-house, in-service. inactivated poliovirus (IPV) See immunizations. Inc. Generally, do not use in the name of a company that is obviously the name of a company. If you must use it, do not set off with commas. including Do not use this term for a list that is complete. Use only when some items are not included. If the list is complete, change the verb to are, as in The four team members are Joe, Tim, Steve, and Mike. initials No periods and no space between. in-line skates Not Rollerblades (brand name). See Rollerblades. inpatient, outpatient in situ Latin term. Use italics: carcinoma in situ. intellectual disability Do not use mental retardation or mentally challenged. Internet Net is also acceptable. irradiate To treat with radiation. italics Try to avoid in text. Instead of, “The term symbiotic means,” use “Symbiotic means . . .” IUD You don’t need to spell out first. IV You don’t need to spell out first. Jr./Sr./III Do not use a comma before them: Martin Luther King Jr. and John Smith III (per AP). Kebab Kegel exercises Use pelvic floor muscle exercises instead. Kmart kneecap knock-knees L *********** lab Do not use laboratory. Lap-Band The brand name for a type of minimally invasive weight-loss surgery. Do not use all caps. Per StayWell style, do not use a registered trademark symbol. See trademarks, etc. latchkey child latch-on (noun), latch on (verb) Latin names For a complete Latin name, capitalize the genus and lowercase the species: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (E.coli). For a reference to a genus alone, rather than a proper Latin name, lowercase: salmonella, candida, staphylococci. Do not italicize in either case. layperson Not layman. LDL low-density lipoprotein. See cholesterol. leading Do not use hyphen. For example: second leading cause of death. leafy green vegetables (spinach, romaine, watercress) vs. dark green leafy vegetables (collard greens, turnip greens, bok choy) less and more Do not need hyphens when used as part of a compound adjective. For example: less invasive procedure. less than Use for numbers. Use under for physical location. life cycle life expectancy life span life support lifesaver lifestyle life-threatening lifetime lightheadedness -like This suffix no longer takes a hyphen. For the exceptions, see Words Into Type. They include words that end in l or ll (gull-like); after proper nouns (Disney-like); or after words of three or more syllables (cauliflower-like). listing DO NOT USE. Use list. lists (See also numbering, bullet style.) • Within text, generally do not use numerals or letters to separate elements of a simple list or series; use commas. If enumeration is needed, use numerals or lowercase letters enclosed in parentheses without periods. • Lists that are set off from text may use bullets or numerals to separate the items. Use an initial cap for all bullet items. Always use a period at the end of a bullet item if it forms a complete sentence by itself. Do not use a period if the item is a phrase or single word. living will One kind of advance directive. See advance directive. log on (verb), logon (noun) longlong-term, long-time, long-lived -long daylong, weeklong, monthlong, yearlong, lifelong lowlow-fat diet, low-impact aerobics, low-risk behavior, low literacy testing low back pain Use instead of lower-back pain. low-birth-weight baby But The baby had a low birth weight. low-density lipoprotein (LDL) See cholesterol. lower-extremity occlusion low-fat cheese But nonfat milk. M *********** magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) mammogram A photograph of the breasts made by X-rays. The mammogram revealed a tumor. mammography The mammogram procedure itself. Schedule a mammography today. manmade MD Doctor of Medicine. A degree, not a person. Incorrect: She is an MD. Correct: She has an MD. measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) See immunizations. measurements See numbers. medical Be careful not to use this term when health or healthcare should be used. Medical should be used only when illness or injury is involved. medical alert bracelet Not MedicAlert. medical degrees MD, DO, OD. See also separate entries and abbreviations and acronyms. medical terms Use consumer term followed by medical term in parentheses. For example, belly (abdomen). medication Use medicine instead. DO NOT USE drug or drugs when referring to medications. mental health Do not hyphenate as an attribute adjective: mental health benefits. mg/dL Milligrams per deciliter (cholesterol and blood sugar measurement). Cap L. mid Per AP, no hyphen unless a capitalized word follows: mid-Atlantic, midterm. But use when precedes a figure: The temperature outside is in the mid-90s. milk Whole milk (full fat), reduced fat or low-fat (0.5%, 1%, or 2%), and skim (fat-free or nonfat). mL Milliliter. Cap L. mind/body ministroke A transient ischemic attack (TIA), a temporary interference with the blood supply to the brain. mmHg Millimeters of mercury. No space and cap H. money Use figures for sums of dollars and cents; use a dollar sign but the word cents: 5 cents, 75 cents, $20, $9.98, $2,500, but $2 million, $3.5 billion. more than Use for numbers. Use over for physical location. mouthguard mouthpiece MRA magnetic resonance angiography MRI magnetic resonance imaging mucous/mucus Mucous is the adjective; mucus is the noun. multiNo hyphen: multicellular, multimedia, multinational MyPlate Do not use Choose MyPlate. N *********** 911 Generally, call out by putting in bold or in a separate section/box. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Narcotic/narcotics DO NOT USE. This is the law enforcement term for these the illegal use of these pain reliever medications. Use opioids or prescription pain medicines instead. National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Use the NCQA when used as noun. Capitalize specific accreditations—Commendable accreditation—but lowercase accreditation. National Institutes of Health Takes singular verb: The National Institutes of Health is working on a study … Native American DO NOT USE. Use American Indian instead. nauseous/nauseated Something that causes you to feel nauseated is nauseous. You do not feel nauseous. The nauseous fumes made Bob feel nauseated. neck ache needlestick New Year Capitalize when referring to the holiday: Make your New Year’s resolutions. Lowercase when used in the general sense: See you in the new year. news feed nonClose up all words with the prefix non (nonfat milk, nonsmoking, nondairy, nonsmoker, nonprofit), except if the word includes a hyphen (non-life-threatening, non-English-speaking, non-weight-bearing). number one priority number ranges see “ranges” numbers Refer to AP. • Use numerals in bulleted advice or instructions: o Exercise 3 times a week. o Repeat 5 times. • Use numerals for all units of measure (weight, time, speed, dimensions): Recovery may take 6 weeks or longer. The incision may be 1 to 2 inches long. • Spell out numbers under 10 when used with just two things, as in arms, legs, eyes: Bring in one leg at a time. Place one hand in front of the other. You can have the test in one of two ways. • Spell out numbers under 10 when they are used idiomatically: Fish and beans are two good choices. Use numerals for ratios (1 in 10 chance) and grades (4th-grader, 10th-grader). Use figures for ages, dates, percentages, money, mathematical computations, time (2 p.m., 2 hours), formulas, proportions (3 parts milk to 1 part chocolate), and millions and billions (3 million). • Never begin a sentence with a numeral. Spell it out or restructure the sentence: Three hundred and sixty-five days make up a year can become There are 365 days in a year. • Use Arabic numerals for divisions, volumes, parts, and the like: Healthy Pregnancy, Part 1. Also use Arabic numerals with disease phases and stages (a phase 5 epidemic, stage 1 cancer) and health plan tiers (a tier 2 drug). • Don’t use zeros with even-dollar amounts ($4.50 in advance, $5 at the door). • Say a 10% discount on, a $10 savings on, save $10 on, but 10% off, $10 off. • Fractions: Use a super and subscript, if possible (½). Otherwise, use numbers and slash (1/2). Use hyphens when using a measurement as a word. For example: 8-by-9-inch. • Always use comma in 4-digit numbers (and greater) • Always use the percent symbol (%) instead of the word, in both text and charts. Repeat symbol after each number in a range, for example, 45% to 50%. nurse-midwife, nurse-midwives, certified nurse-midwife • O *********** ob-gyn Short for obstetrics/gynecology and obstetrician/gynecologist. OD Doctor of Optometry offline off-site OK Not okay. omega-3s on call No hyphen unless used as an adjective: The doctor is on call. The on-call doctor can answer your questions. one out of every/one in… Takes a singular verb. One in four dentists recommends this toothpaste. One out every four children in the U.S. is overweight. online on-site Hyphenate as adjective/adverb; don’t hyphenate as preposition. There is a doctor on site. The on-site doctor is in. onto/on to Climb onto the table. But sign on to get fitness rewards. open heart surgery No hyphens. ophthalmology opioids Use this term or prescription pain medicines, not narcotics. Opiods is the medical term for these pain relieving medications. oral poliovirus (OPV) No longer recommended. See immunizations. orthopedics Not orthopaedics. But don’t change Orthopaedics in an organization’s or department’s formal name. outpatient, inpatient over/under Over and under refer to spatial relationships. He walked under the bridge. She flew over the ocean. Try to avoid these words when referring to ages, quantities, etc., Use older than/younger than, more than/less than, instead: • All women older than age 40, rather than all women over 40. • A bagel weighing less than 2 ounces, rather than a bagel weighing under 2 ounces. • More than 1 million people, rather than over 10 million people. over the counter (adverb), over-the-counter (adjective) (OTC) Drugs that you buy over the counter are over-the-counter drugs. P *********** PA physician assistant Pap test Preferred over Pap smear. Pap exam is the entire exam, including the pelvic exam. Cap the P for Papanicolaou. papillomavirus parentheses Use parentheses sparingly to enclose parenthetical material. Never use a comma before an open (leading) parenthesis, although a comma can follow a close parenthesis. Periods go inside a close parenthesis if the contained material is completely separated from the preceding material by a period; periods go outside if the material is attached to preceding material. If you’re using both brackets and parentheses, the correct notation is parentheses outside of brackets. NOTE: Always use parentheses in pairs. In enumerating items in text, enclose the numbers or lowercase letters in parentheses: Among other things, copy editors are responsible for (1) correct spelling, (2) correct grammar, (3) correct punctuation, and (4) correct word usage. If enumerated items are broken out into vertical list form, use numbers or letters followed by a period: Copy editors are responsible for what some consider the four most important things in published materials: 1. Correct spelling 2. Correct grammar 3. Correct punctuation 4. Correct word usage patient-controlled anesthesia (PCA) peak-flow meter pelvic floor muscle exercises Can use Kegels in parentheses after this term. people Use people instead of patient. percent See numbers. period Use periods in lists when items are complete sentences and begin with a capital letter. Periods go inside quotation marks, and they go outside parentheses except when the entire sentence is inside parentheses. person with cancer (or other disease condition) Do not use cancer patient. Use person with cancer. Do not use diabetic. Use person with diabetes. PharmD Doctor of Pharmacy phone numbers Do not use parentheses; a hyphen should be used between the area code and the number. Do not use a “1” before toll-free numbers. All phone numbers used in online content should be verified. physician In text, healthcare provider is preferred over doctor; doctor is preferred over physician. physician assistant (PA) pigeon toes (noun), pigeon-toed (adjective) the pill Oral contraceptive. Birth control pill is preferred. plurals • Figures: Add s. For example: The custom began in the 1920s. The airline has two 727s. Temperatures will be in the low 20s. There were five size 7s. • Single letters: Use ’s. For example: Mind your p’s and q’s. He learned the three R’s and brought home a report card with four A’s and two B’s. The Oakland A’s won the pennant. Catch your z’s tonight. • Multiple letters: Add s. For example: She knows her ABCs. I gave him five IOUs. Four VIPs were there. • See AP for further discussion. p.m. pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) See immunizations. Pneumovax Brand name for pneumococcal/pneumonia vaccine. podcast PO Box poison control center postNo hyphen: postanesthesia, postnasal, postnatal, posttraumatic. But post-op. prediabetes prefixes Almost all words formed with prefixes are written closed (no hyphen). The exceptions include compounds that include a capitalized word (un-American), a numeral (pre-1940), an already hyphenated term (post-latency-period), and homographs (re-creation). Check American Heritage for other exceptions. Hyphenate words where the prefix ends with the same vowel as the word begins with (antiinflammatory). The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports preventive Not preventative. preventive care or preventive healthcare. Not preventive health. primary care physician, primary care provider No hyphen. prior to DO NOT USE. Use before. pronouns All language should be gender-inclusive; avoid him/her, he/she whenever possible. Use plural forms (them, they) instead, or he or she and him or her. BUT make sure that the subject and object are in agreement. Wrong: When your child has a fever, make sure they are comfortable. Right: When your child has a fever, make sure he or she is comfortable. Use second person (you) whenever it makes sense, unless the article is specifically written for a caregiver. -proof No hyphen: childproof, foolproof, waterproof prostate-specific antigen test pursed-lip breathing Q *********** Q&A quarter For words that incorporate quarter, look them up in the dictionary to see whether they’re hyphenated. For example: quarter hour. If the word is not in the dictionary, hyphenate it. For example: quarter-century. See fractions. quitline quotation marks • Do not use to set off technical terms or new terms. If you need to call attention to the term, use bold the first time it is used in an article. • Generally, commas and periods go inside quotation marks; colons and semicolons go outside. Set quotation marks outside of exclamation points and question marks that are part of the quotation; inside of exclamation points and question marks that are not. She said, “Where are you going?” but What did they mean by saying, “I’ve gone there before”? • Use single quotation marks to enclose quoted matter within a quotation. R *********** ranges In text, always use the word “to” instead of hyphens: 3 mg to 5 mg; in charts, tables, and graphs, OK to use hyphens. RDA Recommended dietary allowance. This is being replaced by the dietary reference intake (DRI). recipes For steps, make sure ingredients are listed in the same order as the ingredients list. servings and serving size • Include number of servings (Serves 4 or 4 servings) and size of serving (serving size is 1 cup). Example: Serves 4; serving size is one chicken breast and ½ cup vegetables. • Serving size figure: Use figures for all. For example: Serves 8. Serves 12. measurements • Use numerals for ingredient amounts in both ingredients list and direction steps. Add 2 tablespoons and stir for 2 minutes. • Use abbreviations (2 tsp sugar) in ingredients list, but spell out in steps (add 2 teaspoons of sugar). • Common abbreviations: teaspoon: tsp tablespoon: tbsp cup: cup gallon: gal milligram: mg ounce: ounce • pound: pound Measurement figure should refer to the specific item. For example: 1 green pepper, chopped, BUT 1 cup chopped green pepper. Use hyphens when using a measurement as a word. For example: 8-by-9-inch. • Per Serving • The items in the Per Serving should be listed in the order of the Nutrition Facts label: Calories Total fat Saturated fat Trans fat Cholesterol Sodium Total carbohydrate Dietary fiber Sugars Protein record keeping registered nurse (RN) registration marks/trademarks Use only at the request of clients or trademark holders. rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE) Used for the management of soft-tissue stress or injury. retweet Reye syndrome rib cage risk: at risk for, not of Other uses: use of before a gerund (your risk of developing), use for before a noun (your risk for high blood pressure); when at risk appears in a headline, both words should be capped. RN registered nurse Rollerblades DO NOT USE. Use in-line skates. Rollerblades is the brand name. See in-line skates. RSS S *********** Saint John’s wort salmonella See Latin names. saltshaker saltwater same-day surgery seasons Use lowercase unless part of a formal name: I’m going to the beach this summer. In summer 1999 I went to Venice. She is competing in the Summer Olympics. See the Summer 2001 issue of Digest. seat belt secondhand selfAlways hyphenated: self-care, self-image semicolons Limit use for readability. Better to break up the two main clauses into separate sentences or revise so a semicolon is not needed. seniors DO NOT USE. Use mature adults or older adults instead. sexist language All language must be gender inclusive; avoid him/her, he /she wherever possible. Using genderinclusive language, however, is not an excuse for using pronouns that do not agree. Neither John nor Judy would lend me his toothbrush is sexist. Neither John nor Judy would lend me their toothbrush is grammatically incorrect. In this case, simply avoid the possessive pronoun: Neither John nor Judy would lend me a toothbrush. side effects Not hyphenated. -sized (adjective, used in combination) Not size: medium-sized house. Midsized, but pocket-sized. sleeved long-sleeved shirt slogans, mottoes, etc. Use quotation marks and cap first word: Forget the slogan “No pain, no gain.” soft tissue injury Not hyphenated. smartphone smoking-cessation program/classes so, so that Use so that when meaning in order that or with the result that and do not precede it with a comma: We took the shortcut through the woods so that we would not be late for supper. Use so when meaning consequently or therefore and do precede it with a comma (a little like that and which): We had already missed supper, so we took the long way home. Social Security number SPF For sun protection factor. Use abbreviation. spokesperson Use only if sex unknown; otherwise use spokesman or spokeswoman. staff Usually takes singular verb. See collective nouns. stage of disease Use lower-case “s” followed by Arabic numeral: stage 2 cancer. stomachache stye strength training (noun); strength-training (adjective); strength-train (verb) substance abuse Do not hyphenate as an attributive adjective: substance abuse therapist. sunscreen Not sunblock. symptom Traditionally, a symptom is a subjective sensation; it’s what a patient feels or notices. Symptoms of the flu include tiredness and achiness. A sign is objective evidence of a condition or disease that a doctor would recognize. A sign can be noticed by a patient—a skin rash, for instance. Or it may only be observed by the doctor. High blood pressure, for instance, is found only by using a blood pressure cuff/monitor. Today, symptom is becoming more of a catch-all term for both symptoms and signs. We still try to include both terms in a list if signs are among the items. Call your doctor if you notice any of these signs or symptoms. syndrome Always lowercase: Down syndrome. T *********** tai chi talk with, not to Talk with your doctor about scheduling a mammogram. target heart rate range Equals 60% to 80% of heart’s maximum capacity (220 minus your age). Td/Tdap See immunizations. TDD Telecommunications device for the deaf. In most cases, TTY will be accurate (not TDD). tearsheet temperature No space between degree symbol and F and C. Indicate Fahrenheit temp first, followed by Celsius temp in parentheses: 100.4°F (38°C). For “When to Call the Doctor” section write as follows: English: Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher Spanish: Fiebre de 100.4°F (38°C) o más alta tendonitis tetanus-diphtheria (Td) See immunizations. that Do not use that for people; use who or whom. For example: a child who is ill. thirdhand 3-D Not three-dimensional. TIA (transient ischemic attack) Ministroke, a temporary interference with the blood supply to the brain. time • Use numerals for clock time, followed by a.m. or p.m. (lowercase; no spaces): The office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Don’t repeat a.m. or p.m. in an interval: The fair runs from 2 to 5 p.m. The classes are between noon and 3 p.m. • In text, use noon and midnight. Never use 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. • Don’t use zeros for time on the hour (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). • Use to for intervals. time-consuming timesaving time zones Capitalize the full name of the time in force within a particular zone: Eastern Standard Time, Eastern Daylight Time, daylight saving time. Lowercase all but the region in short forms: Mountain time, Pacific time. The abbreviations EST, CDT, and so on are acceptable on first reference for zones used within the continental U.S., Canada, and Mexico only if the abbreviation is linked with a clock reading: 2:30 a.m. EST, 9 p.m. PST. tinnitus titles, courtesy (Mr., Mrs.) DO NOT USE titles, personal Initial cap when they precede a person’s name: Medical Director Jane Doe. Lowercase when they follow a name: Jane Doe, medical director. Lowercase when used generically: Jane Doe, Health Plan’s medical director or Health Plan's medical director, Jane Doe. titles, publications Italicize books, TV shows, movies, brochures, pamphlets, periodicals (no quotation marks— exception to AP). With magazine and journal titles, “the” should be lowercased and roman (the New York Times). Exception: The Lancet. TLC Therapeutic lifestyle changes; TLC takes singular verb. TM disorders TM joint DO NOT USE TMJ. to-do list toll-free See phone numbers for style on toll-free numbers. touch-tone phone toward Not towards. trademarks, etc. In general, do not use. transesophageal trans fat, trans fats, trans fatty acids All OK. transient ischemic attack (TIA) A ministroke, a temporary interference with the blood supply to the brain. trending Acceptable as a verb. triglyceride (adjective), triglycerides (noun) Triglyceride level, but, triglycerides are a form of fat. tweet, tweeting, tweeted Acceptable verbs. See also retweet. type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 2 is known as non-insulindependent diabetes. Do not use adult-onset diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes. U–V * * * * * * * * * under way Almost always two words; one word only as an adjective: an underway project. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) unfriend, unfollow -up flare-up, follow-up, sit-up, start-up, warm-up. But backup, buildup, checkup, cleanup, lineup, pushup, touchup, workup. up-to-date (adjective) Hyphenate before and after verb: an up-to-date style; keep copy editors up-to-date in style. urogynecological U.S. With periods. Use as both an adjective and a noun. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) As of February 1, 1999, the CPSC tests bicycle helmets for their ability to protect the head from injury and administers safety standards. Helmets that meet impact standards have a CPSC label inside. Don’t use ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). USDA Abbreviation for U.S. Department of Agriculture; abbreviation acceptable on first reference. utilize DO NOT USE. Use use instead. UVA, UVB Ultraviolet light: A is long wavelength, B is intermediate, C is short. vaccine Do not use vaccination. vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) varicella Another name for the virus that causes chickenpox and often used as the name for the vaccine. The full term is varicella zoster virus, but don’t use full term. See immunizations. veggies Use sparingly. Vegetables is preferred. venous versus/vs. Use vs. Veteran Cap V for custom work only. Otherwise, veteran is correct in referring to someone who has served in the U.S. military. vitamins Lowercase vitamin and use a dash between the letter and number: vitamin B-12. vulgarity DO NOT USE any word or term labeled or noted as considered vulgar in American Heritage. W–Z * * * * * * * * Walgreens, Wal-Mart -ward Not -wards: afterward, toward warm-up (noun), warm up (verb) the Web, World Wide Web webcast web page website weight-loss group, weight-loss surgery well If it follows the verb to be, hyphenate it. For example: Her shoes were well-worn. Also hyphenate if it’s used as an adjective. For example: She wore well-worn shoes. well-baby, well-child, well-woman well-being wheelchair which Use to introduce a nonessential clause. Nonessential clauses are set off by commas. If you remove a nonessential clause, the meaning of the sentence is unchanged. For example: Vaccines, which are an important part of staying healthy, are available at your doctor’s office. (See also that.) whole-grain bread whole-wheat bread -wide No hyphen: nationwide, companywide, statewide words as words In general, don’t italicize. If you need to call out a medical term on first reference, make it bold. workNo hyphen: workbook, workday, workforce, workload, workshop, workup. workers’ compensation work out (verb); workout (noun) worksite, workplace, workforce workup (noun) X-ray (noun and verb) ZIP code z’s For example: Catch some z’s tonight. PRINT ADDENDUM Boldface • • • • Boldface technical/medical terms when they are defined only if they are going to be used again in the document. This allows the reader to quickly find the term and definition if they’ve forgotten what it means. BF any abbreviation or version of the term that will be used in the booklet. ◦ After surgery, you may see a physical therapist (PT) for a guided exercise program. ◦ An arthroscope (scope) is a thin tube with a light and camera attached. Do not BF the definition that follows. Bold punctuation follows type. Boldface parentheses that lead or follow bold words. Do not boldface parentheses when the first or last words are not bold. Opening and closing parens must match—both bold or both light face. ◦ Soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) support the joint and make the knee stable. ◦ Shortness of breath (also called dyspnea) is common with COPD. Capitalization of Print Heads and Titles These take initial caps in: • First and last words • Nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs (including all “be” verbs: Are, Be, Is) • Subordinating conjunctions (including If, Because, As, That) • Prepositions o Prepositions of 5 or more letters (About, After, Through, Within) o Prepositions that are an inseparable part of the verb (Check In, Give Up, Try Out o Prepositions in certain noun phrases (At Risk, On Target o Don’t capitalize “to” with infinitive • Second part of hyphenated word if equally important element (Pre-‐Op, Follow-‐Up) Copyright line NOTE: Two spaces before and after the phone number. Bold URL and phone. Periods in phone number. ©2015 The StayWell Company, LLC. www.kramesstore.com 800.333.3032 All rights reserved. Made in the USA. For booklets: For brochures: Degree symbol No space between degree symbol and F and C: 100.4 °F (38°C). Always: Fahrenheit temp (Celsius temp) Disclaimer Standard disclaimer for print medical titles This booklet [brochure, tearsheet, product, etc.] is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem. NOTE: Disclaimer wording may vary from the above. Consult with Editor. Leaders and Labels Used for anatomical parts and surgical tools Check that labels have a leader Labels are initial capped. If on two lines, second line is not capped (unless word requires it). Resources Only national non-‐profit or governmental agencies. List the name, toll-‐free public telephone number if available, and website URL. (See “Website URLs” below.) Do not list mailing addresses. List phone numbers with dashes (NOTE: this is not consistent with copyright phone number) Subheads on Cover • Should have initial caps following same rules as heads inside booklet. • Style will be determined by Editors and may differ from specialty to specialty. NOTE: Discuss inconsistencies with Editor. Website URLs • URLs should be listed in as much detail so that end-‐user can easily access the target information within one or two mouse clicks. • If Spanish is available, list URL that will lead reader to that on the Spanish product • NOTE: If URL is the last word/phrase in a complete sentence, use a period after the URL. Widows Rewrite or re-‐rag to avoid when possible. Avoid the following widows: • A line consisting of one word (unless line length is short) • A line consisting of the continuation of a hyphenated word • A line less than ¼ of the width of the paragraph