11 Correct and Preferred Usage

Discrimination based on age (young or old) is ageism. Because the term elderly connotes a stereotype, avoid using it as a noun. When referring to the entire population of elderly persons, use of the elderly may be appropriate (as in the impact of prescription drug costs on the elderly, for example). Otherwise, terms such as older persons, older people, elderly patients, geriatric patients, older adults, older patients, aging adults, persons 65 years and older, or the older population are preferred. Note: In studies that involve human beings, age should always be given specifically. Researchers in geriatrics may use defined terms ...Less

Use specific terminology to refer to persons' age. See also , Inclusive Language, Age. Neonates or newborns are persons from birth to 1 month of age. Infants are children aged 1 month to 1 year (12 months). Children are persons aged 1 to 12 years. Sometimes, children may be used more broadly to encompass persons from birth to 12 years of age. These persons may also be referred to as boys or girls. Adolescents are persons aged 13 through 17 years. They may also be referred to as teenagers or as adolescent boys or adolescent girls, depending on context. Adults ...Less

Authors often err in referring to anatomic regions or structures as the “right heart,” “left chest,” “left neck,” and “right brain.” Generally these terms can be corrected by inserting a phrase such as “part of the” or “side of the.” right side of the heart; right atrium; right ventricle left side of the chest; left hemithorax left aspect of the neck right hemisphere [query author] ascending [not right] and descending [not left] colon Where appropriate, use specific anatomic descriptors: The upper extremity comprises the arm (extending from the shoulder to the elbow), the forearm (from the elbow to the wrist), ...Less

The article a is used before the aspirate h (eg, a historic occasion) and nonvocalic y (eg, a ubiquitous organism). Abbreviations and acronyms are preceded by a or an according to the sound following (eg, a UN resolution, an HMO plan). (See also , Abbreviations, Agencies and Organizations.) ...Less

Back-formation is the creation of a new word in the mistaken belief that it was the source of an existing word. Many back-formations are verbs, some of them derived from abstract nouns (ambulate from ambulation, diagnose from diagnosis, dialyze from dialysis) and others from agent nouns, real or supposed (beg from beggar, peddle from peddler, scavenge from scavenger). These examples of back-formations have achieved acceptance; however, many of those pertaining to medical jargon have not, including adhese, cyanose, defervesce, diurese, lyse, necrose, pex (from orchidopexy), plege (from cardioplegia), and torse. Medical jargon also includes many deviant singular forms of nouns ...Less

Occasionally, reference to a locus of insertion, position, or attitude is given in terms of a clock-face orientation, as seen by the viewer (see also , Numbers and Percentages, Use of Numerals, Measures of Time). Note: The terms clockwise and counterclockwise can also be confusing. The point of reference (eg, that of observer vs subject) should be specified if the usage is ambiguous. ...Less

UPDATE: We will discontinue using quotation marks to identify parts of an article, but retain the capitalization; eg, This is discussed in the Methods section (not the “Methods” section). This change was made February 14, 2013. What would become of us if the deleatur did not exist, sighed the proofreader.    José Saramago We not infrequently are compelled to refuse publication to an article which contains valuable facts, but which is weighed down with so many imperfections as to discourage one as does the porcupine from closer investigation.     JAMA The second quote, from a 1904 editorial in JAMA, certainly holds true today, but ...Less

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/), “a disability exists when an individual has any physical or psychological illness that ‘substantially limits’ a major life activity, such as walking, learning, breathing, working, or participating in community activities.” Avoid labeling (and thus equating) people with their disabilities or diseases (eg, the blind, schizophrenics, epileptics). Instead, put the person first. Avoid describing persons as victims or with other emotional terms that suggest helplessness (afflicted with, suffering from, stricken with, maimed). Avoid euphemistic descriptors such as physically challenged or special. Avoid metaphors that may be inappropriate and insensitive (blind to the truth, ...Less

Some words and phrases can usually be omitted without affecting meaning, and omitting them often improves the readability of a sentence: Quite, very, and rather are often overused and misused and can be deleted in many instances (see also , Correct and Preferred Usage of Common Words and Phrases). Avoid roundabout and wordy expressions: ...Less