It has been observed that most of the errors in a document are due to English usage. To overcome this issue please remember the following:
1. On dates use only commas with the month, day, and year expressed. You do not need commas with partial dates:On February 1 the patient was seen.
In February 2002 the patient was seen.
On February 1, 2002, the patient was seen.
2. If mixed numbers in same sentence, make them all the same; use majority rules:
The patient had 2 brothers, 15 cousins, 14 uncles, and 4 aunts.
If numbers are over 11 and using numerals, then use numerals for everything. You can’t say: The patient will return in six to 12 months. It’s either 6 to 12 months or six to twelve months.
3. Use semicolons to separate items which contain commas:
Example: The patient was seen June 1; February 4; August 3, 2000; January 2, 2001; and February 5, 2001. (Items contain their own commas and need to be separated with a semicolon.) Or: Records were received from Seton Medical Center; San Francisco General Hospital; Tali Bashour, M.D.; Patty Pierce, Esq.; and James Pertsch, M.D. (commas within commas)
5. Hyphenate combined adjectives if they come before the noun:
Low-grade fever, air-contrast barium enema, two-month history, 1-mm sebaceous cyst, or 1-cm nodule.
6. A suspended hyphen is:The patient has a two- to three-year history of… Also can type 1x1-mm node or 1- x 1-mm node
Do not type two-to-three-year history.
7. You only need a comma in an opening phrase containing more than five words or a verb.
Example: When the patient was last seen, he . . . (contains verb + more than five words).
In January 2003 while in San Francisco, he visited his uncle.
On examination (no comma needed) the patient had right leg pain.
8. Use commas after three-syllable intro words, such as additionally, however, therefore, furthermore, etc., to start a sentence.9. Use semicolons if you connect two complete sentences with however, therefore, furthermore, etc., and use a comma after the connecting word.
Example: The patient was told to return in one week; however, he never came to the appointment.
11. Use periods with degrees: M.D., Ph.D, D.O., D.D.S, D.P.M., etc.
12. Periods and commas ALWAYS go inside quotes. Semicolons and colons go OUTSIDE quotes.
13. Place commas around nonessential words or clauses within a sentence. Example: In fact, e.g., i.e., etc., Sentence example: absent any injury, etc.
14. Use an apostrophe to show possession of singular nouns that end in s or in a strong s sound.
Example: the waitress’ table, for appearance’ sake, Dr. Moses’ appointment, and
Mr. Gomez’ surgery (incorrect: Mr. Gomez’s surgery.)
15. Followup - noun. He will return for followup.
Follow-up - adjective. He will return for a follow-up visit.
Follow up - verb. He will follow up here.
16. Can be November 14 or 14th of November, but not November 14th.
17. Patient saw her primary care physician Dr. Roost.
OR: The patient saw Dr. Roost, her primary care physician.
(Incorrect: Patient saw her primary care physician, Dr. Roost.)
18. The patient does not use tobacco products but does use alcohol products. (no comma before but).
The patient does not use tobacco products, but he does use alcohol products. (comma needed.)
