advice about hyphenating *two and a half years ago* please
Posted By: me on 2006-05-26
In Reply to:
Subject: advice about hyphenating *two and a half years ago* please
I have tried looking this up on grammar sites and couldn't find anything. I am always wondering if I should hyphenate * two-and-a-half years ago* or if the jury is out on that. Same as *for the past three-and-a-half years...*
Thanks
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has not be hyphenating re.....sm
Subject: has not be hyphenating re.....sm
unless it changes the meaning....
recreate is fine
but re-creation when you are creating something over
because recreation is a pastime....let's go have some fun!!
Merriam-Webster's dictationary has been putting *re* together for 26 years that I know of and also with most *non* words too....I actually still have a 1980 dictionary of theirs. 
oops-has not been hyphenating re..NM
Subject: oops-has not been hyphenating re..NM
x
hyphenating triple o's
Subject: hyphenating triple o's
It is common to separate long strings of vowels by a hyphen to clarify the space between syllables for proper pronunciation. However, like many things this is a stylistic issue and not written in stone, hence the discrepancy in references. For stylistic issues, defer to your employer's/client's preferences, if specified; otherwise choose according to your personal preference.
I'm used to hyphenating it, too, but last year (I think) = sm
Subject: I'm used to hyphenating it, too, but last year (I think) = sm
our QA told us to stop using the hyphenated form and, indeed, the BOS says not to hyphenate.
no hyphen -- would be like hyphenating decapitate
Subject: no hyphen -- would be like hyphenating decapitate
nm
I learned 27 years ago to use q.4h. (no spaces), past few years q.4 h. (see msg)
Subject: I learned 27 years ago to use q.4h. (no spaces), past few years q.4 h. (see msg)
Now some are saying it's q. 4h.?? UGH, YUCK!! I have also worked on accounts where it had to be "every 4 hours," and we had to spell out p.r.n. (as needed for). At least we got more characters.
First rule: It is all what the "client/account" wants, not always what the BOS says it is. I realize that language and its usage is constantly changing, but I've seen so many BOS and client flip-flops on so many other things in nearly 3 decades that it's laughable. What isn't laughable is when we get penalized for not knowing what they want, even when they, themselves, don't know or are wrong.
Oh, and I still prefer the old no spaces: q.4h., q.4-6h., q.12h., and so on.....
Wow, thank you. Just years, years and more years of experience
Subject: Wow, thank you. Just years, years and more years of experience
and a constant thirst for learning something new everyday. As we all know this can get to be somewhat boring, but learning from what I transcribe as well as from other transcriptionists keeps me going (money is not bad either). It becomes a challenge. But I can't thank you enough for the kind words.
Use to be younger...
Thanks for the advice!
Subject: Thanks for the advice!
I just hate sending in a blank but sometimes there is no choice. 
Need advice
Subject: Need advice
Has anyone ever had a dictator who said "He was unable to take p.o.s?" As in he couldn't take anything by mouth. I have one dictator who says this rather often, and I'm not sure how to transcribe it. If he just said, "He was unable to take anything p.o", that would be different. But he says p.o.(s). Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
TIA!!
Any more advice?
Subject: Any more advice?
I have been an MT for many years (mostly in office - recently with Heartland), but I am quite new to this site and still getting the hang of it. I just lost my current job to overseas, so I absolutely refuse to help anyone that takes jobs away from American MTs. However, I would like to help answer questions if I am able. Other than what you previously listed, are there any other ways of telling if the questions are posted by actual American MTs in need of help? Does anyone give the overseas people wrong answers? Do you catch flack for answering them by mistake? I would have unknowingly answered this one if nobody said anything. I appreciate your help!
thanks for the advice! nm
Subject: thanks for the advice! nm
thx 4 ur advice
Subject: thx 4 ur advice
im on training
thx 4 d advice
Subject: thx 4 d advice
m stil studying
Advice?
Subject: Advice?
I am currently transcribing from micro cassettes and transporting tapes back and forth. I am looking into upgrading to digital and sending dictation via internet. Is there anyone already doing this that could offer advice? i.e. How does it work? What equipment is needed? (I'm assuming I need to purchase a new foot pedal?) Any special software needed? What is the sound quality like? Any pros vs. cons? Also, can you recommend certain equipment and where to purchase? Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Lorrie
a word of advice - sm
In the spine, there are bones (vertebrae) and intervertebral discs. The discs keep the vertebrae from touching one another, thus providing a "cushion" for the bones. When the disc which is between the spinal bones ruptures it is called a herniated nucleus pulposus. It could be a disc protrusion or a disc extrusion, which is not be a complete herniation but a partial disruption of the disc.
Therefore, the answer to your question would not be "distal" as the other poster suggested, but rather discal herniation or a herniated disc or nucleus pulposus.
A suggestion would be for you to get an atlas of the spine and read about the components which make up the human spine, canal and cord. That way you would have a better understanding of what you are transcribing and also the correct terminology.
Milton's advice
Subject: Milton's advice
No, Newbie, Milton is not trying to start anything. He is trying to save your very naive tuchas from trouble down the road. You may be a smary-pants, but you sure have a lot to learn, my friend.
"good advice"
Subject: "good advice"
Thanks guys ! :)
You know I meant advice LOL !!!
Subject: You know I meant advice LOL !!!
x
slang advice please
Subject: slang advice please
Dictator says: I recommended to her to hook up with a gastroenterologist. (Sounds like a date! )
Should I leave this as is, or change to something like "I recommended to her to see a gastroenterologist? Not a verbatim account. Just looking for opinions, I am leaning towards changing it.
Need advice on how to type this
Subject: Need advice on how to type this
Dictated -
Peak flows today: 230, 240 and 290. Should they be separated by / ? Thanks.
Need advice on how to type this: sm
Subject: Need advice on how to type this: sm
Range of motion of the left knee is approximately +5 degrees to 2+15 degrees. Would this be correct, or 2 +15 degrees, or 2+ 15 degrees.
Thanks for your help!
Word of advice
Subject: Word of advice
Fix the grammatical errors. QA's job is to correct blanks that are pertinent to the report. Leaving something like that to QA to fix will only leave a red flag.
thank you; good advice
Subject: thank you; good advice
You're getting some very good advice here. sm
Subject: You're getting some very good advice here. sm
I've been using PRD for years and it allows me to use symbols as part of the shortcuts which really helps a lot. Because there can be the same abbreviation for different phrases, I will add a single hyphen for cardio, 2 hyphens for ortho, etc. Also, if the phrase needs to be hyphenated to precede a noun, such as in "up-to-date information," the short form here for a hyphenated "up to date" would be "-utd." When it doesn't need to be hyphenated, it would be "utd." This comes in handy for the phrase "too numerous to count." (You get the idea.)
This is really a personalized thing. My short forms may be a mystery for another MT.
For personal names that crop up a lot that I don't want to type out each time, I'll use the last name with either a hyphen after it or a "1." For instance, "George Washington, MD," I'd use "wash1." For "George Washington, PA-C" I'd use wash-.
Your "rrr" also could be "r3." My "alert and oriented x3" is "ao3."
Whatever floats your boat! Have fun!
Thanks for your advice; it's greatly appreciated.
Subject: Thanks for your advice; it's greatly appreciated.
.
Advice for transcribing lens
Subject: Advice for transcribing lens
I am new and have an ophthalmology account. I am not having much trouble with the terms, but I'm unsure how to punctuate and/or format the lens prescriptions. Does anyone know of a good website that explains this or provides examples? Thanks!
Advice - 'mickey button'?
Subject: Advice - 'mickey button'?
Just out of curiosity, how do you type 'mickey button'? As it sounds, as it sounds but capitalized, the apparently patented way of MIC-KEY button (as on the product's website), or yet another way? I keep seeing this typed all different ways and was wondering if there's some universally preferred method of which I'm not aware.
TIA 
Please look at sentence and give advice on punctuation. Thanks.
Subject: Please look at sentence and give advice on punctuation. Thanks.
The patient does not eat or drink orally, but instead receives gastrostomy tube feedings, apparently usually between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., which according to the caregiver, he has been tolerating well.
Advice: Invest in MT terminology books. sm
Subject: Advice: Invest in MT terminology books. sm
It will make your life so much easier than trying to wing it with Google alone.
Also, research all responses you receive here, i.e., look up the definitions for "fulminate" and "fulminant" and you'll see what I mean. ;)
Good advice. I am finding things mispronounced quite often. Thanks for the help!
Subject: Good advice. I am finding things mispronounced quite often. Thanks for the help!
Half-bent
Subject: Half-bent
You sure have a good ear; "is half-bent," would fit in the blank. It sounds like a case of Paget's disease; sounds like the patient's upper body is at 45 degrees with his pelvis.
I say 0.25 is a quarter, while 0.5 would be half. (nm)
Subject: I say 0.25 is a quarter, while 0.5 would be half. (nm)
(nm)
half the body --
Subject: half the body --
I'm thinking it's hemibody.
half tablet
Subject: half tablet
BOS likes us to use numbers as much as possible:
1/2 tablet daily
but one-half tablet is not incorrect.
A 3.0 mm half thickness ...
Subject: A 3.0 mm half thickness ...
groove was made at the temporal limbus with a guarded diamond blade. A feather blade dissected a tunnel into theraseroma. A paracentesis entry was made at 5 O'clock.
I would type it out one-half
Subject: I would type it out one-half
They sometimes cut trazodone in half
Subject: They sometimes cut trazodone in half
Most commonly prescribed for pain patients at 25 mg, and then they titrate it up, sometimes cutting pills in half. Yes, also used for headaches and sleep. Been on it for years.
0.5 or half a centimeter?
Subject: 0.5 or half a centimeter?
ok he says "half a centimeter."
should i type half a centimeter or 0.5 cm?
2 years' time because years is plural. One year's time because it is singular, only one year.
Subject: 2 years' time because years is plural. One year's time because it is singular, only one year.
given a liter and a half of fluid.
Subject: given a liter and a half of fluid.
given a liter and a half of fluid.
how do you write one-half mm of ST depression? thanks
Subject: how do you write one-half mm of ST depression? thanks
half a response here but is it a lead? sm
Subject: half a response here but is it a lead? sm
This sounds more like statistical analysis to me than actual cardiac-related terminology.
I'd start by looking into E x U' or something.
I did stat analysis coursework in college, and the word prime is often represented by an apostrophe. Because there could be data represented by U, and then U' is some derivation of that data. If my fuzzy memory serves me properly, anyway!
I may be WAAAAAY off base here, but that's the first thing I see in this. I hope it helps a little.
one-half tablet daily is what I would put
Subject: one-half tablet daily is what I would put
.
Maybe half a liter? (Though that is a low dose)
Subject: Maybe half a liter? (Though that is a low dose)
Your blank might be ____ one half. nm
Subject: Your blank might be ____ one half. nm
s
BOS has D5 in half-normal saline
Subject: BOS has D5 in half-normal saline
but if they didn't say "in" I would just put D5 half-normal saline. JMO.
She smokes half-a-pack-per-day.
Subject: She smokes half-a-pack-per-day.
She smokes half-a-pack-per-day. Does this look right? Thanks.
HYPHENS IN Half-pack-a-day
Subject: HYPHENS IN Half-pack-a-day
Half-pack-a-day ? Does it have hyphens??
and Half-pack-per-day ? Does it??? Thank you!
Also found a one-and-a half syndrome
Subject: Also found a one-and-a half syndrome
atenolol a half-a-tablet daily or
Subject: atenolol a half-a-tablet daily or
one-half-tablet daily or....? TIA!
Might find a used one on half.com. Make sure you get the Second Edition. nm
Subject: Might find a used one on half.com. Make sure you get the Second Edition. nm
s
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