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But it isn't a "rule of thumb" anymore...Carla is right...sm

Posted By: Dani on 2007-08-16
In Reply to: Are you all serious?!? sm - Bella

Bella, it's not a "rule of thumb" anymore. That was before the advent of word processing software. Word and WordPerfect do automatically adjust the spacing at the end of a sentence to make it more readable and pleasing to the eye. The only reason so many companies still ask that it be done is because that USED to be the norm in the time of typewriters and that's what we learned from Gregg. Companies I work for who are newer generations and know about the ins and outs of Word and WordPerfect know that they adjust automatically in order to put a clear, able to see, nice looking space at the end of a sentence.


However, with this being said, the original poster should still ask her contractor/client/company what they prefer. It is never left up to us unless we're the owner of the contract and developed the template or format ourselves. Especially if it's an MT account that pays based on character lines. Some would say that extra space is no big deal, but just how many Keystrokes do you think that is in a day hitting that extra space after a period? Maybe enough to make up about 10 extra lines or so? Probably. I'd rather get paid than not if they don't want you doing it and you are anyway.


Soooooo, after my ramble....always ask your supervisor, etc.


DG




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Carla, imagine yourself scanning down SM
a page of text, quickly tapping a single key or a combination of two or three keys as you go to drop in corrections like:

"Catheter was" TO "The catheter was"
"he" TO "she"
"dizzy, nauseated." TO "dizzy and nauseated."
"the patient; Reported" TO "the patient reported"
"q.i.d." to "4 times a day"

That sort of thing is a large part of what editing is, (the other part, of course, is checking proper medicalese, medications, dosages, etc.) so the faster and easier you can make all these repetitive corrections, the happier you'll be and the more money you'll make.

At first the reports will likely be very messy and require a lot of typing, but as the SR learns to put out good copy, the idea is to eventually be able to speed up the dictation as fast as it can clearly be heard and seldom have to actually stop the audio while you make a correction.

So, this means entering lots of commands in your Expander with very short abbreviations for correcting punctuation, changing case of letters, and replacing common mistakes the computer insists on making over and over with correct ones.

Regarding that last, a quick command that replaces "accession" with the "occlusions" the computer keeps insisting on using will save you from a lot of aggravation expressed on this forum. Just for instance, for this type of correction I use my standard abbreviation for the word I want to change TO and end it with a letter assigned to correction commands (to differentiate it from the regular expansion of that word). Hope that makes sense, but there are lots of good systems.

I would suggest choosing a single key to change the case of a letter up and down; you'll do that hundreds of times a day. A key typed twice (jj, kk, etc) or an easy pair (fj) are nice quick corrections for common mistakes, but not as quick as j and k are--save your single keys for the MOST frequent corrections. Like backing one space, inserting a comma, then jumping back to the next word--another hundreds-a-day correction.

And so on, but go check productivitytalk.com for techniques. I'm strictly an amateur compared to people there and have several of my best expansions thanks to their generosity. The offerings go from simple to very elaborate commands to reduce whole series of strokes we do all the time to a single step.

Have fun. Since you're preparing in advance, I suspect you'll end up doing well at this.
Not the OP, but there's no way you could "rule" on
nm
I hadn't heard about a weight "rule" either...interesting

I can't remember where I heard the 6 month thing at the moment.  I don't know if all the SPCAs are the same, but at this one you can adopt a cat for $50, but that includes at least some shots, "fixing" if you go to one of their participating vets, and a micro chip.


One for the thumb!!! nm
tt
I know what you mean about the thumb.

I also stretch my wrists, hands, fingers often and it helps a lot!


I agree, my right thumb too, cause it's the
My right thumb aches constantly, sometimes to the point of almost a burning feeling. I know it's because I use this thumb only for the spacebar!
thumb w/ mind of its own
I just recently noticed that my left thumb likes to extend when I use that hand to type.  It is not to the point of being sore or achy, but it is feeling kind of stressed.  I don't know of any other way to describe it.  Does anybody have or has had the same issue?  How do I make it stay down?  Help!
thumb issue
I was thinking that might be it. I do not have an ergonomic keyboard as of yet. I might want to get one pretty quick. I did try buddy taping it to my index finger and hand earlier. That seemed to help too, but took a little getting used to.


my thumb issue was due to
De'Quervans? (I'm not going to look it up right now) tendonitis.  It's located on the side of your wrist by your thumb.  Mine got pretty nasty, had to go the route of cortisone injections then finally surgery but 7 yrs out and no more issues or pain. 
thumb problems
It could possibly be DeQuervain's tenosynovitis.  I had it.  I was in a lot of pain for a long time.  Finally had surgery after several cortisone injections and physical therapy.  All better now, though.  Good luck.
thumb issue
it is DE Quervain's, I know because I do PT reports. Whether or not this is my problem, we'll find out. I have an ergonomic keyboard coming, as I am not going to mess around with this. I did put a hand towel under my wrist pad. It is helping for now. At least, I don't have to buddy tape. That's a pain. lol. Pun intended!
Actually the ones I have do not have fingers, just a thumb.

I really love them, There is a strap around the wrist to adjust the tightness, but the neoprene is a great fabric that seems to work really well for me.  I hate to recommend anything because sometimes what is good for one is not so good for another.  I would recommend going to a surgical supply store and they should let you try them on, that is what I did. 


 


Thumb soreness
Anybody have any remedies to help with sore thumb.  My thumb is constantly sore from hitting the space bar. The longer I type, the more my thumb is tender.  Any suggestions to soften the blow to the space bar
A good of thumb is 30%, that should cover everything.
x
My rule of thumb is a $100 minimum
Of course, closer relatives and friends receive more, but always at least $100 for graduations, wedding gifts, etc. when someone is an acquaintance.
ExText-sore thumb

Does anybody have trouble with a sore left thumb from doing speech recognition in ExText? I have been doing it now for 5 months and have constant pain in my thumb. Just wondered if there was a better way of doing it.


Rule of thumb - THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH
If you don't want to do much, don't expect to make much. That's just the way it is.
Rule of thumb in the NE is October & April when

the time changes. Daylight Savings starts in April and Standard Time in October. It always works for me. Change all the clocks and change all the batteries.


For those who haven't done so yet, though, better get changing.


Left thumb backspace keyboard
I can backspace with my left thumb and space forward with my right thumb. No reaching up with my pinkie to the backspace key at top right. It's called an "Erase Ease" I think. Let's me fly.
Is it at the thumb base? I had mine x-rayed, and it
NSAIDs and wearing typing gloves seems to help. Also, after the initial 1-2 yrs. of constant pain, it did settle down considerably, now only hurts if I use my hands for twisting, such as opening jars, wringing out wet washcloths or laundry, or using screwdrives instead of a power drill bit to assemble, dissasemble things. I also have a lot of pain riding a bike. I padded the handlebars as much as possible, and try to ride with the the sorer of the 2 thumbs resting on top of the handle bar with my other fingers, not gripping it.

Anyway, good luck, and hopefully it'll settle down in a few months!
Rule of thumb on dictation. A dictated
minute on average takes 3 to 5 minutes to transcribe. So, at the top, 60 minutes of dictation can take up to 5 hours to transcribe. Would not do it for less than $20 personally, and then based on what I do now I would be losing money.
My left thumb is the only "finger" I don't use, carpal tunnel is bad enough already.nm
x
I just noticed my right thumb twitching. I tell ya I'm falling apart! Last week my rear end and

left leg were going numb and now my thumb is twitching.  Ya know how you have your thumb poised above the space bar, well whenever I pause my typing my thumb twitches slightly and softly taps the space bar.  I keep rubbing my hand hoping it will stop.  Anybody else have this problem?


Maybe I'm getting to old to be an MT anymore.  Been doing this for almost 14 years and never so much as had a headache.  Now within the last year, I have head, neck and shoulder problems with muscle spasms and tightness, my rear end problems, and now this!  Frustrating to say the least! 


Had a Sony hand control years ago, then my thumb killed me! nm
..
I use Verizon mobile and the rule of thumb with mobile broadband is...
Basically, it will work whereever your cell phone will work.  If your too remote, it may not work, but I do know a lot of campgrounds like KOA offer Wifi, which means you should be able to pick up that signal too. You can always call ahead to the campground etc. I use mine going down the road for the most part but every great while going through the mountains I lose reception.  
do you ever wonder anymore when they say
they 'lost the account' if it went to VR or somewhere else?  Was it an easy account? 

Perhaps you just need to get used to the new one.  That happens to me, I panic on new accounts, and then after doing them a few weeks they are just as easy...

Sorry to hear you are losing money, though.  That can never be good when that happens to one of us...
No. I do not believe so. Not anymore.
i know too many companies who suck too bad.
Do they pay much anymore? (sm)

I've seen a few ads, one I saw yesterday paying a whole $25.00 for each audio tape.  The audio tapes were each one hour.  Puleeeze!


So if it took you 3 minutes to do their 1 minute, you would make a little over $8.00 an hour.  That is if their recording is good enough to understand.  If it took you 4 minutes to their 1 minute, you would make a little over $6.00 an hour.


I used to, but not anymore. sm

I went to Wal Mart at 6 a.m. (only because I was already up) a couple of years ago and people were literally fighting in line to get to the door.  I got in my car and went home. All I wanted was a 13 inch TV that was on sale, but figured it wasn't worth it.


I went back the next day and asked a salesperson if there was any chance they might have any of those 13 inch TV's left and he said, "Oh heck yes. We have hundreds of them out back. How many would you like me to go and get?"


Well, I just had to buy 2.


Not anymore
Just a couple of weeks ago it got hacked and let through all kinds of worms/viruses.
Not anymore
I used to type verbatim and thought that was the way it was suppose to be as an MT until I was told that I needed to correct grammer, punctuation etc. from the company I work for "which is part of being an MT and not just a typist". So, since I was "informed" of how things were I make changes if necessary.
Don't cry anymore...get out as soon as possible.
Please follow the advice that has been written here in this thread... You've given this man (?) every chance.  I wasted 7 years of my life to an alcoholic who was selfish, could've cared less about his sons, and all the while, I was hoping and praying that he would change.  As a matter of fact, I gave him an ultimatum, and he is the one who left.  It was a Saturday, I cried all day, didn't have a job, never had a job, what was I going to do?  Well, come Monday, I went to the Welfare Department, got an emergency check, and by Monday afternoon, I was singing, dancing around, thrilled, and my kids had not seen me that happy all of their young lives!  Really sad when I think about what I let them go through!  It is not fair or healthy for the children, and to think I cowered until HE made the decision.  After I left the welfare office, I thought how easy it was, and why didn't I do this sooner. Then, when I got my bearings, I went out into the big world and started working, scraped of course, but life went on, and the kids and I were happy.  As the old saying goes, you have nothing to fear but fear itself.  Please do this for yourself, but especially your children.  God Bless You and give you strength. 
yes, but not bad anymore.
it took numerous dermatologists to even get it diagnosed right. But mine itches fiercely. Used to have to take anti-itch meds orally. I have a mild case right now on my hand and legs. Years ago, had an Rx specially cococted at the pharmacy. The only component of that I recall is urea. Avoid hot water and soaps as much as possible. Other than finding a GOOD dermatologist, I'm afraid I don't have any advice to offer though.
Not anymore.
x
from someone who does not have Mom anymore
I don't have my Mom around anymore and so with this in mind what I can suggest is time, do something with her, make time for her and make her feel important.   Give her your undivided attention.  It only has to be a lunch, a drive somewhere with lunch but most of the time all they want is time with their children.  Just like when we were children and wanted their time and attention, now it has come full circle and they want our time and undivided attention.   Even if you don't get along that well with your Mom, try it and see if it works.   Wish I had more time with my Mom and there were times we did not get along but would love one more Mother's Day.    Just a thought.
Not anymore, but I was 24 when I got into MT, 34 now. nm
x
Used to like her, but don't anymore (sm)
I agree.  Who cares what her favorite things are? 
Not anymore!
Happened to me too. I now work for a company that charges the hospital by the minutes dictated, so even when they do change their minds, I'm still getting paid.
I don't SR anymore but
I really liked it when I worked at the Q. The complaint that you can type it faster than edit it never applied to me because I used to be reading and editing way ahead of where the dictation was. After a while, I learned to interpret some of the garbage ASR put in and would change it before it was even dictated. So I was actually editing faster than it was being dictated. I am not sure I explained it well, but no way I could have typed it that fast.
it's sad that nobody ever says thanks anymore
I might catch and correct literally hundreds of mistakes in any given week, but if I happen to miss one - THAT'S the only thing I'll ever hear about.


not anymore. nm
x
Its not too expensive anymore, and i think...

that it's worth it. It could make the difference between a new client, and that in itself would pay for the cost of your website. I would suggest either of these services:


www.aplus.net or www.sitefever.com


I used to use a timer, but not anymore.
It would jump the living daylights out of me every time as I was "in the transcribing zone." :)
Can't be too careful anymore.
Very wise call.
Nothing about MQ is adding up anymore.
x
not a legal anything anymore
You really need to speak with an attorney about this. I see several issues: 1- she was not divorced, as I understand it, so her husband might have rights to the m/c; 2- Dependant on the existance (I spelled that wrong huh) of a will, who knows who actually owns the bike; but, 3- if the bike is in her name on the title, and there is no leinholder, odds are, the seller has no legal footing (unless there's a contract of sorts with receipts to verify his legal standing).... it boils down to, talk to an attorney in your state, laws vary so much state to state.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and so sorry this had to pop up to get in the way of your grieving and healing process.
I don't do homemade anymore
Being single, its just easier nowadays to buy chili, the fritos and cheese. One thing I NEVER EVER EVER EVER buy (or made) chili with beans .... el yucko!!!!
I use to all the time. Not anymore though.

It is only because no one offers that anymore
nm
She's never on this board anymore.
If you notice, we haven't heard from her since Christmas. She has hired others to respond to us. Probably because she is ashamed.
I don't watch it anymore, but...
watched it today and bawled like I did the first time when Dr. Green's father died and then bawled all over again when Carol and Doug were reunited.