Question | Answer |
punctuation only asserts itself in written word & thus plays vital role in __ __ & __ of language | visual expression; interpretation |
refers to punctuation marks that terminate independent clause/sentence | terminal punctuation |
period, exclamation point, & question marks, serve to create separation btwn one thought & the next; they are all | terminal punctuation marks |
marks end of sentence, either statement or command | period |
period can be used at end of a(n) __ __ | indirect question |
periods are used to separate a whole number from a(n) __ __ | decimal fraction |
periods are used after numbers or letters used to __ items in a list, unless numbers or letters are __ __ __ | enumerate; enclosed in parenthesis |
periods are used at end of each item in list, when those items are essential to __ __ of the statement introducing the list | grammatical completeness |
periods are not needed at end of each item in a list that does not represent a(n) __ __ to introductory statement | grammatical connection |
for enumerated lists that follow report heading, the heading functions as __ __ __ for which each enumerated item is a grammatical completion | implied introductory statement |
in clinical documentation, all enumerated lists __ __ terminal periods at end of each entry | should include |
when only 1 item follows the header, it serves grammatical completion, and should include a(n) __ __ | terminating period |
when single-item/enumerated list represents a list of __ __, you do not include a terminating period at end of each item | people's names |
always use periods with lowercased __ & __, whether English/Latin | abbreviations; acronyms |
many language/style sources have transitioned to dropping periods in most lowercased __ __ | Latin abbreviations |
retention of period in abbreviations used in treatment & drug dosage instructions __ __, by many language/style sources | is recommended |
do not use periods with __ abbreviations & acronyms, including titles & credentials that may have required periods at one time; it is no longer the practice | uppercase |
do not use periods with __ personal & courtesy titles, unless it is known that person in question prefers inclusion of period(s) | abbreviated |
do not use periods with abbreviated __ __ __ | units of measure |
use question mark at end of a(n) __ __ | direct question |
use question mark to indicate question within a(n) __ __ | direct quote |
do not use question mark within a(n) __, if it is the overall sentence that poses the question, and not direct __ itself | quotation; quote |
always place question marks at the __ of sentence, not at __ of quoted material | end; end |
in health care documentation, common for provider to indicate use of question mark to imply uncertainty about diagnosis; this should be | transcribed as dictated |
do not use question mark when a physician dictates __ __ or __ | question of; questionable |
in instance of direct quote & outside of direct quote, even if dictated, use of __ __ is discouraged | exclamation points |
serve to set of nonessential elements & to separate elements of an expression in order to clarify their relationship w/each other | commas |
single comma that serves as divider btwn 2 elements; digits, words, phrases, & clauses | separating comma |
use comma to separate 2/more __ modifying same noun | adjectives |
in clinical documentation, commas are __ __ from series of demographic descriptors used to identify patient | frequently omitted |
string of descriptors, in patient's demographic info, are generally treated as a(n) __ __ | single unit |
in patient's demographic info, when descriptors include other general adjectives to describe patient, apply commas | only to those items |
use commas to separate 2/more items in __ __, where none of items contain internal commas | single series |
in single series, do not use commas at all is all items are joined by | and/or |
always use serial commas before conjunction __ final item in your series | preceding |
to avoid clutter/confusion, use __ instead of commas or dashes to set off series that describes what precedes it | parenthesis |
use commas to separate 2 independent clauses in a(n) __ __ that are joined by a conjunction | compound sentence |
if no new subject is introduced after a conjunction you likely have a __ __ not a compound sentence | compound verb |
when you have a compound verb comma __ __ __ your conjunction | should not precede |
use comma to separate __ elements from the independent clause that follow it | introductory |
do not use commas after most introductory __ or short phrases that answer the questions when, how often, where, & why | adverbs |
use commas to separate groups of __ __ in numbers of 5-digits/more, but __ commas if decimals are used | three numerals; omit |
comma in 4-digit numbers may be __ | omitted |
do not place commas btwn words | expressing a number |
digits should be separated by __ __, not a comma, to indicate place values beyond thousands; formal publication of clinical data in periodicals, abstracts & scientific journals | thin space |
use comma to separate adjacent __ __ if neither can be expressed readily in words | unrelated numbers |
sentence should be __ to avoid confusion of adjacent unrelated numbers | recast |
use comma to separate __ of month from year when full date is expressed | day |
do not use commas when __ month & year are given | only |
when full date occurs in mid-sentence, use comma to separate __ from rest of sentence | year |
do not use commas to separate __ __ from titles such as Jr & Sr | person's name |
do not use commas to separate __ or __ numerals following person's name | roman; arabic |
do not use commas to separate __ or __ from business name unless it is know that entity in question prefers it | Inc.; Ltd. |
use comma to separate city, state, & __ | country |
use comma to separate __ & country | state |
use comma to separate state/country from | rest of sentence |
when expressing complete address in sentence, use comma to separate street address from __ address | secondary |
when expressing complete address in sentence, use comma to separate secondary address from __ | city |
when expressing complete address in sentence, do not use comma to separate __ & __ __ | state; zip code |
when expressing complete address in sentence, use comma to separate __ __ from remainder of sentence | zip code |
in genetic expression, use comma to separate __ __ & __ __ | chromosome number; sex chromosome |
in genetic expression, comma should be placed __ __ btwn the two numbers | without spacing |
do not use comma to separate 2/more __ whose units are the same dimension | measures |
use comma to separate direct __ from rest of sentence; comma should __ opening quotation marks when info introduces quoted dialogue | dialogue; precede |
comma should fall __ __ quotation marks, in direct dialogue, when remainder of sentence follows | inside closing |
use comma to separate 2 parts of __ __ to indicate omission of word/phrase whose meaning is implied | independent clause |
use commas to separate values of __ __ or test | single panel |
use periods to separate values of __ laboratory test | unrelated |
words, phrases, & clauses that are not necessary for grammatical correctness or structural integrity of sentence | nonessential expressions |
in determining nonessential expressions, more to do with whether it is necessary for sentence it resides in to have __ __ & structural integrity | unhindered meaning |
__ __ a nonessential word, phrase, or clause implies that it can be removed from sentence w/out compromising meaning/structural integrity | setting off |
word that most often introduces essential clauses | that |
word that most often introduces nonessential clauses | which |
use comma to __ __ words, phrases, & clauses that interrupt flow of sentence | set off |
use __ to set off an appositive | comma |
expression that provides additional, nonessential info about noun/pronoun that immediately precedes it | appositive |
use __ to set off afterthoughts | commas |
words, phrases, & clauses that are loosely added onto end of sentence, often expressing opinion/tone of speaker | afterthoughts |
exist in 2nd of 2 related sentences & help reader transition from through/idea expressed in 1st sentence to same in 2nd sentence | transitional expressions |
therefore & subsequently are examples of | complementary transitional expressions |
however & on the other hand are examples of | contrasting transitional expressions |
use comma(s) to set of transitional expressions when they occur in __ or __ __ of 2nd sentence | middle; at end |
when transitional expression __ 2nd clause, use comma to separate transitional expression from rest of sentence | introduces |
most common misapplication of transitional expression rule for commas, in transcription, occurs with the word | however |
primary function is to introduce a list, series, or enumeration; should be placed before such expressions as for example, namely, and that is when they introduce words, phrases, or series of clauses | colon |
when sentence uses __ __, such as the following, as follows, thus, & these, use a colon to separate the sentence from list/series that follows it | anticipatory expressions |
do not use colon to introduce words that __ __ into grammatical structure of sentence without the colon | fit properly |
use colon in standard expression of __; do not use it in __ __ | time; military time |
use colon in place of word to in the expression of a(n) __ | ratio |
__ __ __ virgule, dash, hyphen, or other marks in expression of ratios | do not use |
use to/hyphen instead of colon when expressing ratio using __ or __ instead of values | words; letters |
use colon only when expressing __ associated with ratio | values |
use colon to separate title & subtitle of __ or __ | article; publication |
use colon to separate __ number & __ numbers in footnotes, endnotes, & cited sources | volume; page |
use semicolon to separate 2 independent clauses, when 2 clauses express | closely linked or related concepts/ides |
semicolons are most often used to separate 2 independent clauses that are __ __ __ by transitional expression | linked in concept |
use semicolon to separate 2 independent clauses linked by transitional expression such as | for example, namely, or that is |
use semicolon to separate items in __ __, or series in which at least one of the items in series contains internal comma | complex series |
used to divide words btwn syllables when word does not fully carry to next line of text | hyphen |
when using hyphen, divide words only __ __ | btwn syllables |
when using hyphen, so not divide __ __ | one-syllable words |
when using hyphen, do not set off __ __ at beginning of word | one-letter syllable |
when using hyphen, do not divide words unless can leave syllable of at least __ __ on 1st line & carry syllable of at least same behind | three characters |
when using hyphen, do not divide __ | abbreviations |
when using hyphen, divide __ __ btwn words forming compound | compound words |
when using hyphen, divide hyphenated __ at point of hyphenation | compound |
when using hyphen, divide a word __ not __ a prefix | after; within |
when using hyphen, divide word __ not __ suffix | before; within |
when using hyphen, divide at prefix/suffix point, rather than in __ | root |
when using hyphen, divide one-letter syllable __ that syllable | after |
when using hyphen, do not divide words in more than __ __ lines of text | two consecutive |
when using hyphen, do not divide at end of __ line or end of __ line of paragraph | first; last |
when using hyphen, do not divide __ word on page | last |
consists of 2/more words that function as a unit & jointly modify a noun/pronoun | compound modifier/adjective |
words that make up modifier, in a compound modifier, cannot be | adjectives themselves |
derived from & take place of adjectival phrases & clauses | compound modifiers |
hyphenate __ compound modifiers when precede & modify a noun/pronoun | all |
do not hyphenate compound expressions when they occur elsewhere in sentence if | they no longer function in adjectival role |
if a compound expression no longer functions as adjective modifying a noun & functions instead as some other part of speech then | the hyphenation should be dropped |
types of compound expression that tend to drop their hyphenation are those | formed w/adverbs & participles |
when compound expression drop hyphenation the __ transitions back to primary role as verb | participle |
hyphenate compound modifiers that occur elsewhere in sentence if | they continue to function as modifying compounds |
when compound modifiers follow a linking verb & function as predicate adjective modifying noun/pronoun subject of sentence the compound modifiers continue to function as | modifying compounds & should be hyphenated |
do not use hyphen in compound modifier to link adverb ending in -ly with | particle/adjective |
when adverb ends in -ly, adverb functions to | modify adjective/participle |
when adverb ends in -ly, adverb does not function to | serve in compound role |
do not use hyphen in compound modifier is compound modifier is | preceded by adverb |
when compound modifiers commonly used together, or are so clear, they automatically read as a(n) __ and do not need to be __ __ __ | unit; joined w/hyphen |
do not use hyphens w/most medical modifiers when they | precede the noun |
example of medical term evolving away from hyphenation | non-small-cell carcinoma |
acceptable expression of non-small-cell carcinoma, based on latest trends, would be | nonsmall-cell carcinoma |
use hyphen with 2/more __ names used as multiple-word modifiers of disease, operations, procedures, instruments, etc | eponymic |
use hyphen to join 2 adjectives that are equal, complementary, or contrasting when they | precede/follow noun they modify |
do not hyphenate foreign expressions used in __ __, even when they precede noun they modify (unless they are always hyphenated) | compound adjectives |
use hyphen to form compound modifier btwn number & word if it | precedes & modifies noun |
when word represents unit of measure, hyphenate only when | unit is English unit of measure, spelled out in full |
do not hyphenate compound modifiers if unit of measure is abbreviated metric unit where | neither numeric value nor unit of measure constitutes actual word w/which compound can be formed |
per SI convention & metric standards, no intervening __ or __ should interrupt flow from numeric value to metric unit, even in modifying relationship | symbols; punctuation |
compound modifiers should be formed by at least __ __ __ & metric value expressions do not meet that criterion | one complete word |
use hyphen to __ __ & avoid confusion, absurdity, or ambiguity in compound modifiers | clarify meaning |
hyphen may not be necessary if meaning is __ __ by surrounding context | made clear |
use hyphen/en dash to hyphenate compound modifier formed with | one-word modifier in prefix |
when compound modifier formed w/one-word modifier in prefix, prefix is hyphenated to clearly communicate modifying relationship with | entire compound & not just 1st word |
use hyphen to join 2 nouns that are | equal, complementary, or contrasting |
do not hyphenate __ __ of more than one word, even when serving as modifier preceding noun | proper nouns |
do not use hyphen in combination of | proper & common noun |
use hyphen w/all compound nouns containing ex- when ex- means __ & precedes noun that can stand on its own | former |
most compound __ are hyphenated or are one word | verbs |
if unable to locate compound verb in dictionary, hyphenate | the components |
do not use hyphen in compounds verbs that are | formed w/preposition like up, in, down, etc. |
when compound verbs formed w/preposition are used as nouns, they | drop hyphenation & become joined compounds |
follow-up is acceptable in hyphenated form when used | as adjective |
both adjective & noun forms of followup & followthrough have | dropped hyphenation & become single compounds |
when expressing numbers in words, hyphenate all compound numbers | btwn 21 & 99, whether they stand alone or are part of a number over 100 |
only instance where numbers would be spelled out in healthcare documentation | when number occurs at beginning of sentence that cannot be recast |
choose simplest form for clarity of communication when there is | more than one acceptable number expression |
use hyphens in expression of __ numbers | serial |
use hyphens to express __ numbers that are combined w/whole numbers, whether spelled out or expressed w/numerals | fractional |
use hyphen in place of word to in range expressions if phrases | from...to, from...through, & between...and are not used |
use hyphen in place of word to in range expressions if | decimals &/or commas do not appear in numeric values |
use hyphen in place of word to in range expressions if neither value contains | four/more digits |
use hyphen in place of word to in range expressions if neither value is | negative |
use hyphen in place of word to in range expressions if neither value is | accompanied by a symbol |
do not use hyphen after common prefixes (ante-, anti-, bi-, co-, con-, tra-, counter-, de-, extra-, infra-, intra-, micro-, mid-, non-, over-, peri-, pre-, post-, pro-, pseudo-, re-, semi-, sub-, super-, supra-, trans-, tri-, ultra-, un-, under-) when | they precede proper noun, capitalized word, or abbreviation |
use hyphen after prefix when unhyphenated word would | have different meaning |
use hyphen after prefix, or before suffix, to avoid | unusual/awkward combination of letters |
use hyphen after prefix, or before suffix, to prevent __ vowels or three of same __ sequentially | repetitive; consonants |
number of industry resources already site __ without hyphenation, through hyphenated form is still acceptable | antiinflammatory |
use __ hyphen after each incomplete modifier when there is series of 2/more hyphenated compounds that have common last word/base | suspensive |
do not use suspensive hyphen w/stand-alone prefix that precedes a(n) | unhyphenated prefix compound |
do not hyphenate modifiers in which letter/number is | second element |
used to provide incidental or supplementary info that is not closely related to rest of sentence; may/may not be dictated, & transcriptionist should avoid using unless dictated | parentheses |
it is better to use a comma to provide __ or __ information, rather than parentheses | incidental; supplementary |
punctuation should not precede or follow __ expression, unless sentence requires it | parenthetical |
punctuation should not be included __ parenthetical expression, unless expression requires it | within |
use parentheses to __ __ within sentence, separating them by commas/semicolons | enumerate items |
may be used around a parenthetical insertion or within parenthetical insertion; follow rules for parentheses | brackets |
use brackets to express __ concentration | chemical |
when chemical concentrations are expressed as percentages, use % sign rather than spelled-out form, and do not | use brackets |
when expressing chemical formulas, use __ for innermost units, adding __ & then __ if necessary | parentheses; brackets; braces |
used in reporting of clinical data & scientific values; (/) aka diagonal, slant line, slash, or solidus | virgule |
often used to express equivalence, instance where 2 terms are of equal weight in an expression | virgules |
when the word and is implied between expressions, a virgule (/) can | be retained |
when considering duality, or instance where word or is implied between expressions | do not use virgule |
virgule can be used for per when construction involves | at least one metric unit of measure |
virgule can be used for per when at least one element includes | specific numeric quantity |
when expressions use nonmetric units of measure do not use virgule because | it implies abbreviated expression & non metric units are abbreviated in the record |
exception for use of virgule, when expression combines | metric w/nonmetric unit |
do not use virgule in place of per when __ __ intervenes between 2 units of measure | prepositional phrase |
do not use virgule in place of per when neither element (when both numeric) in expression | represents unit of measure |
do not use virgule in place of per when there are 2 numeric values accompanying | different units of measure (particularly drug concentration expression) |
when units of measure differ &/or elements are unknown, virgule should not be used to | imply direct relationship |
virgule can be used when there are 2 numeric values accompanying different units of measure or units of measure differ &/or elements are unknown, only when | such expression is part of legally registered trademark indicated by manufacturer |
use virgule to express __ in certain relational expressions | over |
when range combined w/over or out of expression | spell out expression |
do not use virgule to express | over or out of expressions |
when hyphen used to express range of 2 large numbers | express both numbers in entirety to avoid confusion/lack of clarity |
virgules may be used to __ __ representing month, day, & year in tables & figures | separate numerals |
may be used for date of service, operation, admission, or discharge when capturing patient demographic data as well as for dates dictated & transcribed at bottom of report | virgule to separate numerals representing month, day, & year |
trend in most formal documentation is to reflect __ date when using virgule construction | 8-digit |
it is preferable to __ __ dates in full | spell out |
dates should always be fully spelled out | in formal correspondence |
when only month & day are dictated, it is preferable to add | year, if known |
use virgule to separate | numerator from denominator in fractions |
do not use virgule to separate fractional elements when they are expressed __ __, use hyphen instead | as words |
express visual acuity with __ __ separated by virgule | arabic numerals |
begin complete quotation with __ __ if quoted material represents an independent clause | capital letter |
do not capitalize 1st word of quotation if it represents word, phrase, or dependent clause that has | grammatical relationship w/rest of sentence |
punctuation marks typically fall __ closing quotation marks to facilitate unhindered punctuation of sentence in which quotations reside | inside |
semicolons should always __ __ quotation marks | fall outside |
inclusion w/in quoted material is dependent on meaning | question marks & exclamation points |
place question mark/exclamation point __ ending quotation if material being quoted is expressed as exclamation/question | inside |
do not use single/double quotation marks to represent __ & __ in dimensional expression | feet; inches |