Re: Mixed Fractions and Spacing

June 14, 2001

Valeria,

Gee, I sure didn't intend to sound like I was " picking nits " in a negative

sense -- I was just throwing in my rationale behind how I consider which way

to go. :-)

As has since been brought out, different guides specify different

preferences, and we're all left to make those decisions based on our

individual situations. Additionally, for some MTs, the character counts on

which pay is based include only the " printed " characters and not the

spaces -- in that case, the hyphen yields an additional " paid " character

whereas the space does not.

I, too, am an MT instructor ( " taking a break " at the moment). I make my

students aware of the different guides out there so that they will be aware

of the various sources of what they ultimately may be instructed to follow,

or if left to their own preferences, which one to choose for themselves.

They include the AAMT BOS, Fordney & Diehl's Do's and Don'ts, and the Gregg

Reference Manual.

To further clarify, the QA department for the national service through which

I do my transcription has instructed us to use the hyphen for mixed

fractions, so that would be another factor in my personal decision to use

the hyphen although I agree that using the space bar is an easier keystroke

than is the hyphen.

As I think we can all clearly see from just this one tiny example, there are

numerous factors that go into deciding when, how, and why to do what...

such is the life of an MT and part of what keeps us from getting bored, yes?

:-)

Kim R.

Re: Mixed Fractions and Spacing

Kim,

That might by why your account requires you to use only keyboard

characters--they're the only ones that yield an accurate count.

On the other hand, since we're picking nits here, why put in the

hyphen? The fraction is accurate without it (1 1/2 or 1-1/2--either is

correct), but 1 1/2 is not likely to be read as " one minus one-half " and

for most people, the space bar is an easier keystroke than is the hyphen.

Valeria

June 14, 2001

Valeria,

Gee, I sure didn't intend to sound like I was " picking nits " in a negative

sense -- I was just throwing in my rationale behind how I consider which way

to go. :-)

As has since been brought out, different guides specify different

preferences, and we're all left to make those decisions based on our

individual situations. Additionally, for some MTs, the character counts on

which pay is based include only the " printed " characters and not the

spaces -- in that case, the hyphen yields an additional " paid " character

whereas the space does not.

I, too, am an MT instructor ( " taking a break " at the moment). I make my

students aware of the different guides out there so that they will be aware

of the various sources of what they ultimately may be instructed to follow,

or if left to their own preferences, which one to choose for themselves.

They include the AAMT BOS, Fordney & Diehl's Do's and Don'ts, and the Gregg

Reference Manual.

To further clarify, the QA department for the national service through which

I do my transcription has instructed us to use the hyphen for mixed

fractions, so that would be another factor in my personal decision to use

the hyphen although I agree that using the space bar is an easier keystroke

than is the hyphen.

As I think we can all clearly see from just this one tiny example, there are

numerous factors that go into deciding when, how, and why to do what...

such is the life of an MT and part of what keeps us from getting bored, yes?

:-)

Kim R.

Re: Mixed Fractions and Spacing

Kim,

That might by why your account requires you to use only keyboard

characters--they're the only ones that yield an accurate count.

On the other hand, since we're picking nits here, why put in the

hyphen? The fraction is accurate without it (1 1/2 or 1-1/2--either is

correct), but 1 1/2 is not likely to be read as " one minus one-half " and

for most people, the space bar is an easier keystroke than is the hyphen.

Valeria

June 14, 2001

Valeria,

Gee, I sure didn't intend to sound like I was " picking nits " in a negative

sense -- I was just throwing in my rationale behind how I consider which way

to go. :-)

As has since been brought out, different guides specify different

preferences, and we're all left to make those decisions based on our

individual situations. Additionally, for some MTs, the character counts on

which pay is based include only the " printed " characters and not the

spaces -- in that case, the hyphen yields an additional " paid " character

whereas the space does not.

I, too, am an MT instructor ( " taking a break " at the moment). I make my

students aware of the different guides out there so that they will be aware

of the various sources of what they ultimately may be instructed to follow,

or if left to their own preferences, which one to choose for themselves.

They include the AAMT BOS, Fordney & Diehl's Do's and Don'ts, and the Gregg

Reference Manual.

To further clarify, the QA department for the national service through which

I do my transcription has instructed us to use the hyphen for mixed

fractions, so that would be another factor in my personal decision to use

the hyphen although I agree that using the space bar is an easier keystroke

than is the hyphen.

As I think we can all clearly see from just this one tiny example, there are

numerous factors that go into deciding when, how, and why to do what...

such is the life of an MT and part of what keeps us from getting bored, yes?

:-)

Kim R.

Re: Mixed Fractions and Spacing

Kim,

That might by why your account requires you to use only keyboard

characters--they're the only ones that yield an accurate count.

On the other hand, since we're picking nits here, why put in the

hyphen? The fraction is accurate without it (1 1/2 or 1-1/2--either is

correct), but 1 1/2 is not likely to be read as " one minus one-half " and

for most people, the space bar is an easier keystroke than is the hyphen.

Valeria

June 14, 2001

In a message dated 6/14/2001 6:22:00 PM Central Daylight Time,

vtruitt@... writes:

> MT Do's and Don'ts doesn't seem to mind if you don't use that hyphen. Also,

> >not everyone considers BOS the final word. Just a thought.

> >

> >Trisha

>

While this whole thing seems to be getting a little silly, if the AAMT BOS

didn't provide some type of standards of style in our field, it would be up

for grabs to any " typist " that wanted to 'make some money working from home'.

I for one am very grateful to those before us who have set down some

standards in medical transcription field. They have worked very hard to

finally have our voices heard...hyphen or no hyphen.

Cheryl, cmt

June 14, 2001

In a message dated 6/14/2001 6:22:00 PM Central Daylight Time,

vtruitt@... writes:

> MT Do's and Don'ts doesn't seem to mind if you don't use that hyphen. Also,

> >not everyone considers BOS the final word. Just a thought.

> >

> >Trisha

>

While this whole thing seems to be getting a little silly, if the AAMT BOS

didn't provide some type of standards of style in our field, it would be up

for grabs to any " typist " that wanted to 'make some money working from home'.

I for one am very grateful to those before us who have set down some

standards in medical transcription field. They have worked very hard to

finally have our voices heard...hyphen or no hyphen.

Cheryl, cmt

June 14, 2001

In a message dated 6/14/2001 6:22:00 PM Central Daylight Time,

vtruitt@... writes:

> MT Do's and Don'ts doesn't seem to mind if you don't use that hyphen. Also,

> >not everyone considers BOS the final word. Just a thought.

> >

> >Trisha

>

While this whole thing seems to be getting a little silly, if the AAMT BOS

didn't provide some type of standards of style in our field, it would be up

for grabs to any " typist " that wanted to 'make some money working from home'.

I for one am very grateful to those before us who have set down some

standards in medical transcription field. They have worked very hard to

finally have our voices heard...hyphen or no hyphen.

Cheryl, cmt

June 14, 2001

Re: Mixed Fractions and Spacing

> In a message dated 6/14/2001 6:22:00 PM Central Daylight Time,

> vtruitt@... writes:

>

> > MT Do's and Don'ts doesn't seem to mind if you don't use that hyphen.

Also,

> > >not everyone considers BOS the final word. Just a thought.

> > >

> > >Trisha

> >

> While this whole thing seems to be getting a little silly, if the AAMT BOS

> didn't provide some type of standards of style in our field, it would be

up

> for grabs to any " typist " that wanted to 'make some money working from

home'.

Be careful that you don't sound condescending to the health care

professionals who do work from home. The days where transcriptionists learn

on the job at the feet of experienced MTs is gone, like it or not. Any

reference on style can only be a guide ( AAMT BOS included) to help give

some standard to our field. However, there is no set standard. The

standard by which we work is that which comes from the editors and QAs of

the institutions we transcribe for. It would be nice were there one

standard but in truth there are many and any time spent in this profession

will make that evident.

> I for one am very grateful to those before us who have set down some

> standards in medical transcription field. They have worked very hard to

> finally have our voices heard...hyphen or no hyphen.

Yes some people did some very good work laying down a foundation of style

and standards, but even those have changed and been amended over time. Just

let us remember that they are there for reference and are not principles

carved in stone.

> Cheryl, cmt

>

June 14, 2001