One thing that is nails on chalkboard to me is when I hear my fellow nurses use double negatives and other blatant grammar mistakes. I'm speaking of English as a first language, domestically born and raised people.
I feel as this detracts from the professional image of nursing. We are supposed to be educated professionals. Poor grammar makes nursing look like a blue collar trade to those who are educated, such as our physicians and many members of the public.
Let me clarify that I don't harshly judge the intelligence or moral character of people with poor grammar. But, I feel strongly that nurses should project an image of being educated professionals in our speech and demeanor. Thanks for reading.
We get a lot of tib/fib fractures on our floor, and I often heard my preceptor say that the patient fractured his "tibula and fibula". I bit my tongue many times to keep from correcting her...
My other peeve (not nursing related) is when people order an "expresso". This is why I would never, ever succeed as a Starbucks employee! I always want to correct them, tell them that no, it is not fast coffee, it is espresso.
That reminds me of a non-nursing related one - my sister insists on calling tiramusu "tiaramisu". I tell her that it isn't a crown, it is a dessert, but she goes right on pronouncing it her way. It drives me nuts.
i have never heard of this ie specific=pacific , i did know one nurse who use to write in report book 'PACIFIC meaning she had had a quiet shift i thought it was odd but i knew what she meant
I hate it when people use the word "pacific" instead of "specific".:angryfire:angryfire
According to what I've learned, you do not end a sentence with a preposition
That's a Latin grammar rule, not an English grammar rule.
Anyone remember what Winston Churchill said after an editor "corrected" one of Churchill's sentences that ended in a preposition? "This is the kind of impertinence up with which I shall not put." It illustrates a good point; not every sentence is grammatically correct (or clear sounding) just because the preposition isn't at the end. I think prepositions tend to be, in most cases, a matter of style.
"Where are you from?" (preposition at the end)
"From where are you?" (preposition at the beginning)
However, I've noticed when a preposition is used at the end of a sentence, it may make the sentence redundant:
"Where is it at?" (preposition at the end)
"Where is it?" (no preposition)
You've got to love English grammar. I hated it throughout school, but now that I'm not required to study it, I find it interesting. (Though I doubt I'll ever get all the rules down -- seems like an impossible feat!)
That's a Latin grammar rule, not an English grammar rule.
Anyone remember what Winston Churchill said after an editor "corrected" one of Churchill's sentences that ended in a preposition? "This is the kind of impertinence up with which I shall not put." It illustrates a good point; not every sentence is grammatically correct (or clear sounding) just because the preposition isn't at the end. I think prepositions tend to be, in most cases, a matter of style.
"Where are you from?" (preposition at the end)
"From where are you?" (preposition at the beginning)
However, I've noticed when a preposition is used at the end of a sentence, it may make the sentence redundant:
"Where is it at?" (preposition at the end)
"Where is it?" (no preposition)
You've got to love English grammar. I hated it throughout school, but now that I'm not required to study it, I find it interesting. (Though I doubt I'll ever get all the rules down -- seems like an impossible feat!)
That's interesting, because I learned it in English class.
I just thought of one! Spelling "grammar" with an 'e.' Grammer.
As in, "I'm fixin' to go learn me some grammer! Then go have a talkin' to wit my Gramma."
:selfbonk:
I never used to shorten words. Now, I do it all the time. I shorten and slur my words where I used to be very careful with pronunciation, even though I have a strong hick accent.
I even change words around, I have actually found myself telling people "it be over there."
and this use of "people" is not correct, the plural of person is persons....now i have really "outed" myself to anyone who may know me, lol
This is one of those "classical" rules that has long outlived its usefulness. Except in the most formal of writing--legal documentation being a prime example--people is an acceptable plural of person.
That's interesting, because I learned it in English class.
It wasn't until I did some investigating that I found out it isn't really a rule of English so much as a preference for some people. ( ) It's always easier to teach a general rule than the whole truth.
vashtee, RN
1,065 Posts
I had a clinical instructor use the word "advantageous" rather than "adventitious" lung sounds.