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.
Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
hmm that is how i was taught to say it....an historic....in about 1960 or so
Would you say "an history book"? Probably not. My grandmother (Born in 1896) used to pronounce "humble" without the initial h sound. So she would say "an umble man. Perhaps there are regions where people say "an 'istoric moment." However when I hear a newscaster saying "an historic..." they quite clearly pronounce the h sound. If the initial h is pronounced (as in hay, higher, ham, historic, home, house, horrible) "a" is used. If the initial h is silent (as in hour, honest,) an is used.
Of course, someone with a cockney accent who drops all the h sounds would say "an 'istorical novel about 'Enry the Eighth.'
I agree that we should all use proper grammer, but what is wrong with blue collar workers? My boyfriend is an electrician and he speaks better than I do. he is always correcting me on the way I type and talk. I don't think it has to do with the color of our collar. Just bringing up a point.
OMG!!! Too funny! There is a nurse on nights who always used to say that when giving report...."52 y/o pt of Dr. X in with X. She's alert and orientated, etc...". I would cringe every time!
Maybe she caught on or something because I haven't heard her say that in quite a while now.
Here in London, UK, she would be speaking absolutely correctly. Our patients are 'orientated', or otherwise.
Would you say "an history book"? Probably not. My grandmother (Born in 1896) used to pronounce "humble" without the initial h sound. So she would say "an umble man. Perhaps there are regions where people say "an 'istoric moment." However when I hear a newscaster saying "an historic..." they quite clearly pronounce the h sound. If the initial h is pronounced (as in hay, higher, ham, historic, home, house, horrible) "a" is used. If the initial h is silent (as in hour, honest,) an is used.
Of course, someone with a cockney accent who drops all the h sounds would say "an 'istorical novel about 'Enry the Eighth.'
Which brings us to the very pertinent story of Eliza Dolittle and Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. Eliza is a Cockney young woman whose social mobility is severely limited by her accent and manner of speech. Henry Higgins is an arrogant speech specialist who takes her under his wing and remakes her into a 'lady'. It's a delightful classic musical that examines the subject of social class, manners, and speech.
Here in London, UK, she would be speaking absolutely correctly. Our patients are 'orientated', or otherwise.
Sue
See, I told you all that pages ago. It's used in Great Britain. Orientated is absolutely correct. Maybe it's us Americans who have it wrong, eh?:trout:
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
I, too, think it is very important to use proper grammar and spelling and to proofread our work carefully. However, what bugs me even more in a professional setting is when someone I work with says "huh?" instead of "excuse me". It sounds so crude.
Here in London, UK, she would be speaking absolutely correctly. Our patients are 'orientated', or otherwise.
Sue
Yippie:, I love this statement. I have to laugh at everyone on this site that seem to think they are the end all - end all of grammar. When I see a nurse from the UK or many other places that have different spelling or ways of arranging a sentence, and someone slams them for it..... it makes me snicker to myself ....who's the real grammar misfit.
Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.
i had a new one show up today in the discharge orders i receive every morning from the hospital for our cardiology pts. an admission clerk had typed this into the computer as the admitting diagnosis for a pt with chest pain:
"mild cardia infarct"
someone had drawn a line through it and written "myocardial infarct" below it.
I agree that we should all use proper grammer, but what is wrong with blue collar workers? My boyfriend is an electrician and he speaks better than I do. he is always correcting me on the way I type and talk. I don't think it has to do with the color of our collar. Just bringing up a point.
I went back over the last couple of pages and couldn't find any reference to blue collar workers. Did I miss something.
Good language usage and communication skills transcend social/economic/education/class barriers. You can be well-read and articulate on any job at any level.
Yippie:, I love this statement. I have to laugh at everyone on this site that seem to think they are the end all - end all of grammar. When I see a nurse from the UK or many other places that have different spelling or ways of arranging a sentence, and someone slams them for it..... it makes me snicker to myself ....who's the real grammar misfit.
Enjoying a good discussion on grammar and usage doesn't equate to thinking yourself superior--the be-all and end-all of grammar, so to speak. If we were doing this in other threads, that would be discourteous, but when the topic is language skills, it isn't snobbish or wrong to express opinions, including venting, about common mistakes.
And as far as I know, no one has slammed anyone. If it makes you happy to snicker at us, by all means, snicker away.
Specializes in Med Surg, Oncology, Telemetry, HoHealth,.
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.
since we are on the subject, we, as humans, are not raised as we would raise an animal. we are reared.
Myxel67
463 Posts
Would you say "an history book"? Probably not. My grandmother (Born in 1896) used to pronounce "humble" without the initial h sound. So she would say "an umble man. Perhaps there are regions where people say "an 'istoric moment." However when I hear a newscaster saying "an historic..." they quite clearly pronounce the h sound. If the initial h is pronounced (as in hay, higher, ham, historic, home, house, horrible) "a" is used. If the initial h is silent (as in hour, honest,) an is used.
Of course, someone with a cockney accent who drops all the h sounds would say "an 'istorical novel about 'Enry the Eighth.'