Word for Word 2021 | Word for Word | University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

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Word for Word provides advice on correct and precise word usage for biomedical writers. Each column represents the consensus of Editing Services' 13 editors.

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An airtight explanation of "hypoxia" vs. "hypoxemia"

Sarah Bronson
Getting to the heart of the matter: "Atrial fibrillation" vs. "atrial flutter"

Don Norwood
Avoiding dehumanizing language

Ann Sutton
Getting your ducks in a row: Using "as follows" correctly

Sunita Patterson
Where to find approved protein names online

Amy Ninetto
Where to find approved gene names online and how to use them

Amy Ninetto
The dictionary: Beyond basic definitions

Ashli Villarreal
Using commas with dates and locations

Editing Services, Research Medical Library (formerly Scientific Publications)
Hyphenating temporary compounds: A low-stress guide

Bryan Tutt
"All ready" or "already"?

Kathryn Hale
First things first: Deciding between "first" and "firstly"

Tammy Locke
"Majority of" or "most"?

Ann Sutton
Are control subjects "healthy"?

Lizzie Hess
Between "among" and "between"

Sarah Bronson
Get your questions answered with (the AMA Manual of) Style

Sunita Patterson
Would you say you're apt, likely, or liable to read this entry?

Joe Munch
"Weighed" or "weighted": A weighty question

Erica Goodoff
"-ic" or "-ical": When suffixes are problematic (problematical?)

Bryan Tutt
There there, it's not that hard: Choosing between "thereby" and "therefore"

Amy Ninetto
One life to live: "Life span" vs. "life expectancy"

Dawn Chalaire