Spelling and Spacing Variations - Correct and Preferred Usage

AMA Manual of Style - Stacy L. Christiansen, Cheryl Iverson 2020

Spelling and Spacing Variations
Correct and Preferred Usage

ante mortem/antemortem—Both forms are used depending on placement before or after the noun. Ante mortem means occurring before death and is used after the noun. Antemortem means before death and precedes a noun.

The antemortem injuries were not the cause of death.

The injuries were discovered ante mortem.

bloodstream/blood stream—Bloodstream is preferred.

brainstem/brain stem—Brainstem is preferred.

caregiver/care giver—Caregiver is preferred.

caseload/case load—Caseload is preferred.

dataset/data set—Data set is preferred.

email/e-mail—Email (email) is preferred.

end point/endpoint—End point is preferred

fiberoptic(s)/fiber optic(s)—Fiberoptic(s) is preferred.

flowchart/flow chart—Flowchart is preferred but use flow diagram over flowdiagram.

gallbladder/gall bladder—Gallbladder is preferred.

healthcare/health care—Health care is preferred.

heartbeat/heart beat—Heartbeat is preferred.

needlestick/needle stick—Needlestick is preferred.

postmortem/post mortem—Both forms are used depending on placement before or after the noun. Postmortem means after death and precedes a noun. Post mortem means occurring or performed after death or pertaining to the period after death and is used after a noun.

A postmortem clot formed in the heart.

The clot formed in the heart post mortem.

postpartum/post partum—Both forms are used depending on placement before or after the noun. Postpartum means after childbirth and precedes a noun. Post partum means occurring after childbirth with reference to the mother and is used after a noun.

The new mother experienced postpartum depression.

The new mother’s depression began post partum.

radiofrequency/radio frequency—Radiofrequency is preferred.

radioguided/radio guided—Radioguided is preferred.

skinfold/skin fold—Skinfold is preferred.

slitlamp/slit lamp—Slitlamp is preferred.

waveform/wave form—Waveform is preferred.

website/Web site—web (lowercase “w”) and website (1 word, lowercase “w”) are preferred, but retain initial caps on the full name the World Wide Web.