Commonly Misused Words Used in LNC Reports
Are you correctly using these commonly misused words? I’ve proofread thousands of LNC reports. Avoid embarrassing errors by reviewing these commonly misused and misspelled words. Analyze these commonly misused words to see if you are using them correctly.
Accept vs. Except
Accept means to receive.
Except means excluding.
Example:
“The hospital’s risk management will accept responsibility for the fall, except for the claim regarding pressure-injury progression.”
Adverse vs. Averse
Adverse = harmful.
Averse = opposed.
Example:
“The patient had an adverse reaction to penicillin. The nurse was not averse to giving antibiotics but failed to review the allergy list.”
Affect vs. Effect
Affect = influence (verb).
Effect = result (noun).
Example:
“The medication error affected the patient’s respiratory status, and the effect was a rapid deterioration requiring intubation.”
Assure vs. Ensure vs. Insure
Assure = remove doubt.
Ensure = make certain.
Insure = financial protection.
Example:
“The nurse assured the patient that his pain would be controlled, but she failed to ensure timely dosing. The hospital was insured for the claim that followed.”
Boon vs. Boom
Boon = benefit.
Boom = rapid increase.
Example:
“The new EMR proved a boon to locating medication records, not a boom in documentation errors.”
Cite vs. Site vs. Sight
Cite = reference.
Site = location.
Sight = something seen.
Example:
“The expert needed to cite the standard of care. The wound site was poorly described, and the nurse lost sight of the patient’s safety during transfer.”
Complimentary vs. Complementary
Complimentary = free or praising.
Complementary = completing or matching.
Example:
“The LNC offered a complimentary gift basket at the Thanksgiving holiday. The attorneys provided complementary comments about the gift.”
Continual vs. Continuous
Continual = repeated, with interruptions.
Continuous = unbroken.
Example:
“The patient needed continual neurological checks. Her low O₂ saturation was not continuously monitored for 30 minutes before the rapid response call.”
Discreet vs. Discrete
Discreet = private, tactful.
Discrete = separate, distinct.
Example:
“The LNC kept the attorney’s case theories discreet. The EHR revealed discrete episodes of hypotension before the arrest.”
Elicit vs. Illicit
Elicit = draw out.
Illicit = illegal.
Example:
“The attorney tried to elicit testimony about the undocumented fall. The patient’s family brought illicit drugs to the hospital room, which the nurse found in his bedside stand.”
Farther vs. Further
Farther = physical distance.
Further = degree or additional detail.
Example:
“The patient could not walk farther than ten feet post-op. The attorney needed further explanation of how the strain contributed to dehiscence.”
Imply vs. Infer
Imply = suggest.
Infer = deduce.
Example:
“The nurse did not imply that the patient was stable; she documented it. The LNC could infer from the vitals that the patient was not.”
Ironically vs. Coincidentally
Ironically = contrary to expectation.
Coincidentally = occurring together by chance.
Example:
“It was coincidentally true that both experts lived in Dallas. It was ironically true that the nurse who distrusted electronic medical records had entered incorrect paper notes.”
Lay vs. Lie
Lay = to place something.
Lie = to recline.
Example:
“The nurse needed to lay protective padding next to the sedated patient, who would then lie still for the scan.”
Peak vs. Pique
Peak = top or highest point.
Pique = stimulate interest or irritation.
Example:
“The inconsistency in documentation piqued the attorney’s interest. The patient’s pain reached its peak before the nurse administered Dilaudid.”
Premise vs. Premises
Premise = an idea or proposition.
Premises = a physical location.
Example:
“The attorney’s premise was that inadequate supervision caused the fall. It occurred on the nursing home’s premises, where the housekeeping department washed the floors and failed to put up warning signs.”
Prescribe vs. Proscribe
Prescribe = authorize.
Proscribe = forbid.
Example:
“The doctor prescribed hydromorphone despite low blood pressure. Hospital policy proscribed opioid use when the systolic pressure was under 90.”
Principal vs. Principle
Principal = main or primary; also a person in charge.
Principle = a fundamental rule.
Example:
“The principal issue was delayed assessment. The principle guiding neuro checks requires timely documentation and intervention.”
Proceed vs. Precede
Proceed = continue.
Precede = come before.
Example:
“The patient’s cardiac rate was at 40. Abnormal vitals preceded the medication administration. The nurse should not have proceeded with the dose.”
Sensory vs. Sensuous
Sensory = related to bodily senses.
Sensuous = pleasing to the senses.
Example:
“The neurologist documented reduced sensory function. The defendant psychiatrist testified about the patient’s sensuous behavior in his deposition.”
Tortuous vs. Torturous
Tortuous = winding or complex.
Torturous = extremely painful.
Example:
“The surgeon described the bowel as tortuous, increasing operative difficulty. The plaintiff recounted torturous pain from the misdiagnosed perforation.”
Commonly Misused Words Used in LNC Reports
Are you correctly using these commonly misused words? I’ve proofread thousands of LNC reports. Avoid embarrassing errors by reviewing these commonly misused and misspelled words. Analyze these commonly misused words to see if you are using them correctly.
Accept vs. Except
Accept means to receive.
Except means excluding.
Example:
“The hospital’s risk management will accept responsibility for the fall, except for the claim regarding pressure-injury progression.”
Adverse vs. Averse
Adverse = harmful.
Averse = opposed.
Example:
“The patient had an adverse reaction to penicillin. The nurse was not averse to giving antibiotics but failed to review the allergy list.”
Affect vs. Effect
Affect = influence (verb).
Effect = result (noun).
Example:
“The medication error affected the patient’s respiratory status, and the effect was a rapid deterioration requiring intubation.”
Assure vs. Ensure vs. Insure
Assure = remove doubt.
Ensure = make certain.
Insure = financial protection.
Example:
“The nurse assured the patient that his pain would be controlled, but she failed to ensure timely dosing. The hospital was insured for the claim that followed.”
Boon vs. Boom
Boon = benefit.
Boom = rapid increase.
Example:
“The new EMR proved a boon to locating medication records, not a boom in documentation errors.”
Cite vs. Site vs. Sight
Cite = reference.
Site = location.
Sight = something seen.
Example:
“The expert needed to cite the standard of care. The wound site was poorly described, and the nurse lost sight of the patient’s safety during transfer.”
Complimentary vs. Complementary
Complimentary = free or praising.
Complementary = completing or matching.
Example:
“The LNC offered a complimentary gift basket at the Thanksgiving holiday. The attorneys provided complementary comments about the gift.”
Continual vs. Continuous
Continual = repeated, with interruptions.
Continuous = unbroken.
Example:
“The patient needed continual neurological checks. Her low O₂ saturation was not continuously monitored for 30 minutes before the rapid response call.”
Discreet vs. Discrete
Discreet = private, tactful.
Discrete = separate, distinct.
Example:
“The LNC kept the attorney’s case theories discreet. The EHR revealed discrete episodes of hypotension before the arrest.”
Elicit vs. Illicit
Elicit = draw out.
Illicit = illegal.
Example:
“The attorney tried to elicit testimony about the undocumented fall. The patient’s family brought illicit drugs to the hospital room, which the nurse found in his bedside stand.”
Farther vs. Further
Farther = physical distance.
Further = degree or additional detail.
Example:
“The patient could not walk farther than ten feet post-op. The attorney needed further explanation of how the strain contributed to dehiscence.”
Imply vs. Infer
Imply = suggest.
Infer = deduce.
Example:
“The nurse did not imply that the patient was stable; she documented it. The LNC could infer from the vitals that the patient was not.”
Ironically vs. Coincidentally
Ironically = contrary to expectation.
Coincidentally = occurring together by chance.
Example:
“It was coincidentally true that both experts lived in Dallas. It was ironically true that the nurse who distrusted electronic medical records had entered incorrect paper notes.”
Lay vs. Lie
Lay = to place something.
Lie = to recline.
Example:
“The nurse needed to lay protective padding next to the sedated patient, who would then lie still for the scan.”
Peak vs. Pique
Peak = top or highest point.
Pique = stimulate interest or irritation.
Example:
“The inconsistency in documentation piqued the attorney’s interest. The patient’s pain reached its peak before the nurse administered Dilaudid.”
Premise vs. Premises
Premise = an idea or proposition.
Premises = a physical location.
Example:
“The attorney’s premise was that inadequate supervision caused the fall. It occurred on the nursing home’s premises, where the housekeeping department washed the floors and failed to put up warning signs.”
Prescribe vs. Proscribe
Prescribe = authorize.
Proscribe = forbid.
Example:
“The doctor prescribed hydromorphone despite low blood pressure. Hospital policy proscribed opioid use when the systolic pressure was under 90.”
Principal vs. Principle
Principal = main or primary; also a person in charge.
Principle = a fundamental rule.
Example:
“The principal issue was delayed assessment. The principle guiding neuro checks requires timely documentation and intervention.”
Proceed vs. Precede
Proceed = continue.
Precede = come before.
Example:
“The patient’s cardiac rate was at 40. Abnormal vitals preceded the medication administration. The nurse should not have proceeded with the dose.”
Sensory vs. Sensuous
Sensory = related to bodily senses.
Sensuous = pleasing to the senses.
Example:
“The neurologist documented reduced sensory function. The defendant psychiatrist testified about the patient’s sensuous behavior in his deposition.”
Tortuous vs. Torturous
Tortuous = winding or complex.
Torturous = extremely painful.
Example:
“The surgeon described the bowel as tortuous, increasing operative difficulty. The plaintiff recounted torturous pain from the misdiagnosed perforation.”
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Pat Iyer is president of The Pat Iyer Group, which develops resources to assist LNCs in obtaining more clients, making more money, and achieving their business gals and dreams.
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