RULES FOR THE ROAD FOR TRANSCRIPTIONISTS

Single space all reports with double spacing between paragraphs and sections, unless otherwise shown in examples or sample reports.

In the body of a report, dates may be written with hyphens (9-5-1999) or with slashes (9/5/1999).

When years are dictated "19 dash," you type the current year.

In the salutation, Doctor should be spelled out, for example, Dear Doctor Ash; in the text of a report, Doctor may be abbreviated, for example, On Monday, Dr. Ash will perform surgery.

Always use proper postal abbreviations for a state, for example, Indiana = IN.

Spell out any numbers under ten unless they are ages or technical expressions such as weights, heights, and measurements.

When the dictator says "0," double "0," or triple "0," etc., type either 0, 00, 000, or 0, 2-0, 3-0, etc.

When the dictator says a ratio, a colon should be used; "the cardiothoracic ration is 25 over 12" is typed 25:12.

A slash (/) should be used for "over" in expressions of blood pressures or chemical measurements; "140 over 80" is typed 140/80.

A zero always precedes a decimal fraction; "point one five" should be typed 0.15.

A slash (/) is used to separate numbers indicating visual acuity: "visual acuity is twenty, twenty" is typed 20/20/

A slash (/) is used for "per"; "pulse is 80 per minute" is typed 80/minute, and "cholesterol is 90 mg. per dl." is typed 190 mg./dl.

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