To what extent should one research the spelling of a word when there is more than one way to spell it? No doubt the answer would depend on how much time one has to invest. Productivity and therefore one's pay suffers when ears, hands, and feet leave the transcription zone.

If the word in question is a mere 4-letter word, it seems reasonable to believe that any one of respected resources would provide an appropriate spelling, so choose one and get on with the work at hand. Let's face it, four-letter-word vocabularies are usually subject to more creative spellings than misspellings. For example, the correct spelling of disc/disk as used in surgical dictation for a lumbar discectomy/diskectomy often offers lively debate. So, just what is the correct spelling?

Beginning the search in Stedman’s Medical 27th Edition, one finds that the preference for disc/disk when referring to the spine is "disc." Many would disagree, preferring "disk" for all things spinal. The next reference was the AMA Manual Style. It clearly states that one should use “disc” for ophthalmologic terms and "disk" for the remainder of the anatomy.

Dr. Dirckx, noted medical language expert, explained disc/disk in an article that appears in the January 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Association for Medical Transcription (JAAMT). The article begins, "As you have no doubt discovered, reference works show a striking lack of consistency in the spelling of this term." Indeed.

Vera Pyle, noted guru and grande dame of medical vocabulary, advises to use "disk" when transcribing ophthalmologic dictation and "disc" for the remainder of the anatomy. Yes, Dr. Dirckx, there is striking inconsistency in the use of this four-letter word.

Next stop, the revered AAMT Book of Style. "We recommend the spelling disk for all anatomic and surgical references." On that authority, Stedman's dictionary staff agreed to look into changing "disc" preference to "disk" in future editions.

Stedman's research team went beyond ordinary reference materials. They consulted the world experts in medical terminology. Who are they? "They" are the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology, and "they" are the final word. Chairman Ian Whitmore states that Latin is the basis for the world's official terminology as found in Terminologia Anatomica (TA). Want to know more about TA? It is explained in Stedman's Dictionary, and it makes interesting reading.

What do the world's prestigious experts say about disk/disc? Disc is in for all things medical; disk is out. Why? Because Latin terms have official status and, though the origin of the word is from the Greek term "diskos," the Latin derivation is "discus."

So, medical word junkies, if you have always used disk as your preferred spelling in all things anatomical, today is the day to change because "disc" is correct in the eyes of the world's medical providers.

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