Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to worry about my writing skills if I am working with patients and not in an office?

Direct patient care often requires writing in the forms of charting and reports, which must be clearly and correctly written. This is necessary to ensure understanding among health care professionals and to show compliance with regulators who may inspect facility records. Many health care workers are now being asked to perform administrative functions such as letter writing, meeting agenda preparation, and patient education material preparation. In addition, you may need to write letters of application for job changes, reports to justify a promotion, and other documents necessary for career success.

How can I improve my spelling?

English spelling can be tricky. The two best ways to improve your spelling are to learn the spelling rules (along with the exceptions) and to practice. Find a learning technique that works for you. Examples include making flashcards, writing the words in sentences, writing each word out several times, and spelling words aloud. Make a habit of using the dictionary and the computer’s spell checker. Take care, however, that the computer does not accept the right spelling for the wrong word.

When do you use its vs. it’s?

Its is the possessive. Example: The computer isn’t functioning. I hope its hard drive hasn’t crashed. It’s is the contraction of “it is.” Example: Whew! It’s not the hard drive after all. Hint: Think of the apostrophe as the substitute for the letter “i” in is .

What is a good way to get started when I have to write a paper or report?

The best way to get started depends on your personal learning and thinking style. Some people think logically and in a step-by-step order, so outlines work well for them. Others think in a more scattered manner, with one idea suggesting another. For these people, simply writing down the rush of ideas as they come is good way to start. Visual learners may find that constructing a mind map helps them get their thoughts flowing. Auditory learners may want to express their thoughts out loud and write them down later.

Sometimes I think I have written something without any errors, but then I notice them later. How can I quickly proofread my work?

One trick when checking for spelling errors is to read your work backwards. That way, you are focusing on the words, not on the meaning. Read your work aloud and see if it makes sense. You may find that proofreading materials displayed on the computer screen is too difficult. Important documents should be printed out and then proofread.