A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry


A question of grammar/usage - NYMT


Posted: Sep 14, 2011

This has been bugging me for some time.  It's small, but like a thorn in my side.  

When a doc is dictating and fails to use the article "of", should you insert it?  For example: 

The patient remains off of antibiotic therapy.  
The patient tells me she is of off oxygen therapy during the day. 
All of the ulcer sites have improved

The patient remains off (of) antibiotic therapy.  
The patient tells me she is off (of) oxygen therapy during the day. 
All (of) the ulcer sites have improved.

Is there a rule for this?

Thanks!

I've always been taught... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
"off of" is grammatically, and we've always omitted "of" if it's dictated.

*grammatically incorrect- sorry - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
xx

I always type it as - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
It also annoys me! I always type off of. That's the way I was taught.

Google - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
When I first started, it bugged me, too, but if you Google this...grammar "off of"...there are multiple references. I don't think I'm allowed to post the link here.

NYMT, they don't tell us this in elementary and high - school because they want us to

[ In Reply To ..]
memorize the "rules" they set, but grammar allows many ways to be "right." That's why written media publish their own style guides for their writers--so they can structure and punctuate in the chosen style of that periodical. Both off of and off are correct, but just plain "off" a little more elegant, just as one necklace is usually more elegant than two.

grammar/usage - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Per my company's guidelines, off is a preposition and should not be followed by the word of. Needless to say, I omit of, even if dictated.

This is correct. nm - oldtimer

[ In Reply To ..]
.


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