(no subject)

[waterspyder]

Is it wrong that when my co-workers ask me things like

"Is 'Metacarpal' a type of medication?"

I want to say 

"Only if you want it to be?"


(I have also been asked if 'tournequet' and 'hemodialysis' are medications too)

Comments

[torrain.livejournal.com]

I could see "tourniquet" and "hemodialysis", actually. They can both be heard in contexts where it's not clear; in conversation or without illustrations, "apply a tourniquet" has no clues to indicate it is different from "apply an antibiotic", and "going in for hemodialysis" is not particularly different from "going in for Depoprovera".

"Metacarpal" surprises me, if only because I expect government office workers to have run across that one before. I guess Health doesn't get the office ergonomics bulletins that Industry did.

[waterspyder.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I also need to teach them how to ask questions.

Bad: "Is metacarpal a type of medication?"

Good: "What is a metacarpal?"