In healthcare environments, mastering capital letters is paramount in OET writing, extending beyond clinical competencies to encompass written communication. When writing patient reports, referral letters, discharge summaries, and other documents, meticulous
attention to detail is essential, and this includes the correct use of
punctuation in OET. This article will focus on the specific rules for using capital
letters in English, especially in the context of the Occupational English Test
(OET) Writing component, underscoring the importance of precision in writing
medical documentation.
- Usage of acronyms in OET Writing
In acronyms, the letters are typically capitalized.
Examples :
- Mrs Thompson’s ECG indicated a regular heartbeat. The Cardiologist subsequently evaluated her.
- Mr. Lee’s X-ray showed a healed fracture. He was later examined by an Orthopedic Surgeon.
- Ms Rodriguez’s CT scan displayed clear lungs. She then consulted with a Pulmonologist.
- Jacob’s EEG results were normal. He was further examined by a Neurologist.
- Ava’s LFTs (Liver Function Tests) were within normal limits. A Hepatologist assessed her.
- The patient’s ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) analysis showed a balanced pH level. She was then referred to a Respiratory Therapist for further management.
- Mr. Smith’s CBC (Complete Blood Count) indicated a low red blood cell count, prompting a consultation with a Hematologist.
- Abnormal results in the PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) necessitated a consultation with a Pulmonologist to assess respiratory function.
2.Medications
Medication brand names are capitalized (such as Tylenol, Claritin, or Nurofen), whereas their generic counterparts are not (like acetaminophen, loratadine, or ibuprofen).
Examples
1. For Mr. Johnson, I’ve started him on Nexium 40mg once daily and adjusted his lisinopril dosage to 20mg daily.
2. I have recommended a Ventolin inhaler as needed for Ms Davis and have also prescribed amlodipine 5mg daily for her blood pressure.
3. Mr Thompson has been put on Plavix 75mg daily to manage his cardiovascular risk, and his simvastatin has been increased to 40mg at night.
4. For Mrs Lee, I’ve prescribed Synthroid 100mcg every morning to regulate her thyroid levels and have continued her current dose of metoprolol.
5. Mrs Green’s treatment now includes Advair Diskus twice daily for her asthma, along with maintaining her existing dose of sertraline for depression.
6. “I’ve prescribed Zoloft 50mg in the morning for Mr. Allen’s anxiety and upped his dose of losartan to 100mg daily for hypertension.
7. Mrs. Patel has been started on Coumadin 5mg daily for anticoagulation, along with maintaining her current insulin regimen for diabetes control.
8. For Mr. Brooks, I’ve switched his pain management to OxyContin 10mg twice daily and continued his gabapentin at the same dosage for neuropathy.
9. I’ve initiated Crestor 10mg at night for Ms. Hernandez to manage her cholesterol levels while her hydrochlorothiazide dosage remains unchanged.
10. Mrs Edwards’s treatment now includes Prozac 20mg every morning for depression, along with an increased dose of atenolol for her heart condition.
3.Sentence starting
In OET writing, it’s a basic rule that the first letter of every sentence must be capitalized,
signifying the start of a new sentence.
Examples :
1. Mr Johnson arrived at the clinic early Wednesday morning and is undergoing treatment for acute bronchitis.
2. Ms Lopez was brought to the emergency room late Friday night, suffering from symptoms of appendicitis.
3. Yesterday, young Timmy was rushed to the pediatric unit for a suspected case of measles.
4. Grandma Jones was hospitalized on Monday due to complications from her chronic heart condition.
5. Dr Williams confirmed that Kevin was admitted last Thursday for a surgical procedure on his knee.
6. On Saturday, Emily was taken to the maternity ward and is now in labour, expecting her first child.
7. Last night, Derek was transported to the ICU following a motorbike accident, sustaining multiple injuries.
8. Professor Allen has been in the hospital since Sunday, receiving treatment for a stroke.
9. Sara checked into the health centre this morning for her chemotherapy session to treat her breast cancer.
10. Mr Patel was admitted over the weekend for observation after experiencing severe migraines and dizziness.
4.Proper nouns
Names of individuals, locations, days of the week, months, and festive occasions must start with a capital letter, encompassing the terms of medical facilities like hospitals and clinics.
Examples :
1. Nurse Thompson scheduled Mrs. Garcia for an MRI scan at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
2. Dr Kim recommended Ms Lee for a CT scan at General Hospital.
3. Mr Smith was sent for an ultrasound by Dr Bennett at Boston City Hospital.
4. Dr Sanchez arranged for Mr. Huang to have an echocardiogram at Mercy Hospital.
5. Ms. Brown was directed by Dr Clark to get a PET scan at Springfield Clinic.
6. Dr Miller sent Mrs. Anderson for a mammogram at Pacific Medical Center.
7. Nurse Williams referred Mr Thompson for a blood test at HealthCare Hospital.
8. Mr Rodriguez was sent by Dr Patel for a bone density test at Riverside Hospital.
9. Dr Evans scheduled Mrs O’Brien for an ECG at University Hospital.”
10. Dr Kapoor arranged for Mr Green’s endoscopy at Metropolitan Medical Facility.”
5.Usage of I
In English, the pronoun ‘I’ is always written in uppercase, regardless of its position within a sentence.
Examples
1. “I reviewed the patient’s medical history before proceeding with the treatment plan.”
2. “I advised the patient to increase water intake and prescribed a mild diuretic for the oedema.”
3. “During my rounds, I noticed that Mrs. Jones showed significant improvement in her mobility.”
4. “I consulted with the oncology team about the best course of action for Mr. Smith’s chemotherapy.”
5. “I scheduled a follow-up appointment for the patient after the successful completion of the surgery.”
6. “I discussed the importance of regular exercise with the patient to manage their diabetes more effectively.”
7. “I administered the vaccine to the child, ensuring all safety protocols were followed.”
8. “I instructed the nursing staff to monitor the patient’s vital signs every two hours.”
9. “After reviewing the test results, I concluded that the patient did not require any pharmacological intervention.”
10. “I collaborated with the physiotherapist to design a rehabilitation program for the patient post-surgery.”
6.Disease Conditions
When a medical condition is named after an individual, like Lou Gehrig’s disease or Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the name of the disease is capitalized. Likewise, diseases named after places also typically have capitalized names, such as West Nile Virus (named after the West Nile region of Uganda) and Ebola virus ( Ebola River in Congo).
Examples
1. “Mr Thompson was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease following his latest neurological evaluation.”
2. “The clinic has reported several new Legionnaires’ disease this summer.”
3. “Our research team is currently studying the progression of Huntington’s disease in affected patients.”
4. “There has been a notable rise in Zika virus infections in the region this year.”
5. “During her medical examination, Mrs Patel was found to have Crohn’s disease.”
6. “The health department is monitoring an outbreak of West Nile Virus in the local bird population.”
7. “I treated a child yesterday who presented with symptoms consistent with Kawasaki disease.”
8. “We have observed an unusual increase in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the past few months.”
9. “The patient’s symptoms were finally diagnosed as Tourette syndrome after extensive testing.”
10. “Our community health centre is actively working on raising awareness about Marburg virus following recent scares.”
Bear in mind that the consistent and accurate application of capital letters enhances the clarity and professionalism of your OET writing.
