A to Z of terms
The A to Z guide covers style, spelling and grammar conventions for all content published on HSE.ie.
ageing
not
AIDS
not acquired immune deficiency syndrome
alcohol misuse
not alcohol abuse
Alzheimer’s disease
not
and/or
avoid using and/or. Instead, use ‘or’. For example: ask the nurse or midwife to explain what everything is for.
bacteria
plural; a bacterium is one of them but
brackets
information in brackets should only be used for definitions, abbreviations, PDF document details and common explanations.
An example used for a common explanation
breastfeeding
One word, no hyphen
breast milk
2 words
bottle-feeding
hyphenated
bottom
not back passage, anus, rectum, bum or bottom
caesarean
lower case and ends ‘ean’
carer
An unpaid family member, partner or friend who helps a disabled, ill or older person with the activities of daily living. Do not use it to describe someone who works in a caring job or profession – for that use careworker or their professional title, for example, nurse.
commas
Use a comma before 'and' (Oxford comma) only in cases where sentences are complex or confusing.
For example, find out information about your holiday entitlement or sickness absence, calculating leave, and disputes.
conditions
lower case except where they start with a name.
For example, cancer of the colon, multiple sclerosis, but Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease.
When stating the name of a condition or treatment, lead with plain English description and follow up with terms a health professional might use.
For example, 'this is a screening test. It is also known as a smear test.'
connected to
use 'connected to' for a machine and use common sense for other examples, e.g. 'attached' or 'inserted' depending on context. Never use 'hooked-up'.
counsellor
CT scan
CT scan (computerised tomography scan), then use ‘CT scan’ for subsequent mentions. Also known as CAT scan (computerised axial tomography) – we use
dependent or dependant
diabetes
lowercase. For example, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
diagnostic
As an adjective; serving to identify a particular disease. As a noun; the practice of medical diagnosis or a technique used in
dietitian
not dietician
doctor
Use GP, not doctor, for
drugs
See medicines. When you talk about drugs, ensure the context makes clear whether you mean legal or illegal ones.
drug misuse
not drug abuse
drug users
The preferred term is people who use drugs
emergency department
not A&E. Use
equivalent
use ‘same as’
fractions
one third, not 1/3
freephone
not free phone
health professionals, healthcare professionals
People who work in identifying, preventing or treating illness or disability. Avoid where possible and instead use a term that describes what the people do – GPs, nurses.
the HSE
Refer to the Health Service Executive as ‘the HSE’ (for example, ‘You can apply for a job at the HSE’)
HSE.ie
This is the name of the HSE website (for example, ‘Find out how to get a medical card on HSE.ie’)
HSELive
not HSE Live
medicines
Generally, use the generic (scientific name) first followed by the brand name with an initial cap and in brackets, for
Some medicines are better-known by their brand names than their generic names. In that case, use the generic name in brackets – for example, Viagra (sildenafil). Once medicines have lost their patent protection, there may be rival branded generics that have a brand name and ordinary generics that use just the generic name. Some might have several brand names. For example, the asthma drug salbutamol has Airomir, Asmasal and Ventolin brand names as well as the generic name. In cases such as this give the best-known brand name (tested using keyword research), but indicate there are several – salbutamol (brand names include Ventolin).
Some medicines have no brand names in use – examples include warfarin and hydrocortisone.
menopause
Use 'the menopause' except for page titles.
methadone
lower case
Life-threatening
not
Over-the-counter medicines
use hyphens
overtreatment
not over-treatment
papillomavirus
not
penis
not genitals
people who use the HSE (see patients, service users)
There is no single term for people who use the HSE. What you call them depends on which part of the HSE they are using. Normally on
per cent
% in titles and copy
When using a percentage range, use the % symbol twice. For example, 20% to 30%.
poo
not stool sample, faeces or poop
service user
lower case
spina bifida
lower case, spina bifida. See also hydrocephalus
substance misuse
not substance abuse
suicide
died by suicide, not committed suicide
symphysiotomy
lower case
talk
use 'talk to your GP', not 'speak to your GP' or 'visit your GP'
Traveller
upper case
treating
‘for treating’ not ‘in treating’
For example, antiviral medicines are used for treating Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
urinate
urinate or urinating, not weeing, wee, going for a pee, going to the toilet
For example, side effects include agitation, excessive sleepiness, constipation and difficulty urinating
vagina
vagina not genitals
whether or if
prioritise using ‘if’ unless using ‘whether or not’ (conditional).
Examples:
Use if here:
The GP didn't know whether the patient would arrive on Friday.
The GP didn't know if the patient would arrive on Friday.
Use whether here:
Call the GP if you are going to arrive on Friday.
Call the GP whether or not you are going to arrive on Friday.
x-ray
Don’t capitalise unless referring to a specific department