compose/comprise
|
compose means “make up” or “make.” The parts compose the whole; comprise means “is made up of” or “consists of.” The whole comprises the parts
|
continual/continuous
|
continual means start and stop, like rain; continuous means never-ending
|
demographics/characteristics
|
demographics is often used incorrectly to refer to patient characteristics; demographics actually refers to population characteristics (e.g., size, growth, density, etc.)
|
different from/different than
|
different from is correct when comparing two things; different than is incorrect and should not be used
|
dose/dosage
|
a dose is the quantity to be administered at one time, or the total quantity administered; dosage refers to the regulated administration of doses, and is expressed in terms of a quantity per unit of time
|
elevate/increase
|
elevate means to "raise aloft", whereas increase means enhance or augment
|
estimate/estimation
|
An estimate is an approximate calculation or evaluation, and an estimation is the process of approximately calculating or evaluating. Therefore, estimate is the result of an estimation and should be used when referring to the value or result obtained. Estimation should be used when referring to the process.
|
examine/evaluate
|
patients, animals, and microscope slides are examined; conditions and diseases are evaluated
|
fewer/less
|
use fewer to refer to an amount that can be expressed as a specific number; use less when making comparisons that cannot be expressed by a number
|
further/farther
|
further means additional, whereas farther refers to physical distance
|