Commonly
Misspelled Medical Words and Medical Sound Alikes
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Medical terminology can be difficult to master at best. Unfortunately,
improper spelling can cause confusion and even can lead to improper
care or life threatening mistakes. In the field of medicine
there are words that can occasionally throw even the expert
medical terminologist off. Below is a list of some of the most
frequently misspelled medical words including some of the most
frustrating sound alikes (words that sound almost identical
but that are spelled differently and have very different meanings).
A
abscess
accommodation
adolescent
afferent vs efferent (Sound Alikes)
alopecia
Alzheimer
analyze
aneurysm
anorexia
anuresis vs. enuresis (Sound Alikes)
arrhythmia
ascites
aphagia vs aphasia (Sound Alikes)
asphyxia
asystole
asymmetry
auscultation
B
basilar
barbiturates
brachial
branchial
C
callus (noun)
callous (adjective)
catheter
catheterization
Caucasian
chalazion
circumferential
cirrhosis
chickenpox
chlamydia
colostrum vs. claustrum (Sound Alikes)
cord vs. chord (Sound Alikes)
cor (heart)
curettage
D
debridement
decubitus
dependent vs dependant (Sound Alikes)
diabetes mellitus
diaphoresis
diaphragm
dilatation
diphtheria
dyspareunia
dysphagia vs. dysphasia (Sound Alikes)
E
eczema
effusion
elicit vs. illicit (Sound Alikes)
enuresis vs anuresis (Sound Alikes)
elicit vs illicit (Sound Alikes
epididymis / epididymitis
erythematosus
exacerbated vs exasperated (Sound Alikes)
F
fascia
flaccid
G
gamma globulin
gases, gassy, gaseous
gallbladder
gangrene
gauge
gonorrhea
H
hemoptysis
hemorrhoid
hippocampus
homeostasis
humerus
humeral vs. humoral
hygiene
I
icterus
ileum vs ilium (Sound Alikes)
inoculate
insufflate
intraocular
intussusception
ischemia
M
malacia
melanin
menstruation
mucus (noun) mucous (adjective)
myxedema
O
occur, occurring, occurrence
oophorectomy
Ophthalmology
orthopnea
P
pacemaker
palliative
palpate
palpitation
paroxysmal
perfusion vs. profusion (Sound Alikes)
perineal vs. peroneal (Sound Alikes)
perineum
periosteum
peritoneum
persistent
petechia
plane vs plain (Sound Alikes)
pleural vs. plural (Sound Alikes)
pleurisy
polyposis
prostate vs prostrate (Sound Alikes)
prosthesis
protocol
pruritus
pterygium
R
regime vs. regimen vs. regiment (Sound Alikes)
rhythm
S
sagittal,
scalene
scarring
seborrheic
sedentary
sequela,
serotonin
senile
shotty lymph nodes
sieve
spleen
splenectomy
supersede,
suppuration
symmetry
syncope
syphilis
T
tonsils
tonsillectomy
trachea
tricuspid
trochlear
V
vesicle vs. vesical
ventricle
vertical
X
xerosis
xiphoid
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