Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Bob Russell — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:44:27 GMT

Quite right should be 'wrongly' or perhaps 'incorrectly' would have prevented this potential entry to pedants (pedant's/pedants') corner. I had a very traditional English language education which means I slept through much (or should it be most?) of it!

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

bob lehner — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:29:34 GMT

Even worse when the non-veterinary wife is taking messages in an unfamiliar foreign language.

An English vet I knew, who was practicing in rural France, used his wife to take his messages. One day she took a call from a farmer who asked for a call as one of his sows was 'en chaleur'. Not recognising the expression, she consulted her dictionary and then 'phoned her husband in a panic saying he must go immediately to the farm as a pig was on fire.

In fact the farmer just meant the sow was 'on heat'.

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:03:56 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]I forget exactly how the tale went, but during rotations a colleague was discussing anal sacs and the owner insisted the dog didn't partake in anal sex.........[/quote]

Good job the owner wasn't a jazz musician.

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]I've never had the confusion when using the incorrect term 'anal glands'. Frequently I use the term people are familiar with rather than the scientifically correct term or my punters wouldn't know what I was on about. I do think 'calf bed' sounds so much nicer than 'uterus'?[/quote]

Makes my point really. When veterinary surgeons are communicating with veterinary surgeons (who might even come from Abroad ) they should use correct terminology. Communicating with owners they should use what will be best understood. I think calf bed is a lovely term and conjures up a picture of calf reclining like a sleeping courtesan on a luxurious red plush divan.

Some years ago when whimsical veterinary autobiographies seemed to be two a penny, in one there was a story (I have embellished it) about the vet's new wife (who had no agricultural background) answering the phone while husband was out on a call. Farmer (voice charged with anxiety): "Mi best cow's just calved and now she's pushing her calf bed out!" Wife: "Oh, well, I wouldn't worry for now, but I'll ask Mr. Smith to pop in to see her later". When Mr. Smith comes home, wife says "Could you pop over and see Mr. Jones after lunch? He seems very anxious because his best cow's got some sort of post-natal depression and she's pushing the calf's bed out of the stall".

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:19:18 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

However, insisting on "anal sacs" is nothing to do with spelling, it's a matter of correct terminology. Terminology is important because it enables people to communicate accurately. You should not refer to the sacs as the anal glands, because there are some other things that really are anal glands.

[/quote]

I forget exactly how the tale went, but during rotations a colleague was discussing anal sacs and the owner insisted the dog didn't partake in anal sex.........

I've never had the confusion when using the incorrect term 'anal glands'. Frequently I use the term people are familiar with rather than the scientifically correct term or my punters wouldn't know what I was on about. I do think 'calf bed' sounds so much nicer than 'uterus'?

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Kate Richardson — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:29:29 GMT

[quote user="Fiona Dale"]Ok, who wants to hold him while I hit him?[/quote]

LOL!!!!!!

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Fiona French — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:13:40 GMT

[quote user="Rob Smith"]

As per Evelyn's poem though, spell-checking is a good start, but it wouldn't have picked up your error in using the word "wrong" when you meant "wrongly".

[/quote]

Ok, who wants to hold him while I hit him?

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Rob Smith — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:45:52 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

If you are using firefox as your browser there is a free add-on British dictionary. Go to tools click Add-ons in the search box put British dictionary and install it.

Firefox will need to restart so do not do this if you have written but not posted a comment as it will have disappeared by the time Firefox is restarted. I am sure other browsers have similar add-ons.

If you spell something wrong it will underline it in red - right click for suggested spellings!

[/quote]

As per Evelyn's poem though, spell-checking is a good start, but it wouldn't have picked up your error in using the word "wrong" when you meant "wrongly".

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:20:04 GMT

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Bob Russell — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:52:36 GMT

If you are using firefox as your browser there is a free add-on British dictionary. Go to tools click Add-ons in the search box put British dictionary and install it.

If you spell something wrong it will underline it in red - right click for suggested spellings!

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

katja wagner — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:33:46 GMT

I am a foreign vet and sometimes use a dictionary before posting,but i admit if i write a rather long post i cant be bothered to check mistakes ,i just dont have the time to do so. after all this is a forum to exchange private opinions not an offical document i write.

by the way i would rather read about anal gland problems then spelling mistakes

katja

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Rob Reid — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:22:52 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]Actually a friend of mine graduated despite having quite bad dyslexia, she worked damn hard and struggled quite badly with the written work, of which there was a good deal. Just maybe some people have a harder time with things than others. I question whether I would have been able to graduate at all with such a disability[/quote]

Well said Mark.

Although a lot of us often take correct spelling and punctuation for granted, it is not always as a simple as that. I too know of a couple of people who got through college with dyslexia and fair play, that cannot have been easy. Also think of the number of people who work as vets who don't speak English as a primary language - I can't imagine doing the vet degree in a second language like the Norwegian vets do for example.

Live and let live I say.

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

sophia guymer — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:18:17 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]Just maybe some people have a harder time with things than others[/quote]

Totally agree, I don't think anyone here is saying we don't care about correct spelling! In fact, even though I am Dutch and do sometimes struggle with the weird and wonderful English spelling, my husband will be the first to agree I can be very annoying when reading the newspaper eg, often pointing out spelling errors etc. My (and others) point is that I don't think this is the place to point it out. As someone else already said, it might stop others giving their valuable opinion for fear of making spelling mistakes and being judged as such.

I have to admit to actually having a dictionary on my lap to check the more difficult words. Now I think that is rather sad!!! Not because of my spelling but because of the insecurity you feed!

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Mark Holmes — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:18:59 GMT

Actually a friend of mine graduated despite having quite bad dyslexia, she worked damn hard and struggled quite badly with the written work, of which there was a good deal. Just maybe some people have a harder time with things than others. I question whether I would have been able to graduate at all with such a disability

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:29:18 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]Maybe it's old-fashioned to care?[/quote]

Maybe it is. In which case it's good to be old-fashioned.

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Rob Smith — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:51:16 GMT

Thank the Lord I'm not the only one!

I think "I agree with Rob" t shirts are about as popular as the Nick Clegg equivalents currently are though :D

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Julian Earl — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:37:55 GMT

For what it is worth, and sorry to continue with the hi-jack of the thread, but I agree absolutely with Rob. When vets spell (not type) words like "testical", abcess", "diarheoa" (or similar), and "heffer", it does make one wonder about (a) educational standards, and (b) what people think of any, say, legal documents produced with poor spelling and grammar. Maybe it's old-fashioned to care?

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Kate Richardson — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:25:48 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]Too [/quote]

Oh, I'm sorry, but I just couldn't resist.

Yeah, but you make me laugh unlike some

[/quote]

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:53:47 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]Too [/quote]

Oh, I'm sorry, but I just couldn't resist.

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Kate Richardson — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:59:43 GMT

Too be honest, I can't be bothered

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Rob Smith — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:57:17 GMT

Has absolutely nothing to do with being a jobsworth. Very confused. Look up jobsworth.

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Kate Richardson — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:41:20 GMT

Have you thought of a career change- bound to be some positions where 'patronising jobsworth' is an essential requirement......

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Fiona French — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:34:23 GMT

Would it not be a shame if someone with something really valuable to contribute, decided not to post, for fear of having their spelling and grammar picked over. We all like to see correct use of the Enlish language I'm sure, but some of us feel that there are bigger issues out there, and would prefer a piece of advice with spelling mistakes, to none at all.

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Rob Smith — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:34:05 GMT

Oh, and no, sadly I don't have a job which gives me lots of time on my hands!

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Rob Smith — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:32:07 GMT

Note comment in previous thread about the difference between typos (forgivableo on a web forum, not so in a CV) and illiteracy (less forgivable).

Anyway, I wasn't picking on people (only in defence), I was just pointing out common errors!

Since they are so commonly misspelled, I thought some people might like to learn how to spell fetus, abscess, diarrhoea..and....sadly....definite.

Re: Fibre supplements for anal gland troubles...

Kate Richardson — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:24:10 GMT

[quote user="Rob Smith"] Forgive me for being dismayed that the standard of English in what one would have thought was an intelligent section of the general population is so appalling. I genuinely get frustrated by the level of English in this country, and thought some might have found it useful to have a reminder on how to spell words commonly used in veterinary medicine. I for one take pride in spelling correctly. [/quote]

I totally agree and also too take pride in spelling correctly and am really really quite anal about it, but sometimes in a hurry, as one often is in this profession (or do you have a job which gives you lots of time on your hands?) one does make the odd mistake, and also my lap top has a few dodgy keys so occasionally miss an 'i' out of words because the i key does not register when I touch it! So don't assume that everyone can't spell, or can't be bothered to check their spelling, it may just be a time factor, a dodgy laptop, or just a simple human error- I am a perfectionist at heart, but even I can allow for occasional mistakes. Why don't you try too?