When the word disc or

Asked by andicsr {52}
5/7/2011 4:41:13 PM

When talking about a person's back, do you use "disc" or "disk"?

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Answered by fstfngrs {1742}
5/8/2011 6:41:27 AM

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I use disc, because its Latin derivation is discus. If you look the word up, you will find it spelled each way in the medical field or in dictionaries as disc (disk).

Thanks. Yes, I knew its Latin derivative, but there are many we no longer use. I was sort of going by actual doctor reports, which seem to have it either way. Just wondered if we had a standard. Kind of like the X ray vs x ray battle. P.S. I don't write orthopaedic either, Latin or not :) - andicsr 5/8/2011 8:14:09 AM | Flag

I write orthpaedic if the medical practice at issue spells it that way. - pinksteno 5/9/2011 4:31:46 PM | Flag

Orthopaedic - oops. But I write disk. I view it as optional to use disc or disk. - pinksteno 5/9/2011 4:33:19 PM | Flag

I also write disc, and in medical records seen discectomy. I agree with Vikki. Always heard disk was short for diskette. - LKBragg 7/12/2011 2:26:25 PM | Flag

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	Comments from Facebook
		Tobi Minich disc Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Vikki Ogden disc is correct. disk is short for diskettes that you used to store info` from your computer. Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Robin Zillmer Disk. I have researched this a thousand times and it is so confusing. I used disk because of the spelling for diskectomy. Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Deirdre Rand I`ve heard they are completely interchangeable. It`s purely preference. I prefer disc when talking about the back. Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Beverly Thomas Disk. According to Merriam-Webster, disc is the variant of disk. Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Barbara Mahaney I took a break from court reporting because I need to be home with my children. I now work as a medical transcriptionist from home. I was told to use disk when referring to the back and disc when referring to the eyes. Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Ruthye Cox I wavered at the beginning, but now it is always disk (diskectomy is good example) Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Elizabeth Phillips disk Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Tamela Lewis diskectomy can also be spelled discectomy correctly. I think it`s a preference. Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Lisle Dewar I use disc for the back. Sunday, May 08, 2011

		Josiane Goldman I always stick to Merriam-Webster`s preferred spellings. In this case, disk. Sunday, May 08, 2011