Incorrect: The cells were imaged 2 days post procedure.Īvoid: The cells were imaged 2 days post-procedure.īetter: The cells were imaged 2 days after the procedure. In these cases, use the word after instead of the prefix form of post. In other cases, you might find that adding a hyphen creates awkward wording. Incorrect: The cells were lysed 3 days post treatment.Ĭorrect: The cells were lysed 3 days posttreatment. Example 4Ĭorrect: The patient was discharged 1 week post-surgery. Be sure to check a dictionary to know which form is correct. In some cases, you might be able to simply add a hyphen or delete a space. Incorrect: The mice were treated 3 days post transplant.Ĭorrect: The mice were treated 3 days post-transplant.Īlso correct: The mice were treated 3 days after transplant.įixing the incorrect usage is a simple task. In this prefix form, post- can create synonymous meaning with after. As a modifier (not a separate word), post- means after, later, or subsequent to. The incorrect usage of the word post as a synonym for after is likely a byproduct of the prefix post. As a verb, post means to display or publish something (eg, post a notice), or to send someone to a place of duty (eg, post a guard). As a noun, post refers to a sturdy piece of wood or metal (eg, fence post), a piece of content published online (eg, blog post), or perhaps a place of duty (eg, military post). Incorrect: The patient was discharged 1 week post surgery.īy its definition, post is not a synonym for after. Incorrect: The cells were lysed 3 days post treatment. But lately, I’ve noticed more authors attempt to use the word post as a synonym for after. While editing for authors, I have noticed several words that are often used incorrectly, such as utilize or employ. Incorrect word usage can reflect poorly on authors. In this way, their writing reflects their knowledge and professionalism. Authors need to use the best words to ensure that their content is accurate and precise. Usage is an important part of scientific and medical writing.
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