USAGE OF FOLLOWUP

FOLLOWUP/FOLLOW UP

The most common dilemmas in transcription world that I have faced is the confusion regarding Follow Up and Followup.

First of all, "followup" is a noun, whereas "follow up" is verb, but it is confusing as to where to use followup and follow up.

THUMB RULE

Noun:

If you can place "a/an" in front of followup, then it will be one word.

eg. The patient presents for a followup evaluation.

Even if the dictator does not say "a/an" and if you can place "a" in front of followup and it does not alter the meaning of the sentence, then it would be one word.

Dictated:  The patient presents for followup appointment

Transcribed:  The patient presents for (a) followup appointment - "a" does not alter the meaning of the sentence - in this case it would be one word.

Dictated:  The patient is to see Oncology for followup

Transcribed:  The patient is to see Oncology for (a) followup  -- making sense - one word.

Variation:

Dictated: The patient is to have cardiology followup in 2 weeks

Transcribed:  The patient is to have (a) cardiology followup in 2 weeks - here "cardiology followup" is acting like one word and putting "a" before "cardiology followup" does not change the meaning, so it will be one word.

Dictated: Followup appointment has been scheduled

Transcribed: (A) followup appointment has been scheduled - making sense, not changing meaning - followup will be one word.

Verb:

On the other hand, if adding "a/an" in front of follow up does not make sense -- then it will be 2 words.

eg.

Dictated:  The patient is to follow up in one month.

Transcribed:  The patient is to (a) follow up in one month  -- adding "a" is not making sense, then this will be two words.

Dictated:  Follow up in the clinic in 1 month

Transcribed:  (A) Follow up in the clinic in 1 month  -  this is not making any sense, as the dictator wants to say "the patient is to follow up in the clinic in 1 month", where "a" cannot be placed in front of "follow up" -- here it will be 2 words as it is being used as a verb in a commanding way.

BOTTOM LINE

1. If "a/an" can be placed in front of "followup" it will be 1 word, if cannot or does not make any sense, it will be 2 words.

Let me make it even simpler…………..A SIMPLE WAY TO REMEMBER:

For those who are not good at identifying nouns/adjectives/verbs - there is an easier way. Do note that this is something I've noticed and so it may or it may not work in all situations. It certainly does not follow the usual rules governing the use of the one-word or two-word followup.   Basically, these informal rules are as follows:

If you notice that "followup" is preceded by "is to"  or  "will" - then use the two-word followup  (i.e. follow up)

Eg:  .....is to follow up..   OR   will follow up......(VERB)

If you notice that "followup" is preceded by "in"  OR  "a"  OR  "for" OR “the” - then use the one-word followup (i.e. followup)

Eg:.....presents in followup   OR   .....for a followup appointment....(NOUN / ADJECTIVE)

For those perennially confused about the followup versus follow up conundrum - the above explanation should help!!