List of Commonly Misspelled Medical Terms
This is a list of commonly misspelled medical terms. The words that are in bold are spelled correctly, but could still be mean't for something else depending on the context. The terms with "vs" between them are often confused with each other and the ones with "=" are typically interchangeable.
Use the green search box at the bottom of the page or the alphabet below to find a specific one more quickly. You can also press the Ctrl and F keys on your Windows computer keyboard, or Command and F keys on your Mac keyboard. This will open a text box where you can type the letters. Then press Enter/Return on your keyboard to be brought to that word.
Simply click the blue underlined terms to learn more about them. Use the comment section at the bottom of the page if you don't see the word you are looking for or if you know one that is commonly misspelled that isn't listed. I will be adding more periodically.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Pin
A
abscess - absess, abcess
abdominal pain - abominable pain, abominal pain
acetaminophen - acenamenophen, acetaminofen
achilles tendon - akilese tendon
acid reflux - acid reflex
acidophilus - Sid and Phylis
ADHD - HDHD
adolescence - adolesence, adolecence
afferent vs efferent
alimentation - alementation, almentation
anesthesia - anesceasia
astigmatism - a stigmatism
accurate I/Os - accurate eyes and nose
acute angina - a cute vagina
albuterol - albootaral, albooteral, buterol, albuteral
alcohol - alcahol, alcohal, alcahal
allergic reaction - alergic erection
alopecia - alopesia
Alzheimer's - alltimers, alztimers, old timers, oltimers
Ambien - ambria, ambian
Amiodarone - amiroaderone, am-knee-darone, amniodarone, amarodorone, amiorodarone, amidrone
ambulance - ambleeance, ambalance, ambulambs, amblance
analyze - analize, analise
analyze = analyse
aneurysm - amarysm, anurism
anorexia - anarexia, anorrexia
anuresis vs enuresis
antecubital - anticubical
anthrax - amtracks
antibiotics - antibygolics, antibiodics
aphagia vs aphasia
appendix - APNDX, pendix, appendicks, ipendics
appendectomy - appleectomy, apendectomy
arrhythmia - arhythmia, arrithmia, arithmea
arthritis - the Arthur, arthuritis, authritus
ascites - asites, acites
ask vs axe
asphyxia - asphixia, asfyxia, asfixia
aspirin - asperin, assburn
asthma - assma, azma, athsma
asthma attack - assmatack
asymmetry vs symmetry
asystole - asistole, asistoly
Atenolol - atenol, atanol, atenenol, atenotol, antennanol
atrial fibrillation - atrial fibrilation, aerial fibaration
Augmentin - augmentum, augiementim
auscultation - ascultation
B
barbiturates - barbitchuates, barbitirades, barbituates
Bartholin gland - bartholomew gland
basilar - basalar
bedside commode - bedside comode, bedside commmode
below the knee amputation - baloney amputation
between - bequeen, beetween
bipolar - bipolo
bisacodyl - biskadill
bladder cancer - ladder cancer
blood clot - blood clog, blood clock
blood pressure cuff - blood pressure cup
botox - buttocks, bowtocks
bowel obstruction vs bowel destruction
bowel impaction - bowel compaction, bowel inpaction
branchial vs brachial
bronchial asthma - broccoli asthma
BUN - bunt
bupropion - buproprion
Buspar - badspar
C
CABG vs cabbage
calcium - kalshium
calcium gluconate - calcium glucagon
callus vs callous
candida infection - Canada infection
capnography - capeography
carbon monoxide - carpet monoxide
cardioversion - cardio conversion, cardiovertion
Cardizem - cardiazem, cardliazem, cardezem
caregiving - cargiving, garegiving
carotid - careihtoid, caroted
carpal tunnel - corporal punishment, carpal thunnel, car trouble, carpool tunnel
cataract - Cadillac, cadaract
catheter - Catholic, capiter, cathiter, cathetor
catheterization = catheterisation
Caucasian - caucation, cacasian
cecum - secum, seecome
cerebral palsy - Sarah palsy, celebral palsy, cerebal palsey
chicken pox - chicken pocks, chicken pops
Chiropractor - chiropracter, choirpracter, ciropractor
chlorhexidine - chlorhexadine, clorhexidine, chlorhexedine
cholecystitis - colecystitis, colecistitis, cholecistitis
cholesterol - colesteral, cholorolesteral
ciprofloxacin - ciproflucloxacillen
circumcised - circumcized, circumsized
circumscribed vs circumcised
cirrhosis of the liver - psoriasis of the liver, sclerosis of the liver, scoliosis of the liver, roaches of the liver
claustrophobia - claustrobia, clostrhopbia, clostrophobia
cocci - cockeye
colonoscopy - colonsclopy, colostomy, colonostomy, colonostrophy, coloscopy
colostrum vs claustrum
concussion - concrussion, concusion
constipation - constapation, constickation
contractions vs contraptions
congestive heart failure - congested heart failin
constipation - constapation
cor vs core
cord vs chord
Coumadin - coodamin, coumanin, coudamin, cummin, cooligan, cumiden
coxsackie virus - coxsuckie virus
CPAP - C-pak
cryo - cairo
c-section - sea section
curettage - curetage, curretage, currettage
D
D&C - DNC
decubitus - decubidus, decubitous
dependent - dependant
dehydrated - dehydrinated, dehidrated
dependent vs dependant
depo provera - depo primavera
diabetes - diabetis, diabettys, dabeets, dibetus
diabetic - diabetical
diagnose = diagnoses
diagnosis - diagnosises
diaphoresis - diaforesis, diaporesis
diaphragm - diaphram, diafragm, diafram
diarrhea - diarea, diarear, diareah, diarrhia
dialysis - dinealysis, dryalysis, dialogy, dyalises
dialyze - dialize, dialasize, diagnalysis
dilated - dialated, delighted
diphtheria - diptheria
discectomy - disckectomy, dickectomy
discrepancy - discrepency
disoriented = disorientated
defibrillator - defibulator, defibilator, defibrillizer, fibulizor, fibalator
Diflucan - diflunkin
Dilaudid - di lada, duodenum, dilautin, dialauda, dilauda, dilaudin, dilala, dilauden, diladeed, dilila, dilidad, dulauda, dilada, dilauntin, dilopadid, diladoo, dilauscious, lidaudid, dilowdin, dilautin, dilaudah, laudedid, diloodid, dillydad, diladid, dialed in, diddlyadid, dilapida, diludid, delawtid, dolobid
diltiazem - ditazolam
diverticulitis - diberticulitis
dominant - dominit
do not resuscitate - do not resusitate, do not resucitate, do not resuscetate, do not resesitate
doppler - dobbler, gobbler, goppler
donepezil - donzepril
dry weight vs dry wall
Dulcolax - ducolax, dulcalax, ducalax, dookielax
dysphagia vs dysphasia
E
eczema - exema, eggs and ma
edematous - edematus, edeminous
effusion - efusion, affusion
Elavil - elaville
electrolytes vs electric lights
elephantiasis - elephantitis, elefantitis, elefantitus
elicit vs illicit
emphysema - emfasema, emphyzema, infazima
encephalitis - syphilitis
enuresis vs anuresis
epididymitis - epididimitis, epydidimitis, epididimytis, epidydimitis
epidural - epideral, epidermal
epigastric - epic gastric
epileptic seizure - epeleptic Caesar, eucalyptus seizure
epoetin alfa - epoeten alpha, epoiten alfa
erectile dysfunction - reptile disfunction
esophagus - asophagues, esofagus
exacerbated vs exasperated
exacerbation - exaspiration, asserbation, exagerbate
exercise - exersize, ectercise
excruciating - cruciating
extubation - excavation, extabation
F
fascia - fasia, facia, fashia
fibromyalgia - ibromyfalgia, fibermalgia, fibermanalgia, fibroidmyalga, fibermyallergy
fibroplastic breast - fiber optic breast
flaccid - flacid, flasid, flaccit
Flomax - flowmax, flowmore
folic acid - follic acid, fostic acid
foramen ovale - foraminal valley
Furosemide - forcemide, fersamide, forosemide
G
gabapentin - gabbagantin
gallbladder - gallblatter, gullbladder, jawbladder
gamma - gama
gangrene - gain green, gang green
gauge - gage
gauze - gause
generic vs genetic
Glucophage - glucasausage
GoLYTELY - go lightly, gollytelly
gonorrhea - gonorhea, gonnorrhea, gonnorhea
grand mal seizure - grandma seizure, grand maul seizure, grand mall seizure
Guillian-Barre syndrome - gillian-barry syndrome, gougane barra syndrome
H
Haldol - halidal, haldog, hound dog
hand sanitizer - hand sanetiser, hand sanitiser, hand sanetizer
heart catheterization - heart cardization, heart catheterisation
heart monitor - heart monirot
heart murmur - heart mummer, heart mermer
Heimlich maneuver - Himlick manuver, hindlick maneuver, Heinekin maneuver
hemoptysis - hemoptisis, hymnoptosis
hemorrhoidectomy - hemmorhoidectomy, hemitrectomy
heparin - hefarin
heroin vs heroine
herpes - herpies, hair piece
HCTZ - HTCZ
heel vs hill
hemorrhoid - hemorhoid, hemmorhoid, hemmorrhoid
hernia - hyena
hiatal hernia - hi herny, hymenal hernia, high anal hernia
hibiclens - hibaclens, hibiclense
HIPAA - HIPPA, HIPPO
high bilirubin - hi Billy Rubin
hospital - hispital
hospitalist vs hospital list
humeral vs humoral
hydralazine - hydrazaline
hydrocodone - hydrocodeine, hydrocordone, hydracodeine, hydrocordrone, hydacodadone
hydromorphone - hydromorfone, hydramofo
hygiene - hygeine
hypoxic - hypopnic
hysterectomy - hickerectomy, histamyrectomy, hykterektomy, kicktorectomy, hikorekomy, historectomy
I
ibuprofin - I-B profin, I-B prophen, IBU rofin, ibupropylene, ibubuffrin
icterus - icterous
ileum vs ilium
impetigo - infantigo
incentive spirometer - insentive spirometer, incintive spirometer
incontinence - incontinance, incontenence
intoxication - intoxecation
intractable - intrackable
inflammation - inflamation, inflimation, inflamminated
inhaler - inhalor, inhalator
inoculate - innoculate
intraocular - intraoccular, introcular
intubated vs incubated
intussusception - intususception, intussuception, intusuception
ipratropium - ipatropin
irritable bowel syndrome - durable bowel syndrome, herbal bowl syndrome
ischemia - ichemia, ishemia
J
jp drain - jay pee drain
K
kerlix - curlex, kerlicks
L
laparoscopic - laprascopic, laproscopic, laptoscopical
larynx - larnix, larinx
Lasix - lasik, latex
lisinopril - lisopril
Lorazepam - razorpam
Lortab - loratab, lowtads
Lyrica - lycra, lirica
lymphedema - lymphadema, lymfedema, limphedema
lymph nodes - lymph noides, limp noids, limph nodes
M
maggots - maggets, magnets
malabsorption - malabsorbtion, malapsorption
malacia - malasia
malnutrition - maltrishon
mammogram - mamogram, mammy o gram, mammiogram, mammeogram
mastectomy - masectomy
melanin - melonin, melanen
melatonin pills - melanoma pills
menopause - menapause, minipause, many paws
menstruation - menstration, minstration
Methotrexate - mexotrexate
metoprolol - metopralol, metaprod, meprotolol, metopropolol, metopotol, matropalol, metepropol, metoprol, metopropol, metatoprolol
metronidazole - muhtrinazole, metronidasole
MEWS score - meows score, muse score
migraine headache - migrane headache, migratin headache, my brain headache
milligrams - miligrams, thrilligrams
mitral valve - micral valve
monitor - moniter, monior
morphine - morphing, mophine, mophy, mofeen, mofeem
MRSA infection - merser infection, mersah infection, mercer infection
mucus vs mucous
multiple myeloma - multiple myloma, multiple miloma
multiple sclerosis - multiple slerosis, multiple scoliosis, multiple neurosis, multiple schlerosis
mupirocin - mupirocen, muperocin
muscle - mustle, mussel, musle
myocardial infarction - myocardial infraction, myocardial infartion
N
nauseous - nauseus, nauseaouas
nauseated - nauseation
nebulizer - nibulator, nebulizer, nebalizer, mebulizer
Nissen - neesan
Norvasc - norvasac, norvas
nuclear test - nuculer test
O
omeprazole - omeprosole, omeprasal
oophorectomy - ophorectomy, oophrectomy
ophthalmology - opthalmology, ophthamology, opthmology, optamology, optomology
orient = orientate
oriented - rientated
orthopnea - orthopnia
osteochondral - osteocondo, osteocondom
osteoporosis - osteoperosis
Oxycodone - oxycordone, oxycoden
Oxycontin - oxycotin, oxycotton
oxygen - oxgen, octagon, oxcuagen, oxygin
P
pacemaker vs peacemaker
palliative - pallative, paliative
palpate - palpitate
pancreatitis - pancreitis, pancretitis
pap smear - pepper smear
paraneoplastic panel - perineal plastic panel
patients vs patience
penicillin - penicilin, pennicillin
Percocet - purpocet, percostat, purpacet, perpocet, percaset
perfusion vs profusion
pericarditis - periocarditis
perineal vs peroneal
periosteum - periostium
peripheral - peripherial, periferal
peritoneum - peritonium, peretoneum
persistent - persistant
pharynx - pharnix
Phenergan - finnagin, phenergrin, phenakin, phenergun, phenegren, pheneegan, phenagrin, phenegram, phenygen, phennygin, phenergran, vinegar, phenegran, fingin, fennigan
phlebotomy vs lobotomy
pitocin - petosin, pitosen, potassium
plane vs plain
Plavix - playvix, pavlix
pleural vs plural
pleurisy - pleuricy, pleuracy
pneumonia - nemonia, neumonia, ammonia, lamonia, numonia, phemonia, pamonia, lemonia
polyps - pollips, plopps, pollits
port-a-cath - portacast
post mortem care - post motem care, post mortum care, pozt mortem care
post op - post stop
prednisone - presinone, pregnisone, prednisolone
prescribe - perscribe
prescriptions- perscriptions
Prevalon boot - provolone boot
Prilosec - prolosex, prilosex
Propofol - propophal, propothol, propathal
propranolol - propanolol
prostate vs prostrate
prosthesis - prosthesus, prostesis
Protonix - protronix
Prosac - prosack
protocol - protocal
pruritus - pruritis
PSA - PSI
pseudoseizures - sudo seisures
pulmonary - plumbinary, pluminary
pulmonary embolism - pulmonary emblems
pulse oximeter - pulse oxometer, pulse oxomiter, pulse oximiter
purewick catheter - perwick catheter, purwick catheter
pyelonephritis - pylonephritis, polynehpritis
Q
R
Ramipril - ramperil
recyclable - recycleable
reflux - reflexin
regime vs regimen
rhabdomyolysis - rabdomiolisis, rhabdomyolitis
rheumatoid arthritis - rumatard arfritis, rumortard arthritis
rhythm - rythm, rhythem, rythem
ringworms - wingworms
Risperdal - risperidal
Rocephin - rosefin, rocepherin
rotator cuff - rotor cup, rotary cuff, roterer cuff, rotator cp, rotary cup
RSV - RSVP
S
saddle pulmonary embolism - saddled pulmonary embolism
sagittal - saggital
sara stedy - sarah steady, sara steddy
sats vs stats
scalene - scaline
scarring vs scaring
schizophrenia - schitzophrenia, scizofrenia
sciatic nerve - siatic nerve, psychotic nerve, exotic nerve, psychiatic nerve, sanotic nerve
sedentary - sedintary
seizures - skezures, seisures
sequela - seqela
sequential compression device - sequenctial compresion devise, seqential compression device, sequential cokmpression device, sequemtial compression device
Seroquel - seroquil, sequel
shotty lymph nodes - shoddy lymph nodes
sieve - sive, seve
sinusitis vs sinuses
sleep apnea - sleep apney, sleep napia
smoking cessation - smoking cesation, smoking sessation, smoking sensation
specific pain - pacific pain
spironolactone - spiranolactone
spleen - splein, splean, splene
splenectomy - spleenectomy, spleanectomy
staph infection - staff infection
stent - stint, splint, stimp
stethoscope - stethascope
strep throat - streap throat, strip throat, script throat, scrip throat
stroke - scroke
sulfa vs sulfur
supersede - supercede, superseed, superceed
suppositories - supositories, depositories
Synagis - synergist, sinagis
syncope - syncopie, sincope
syphilis - syphillis, siphilis, siphillis
T
telemetry - telematry, telementry, telepathy
tendonitis - tendernitis, tendonidis
testicles - technicals
tests vs testes
tetanus shot - tetnus shot, technical shot
theophylline - theophyline, theofilline, theeofilean
thrush vs thrash
tonsil - tonsill, tonsel
tonsillectomy - tonsilectomy, tonsellectomy
topical nystatin - tropical nystatin
toprol - topal
trachea - trachlear
trazodone - trayzadone
trichomonas infection - tricomonas infection, tracheotomy infection
tricuspid - tricusspid
troponins - patronins
tubal ligation - tubal litigation, tubolization
Tylenol - tylol, tylenoids
Tysabri - tysaybri
U
uvula vs vulva
umbilical - umbiblical
V
vagina - vajina, Virginia, pajama
vaginal discharge - virginal discharge
Valium - valyum, vacuum
vegetations vs vegetables
ventilator - ventilater, emulator
ventricle - ventrical
vertical - verticle
vertigo - vertago, vertical
vesicle - vesical
Viagra - viagry
Vicoden - vickoden, vicodan, vicaden, vicodean
volatile - voluatable
vomit - vomick
vomiting - vomicken, vomicking
W
warfarin - warafin, wahfehrn
welts - whelps, welps
wheezing - wheasel, weezing
whopping cough - woofing cough, whoping cough, wooping cough, wopping cough
X
xerosis - zerosis
xiphoid - ziphoid, zyphoid, xyphoid
Xopenex - zofenex
x-ray - x-tray, x-ration, exray
Y
Z
Zofran - jofrain
Zosyn - zosin, josin
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Medical References for Caregivers
From List of Commonly Misspelled Medical Terms to Home
References:
https://www.meditec.com/resourcestools/medical-words/commonly-misspelled-words/
https://www.dummies.com/health/medical-terms-commonly-misspelled/
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