IC!

Abstract

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” –Mark Twain Many terms in scientific communication end in the adjectival suffix “-ic.” Or is it “-ical”? Yes and no. And does it matter? Both -ic and -ical can be appropriate suffixes for adjectives. According to the current edition of the AMA Manual of Style, often the “-ic” and “-ical” forms have the same meaning, for example, anatomic and anatomical, neurologic and neurological, and physiologic and physiological. However, there are times when the suffix may change the meaning of the word and it is important to use the correct form. Once the suffix use is sorted, it is also preferable to be consistent throughout a document.1 AMA style guidance on this topic has evolved over the years. The 10th edition (as well as the 9th) directed authors and editors to check medical dictionaries as well as Webster’s for guidance on which suffix to choose but noted a preference for the shorter term.2 Other style guides offer identical or similar guidance. The current edition of Scientific Style and Format advises consistent use of the chosen suffix and also notes that some variants are not idiomatic, for example, “‘chemic’ is not accepted as a shorter form of ‘chemical.’”3 Webster’s includes a host of individual entries from anatomical to zoological, including not only definitions but also preferred usage (e.g., anatomic and zoologic are listed as variants). In the entry for […]