Q: What is the source for the statement in section 11.10.5 that “The term sexual preference should be avoided because it implies a voluntary choice of sexual orientation not supported by the scientific literature”?
A: The source is what is shown as reference 20: Maggio’s Talking About People: A Guide to Fair and Accurate Language. This was published by Oryx Press in 1997 and we are not aware of a newer edition.
Q: Is there a list in the manual, or in a source recommended by the manual, as to when it is appropriate to refer to an individual as “Dr”? It is sometimes difficult to know if a non-US degree is equivalent to an MD degree.
A: Great question. We do include a few of these in the manual (eg, MBBS), but you might try Google. It can provide helpful information on various degrees.
Q: Would you use “e-visit” or “E-visit” when it appears at the beginning of a sentence?
A: Based on the advice we give in 10.7 for “e-mail” (use “E-mail” if it appears at the beginning of a sentence), I would use “E-visit” at the start of a sentence.
Q: How do you cite the online AMA Manual of Style?
A: I would recommend the following, based on 3.15.2 in the manual:
Iverson C, Christiansen S, Flanagin A, et al. AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors. 10th ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2007. www.amamanualofstyle.com. Published online 2009.
—Cheryl Iverson, MA