reword two sentences.

Question

In the afternoons, she's on the paper works such as reading the cases’ histories. And she's engaged in the consultation with doctors of other departments.

The above two sentences read awkward, don't they?

How would you reword them?

Thanks in advance!

John Limburger · Accepted Answer

In the afternoons, she does the paperwork, such as reading the cases' histories and she is engaged in consultation with doctors from other departments.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Hi John, and welcome to the forums. Can I ask that you use another color for your posts? Yellow is really hard to read.

***

Just say "reading case histories" - don't try to make cases possessive.

Goodman · Answer

Hi Maple,

This is my take of your question:

<<<<In the afternoons, she's on the paper works such as reading the cases’ histories. And she's engaged in the consultation with doctors of other departments. >>>

In the general sense, Paper work is a collective noun, so no “s”. The two sentences appear to me like a duty description of a nurse's typical afternoon routine. If you are consulting someone, you are giving advise or you think you know the subject matter better than the person you are advising. Therefore “consulting the doctors” doesn’t sounds right to me. So this is my interpretation of your sentences:

In typical afternoons, her routine evolves around reviewing patients’ medical histories and organizing the related paperwork. Then she meets with the doctors from other department with her summaries. Hope that helps!

Maple · Answer

Grammar Geek....

Just say "reading case histories" - don't try to make cases possessive.

GG, thanks for your response again!

You know what, I kept feeling discomfortable with these two sentences (translation) I wrote. Because the source language Chinese version "jie1 shou4 hui4 zhen3" has the definite meaning that she is the one who GIVES advice. And almost every Chinese-English dictionary I can find translates "hui4 zhen3" into "consult" or "consultation". But no NATURAL English phrases containing counsult or consultation has the sememe of the certain direction of this course.

To keep faithful to the sourse language, I'll rewite them as:

In the afternoons, she does the paperwork, such as reading the case histories. And she gives advice on the diagnosis and treatment of other doctors’ patients from different departments of the hospital.

Do you think it's a better translation?

Maple · Answer

Goodman,

Thanks for you response.

This is the source language in Chinese:

xia4 wu3 zuo4 an4 tou2 gong1 zuo4, ru2 cha2 yue4 bing4 li4. bing4 jie1 shou4 ke1 jian1 hui4 zhen3.

Do you think my translation OK?

In the afternoons, she does the paperwork, such as reading the case histories. And she gives advice on the diagnosis and treatment of other doctors’ patients from different departments of the hospital. (Same as the above post)

BarbaraPA · Answer

Hi again Maple.

Don't start the second sentence with "And." This seems too formal for that.

If you want to make it clear that she is the one giving the consultation, then you can say she consults with doctors from other department on their patients' cases.

By saying that they are "their" patients, you know they are the patients of the other doctors, and therefore she is the expert providing the consultation. On the other hand, you can also say it your way. Or, She also advises doctors from other departments on the diagnosis and treatment of their patients.

Goodman · Answer

MapleGoodman,

Thanks for you response.

This is the source language in Chinese:

zhen3.

Do you think my translation OK?

In the afternoons, she does the paperwork, such as reading the case histories. And she gives advice on the diagnosis and treatment of other doctors’ patients from different departments of the hospital. (Same as the above post)

Hi Maple,

My Putungua pronunciation is only half-full So I can only interprete the senstence partially.

xia4 wu3 [Afternoon] zuo4 an4 tou2 gong1 zuo4, [ work at hand ] ru2 cha2 [ inspect/ search ] yue4 bing4 li4[medical history]. bing4 jie [medical record] 1 shou4 ke1 jian1 hui4 [not sure what this means].

Am I half right? If not, help me out so that I can understand the full context of your post.

Maple · Answer

Hi Goodman,

xia4 wu3 [Afternoon] zuo4 an4 tou2 gong1 zuo4, [ work at hand ] ru2 cha2 [ inspect/ search ] yue4 bing4 li4[medical history].-------------until here, all correct

bing4 [and]

jie1 shou4 [accept]

ke1 jian1 [inter-department] hui4 zhen3[consultation].

Maple · Answer

Grammar Geek
Hi again Maple.

Don't start the second sentence with "And." This seems too formal for that.

If you want to make it clear that she is the one giving the consultation, then you can say she consults with doctors from other department on their patients' cases.

By saying that they are "their" patients, you know they are the patients of the other doctors, and therefore she is the expert providing the consultation. On the other hand, you can also say it your way. Or, She also advises doctors from other departments on the diagnosis and treatment of their patients.

I have to say the highlighted part of your suggestion is REALLY SMART!!

Nevertheless, other parts of your comments are VERY HELPFUL.

Thank you again!

Best Wishes!

Goodman · Answer

MapleHi Goodman,

xia4 wu3 [Afternoon] zuo4 an4 tou2 gong1 zuo4, [ work at hand ] ru2 cha2 [ inspect/ search ] yue4 bing4 li4[medical history].-------------until here, all correct

bing4 [and] -ok, I got this

jie1 shou4 [accept] Ok

ke1 jian1 [inter-department] - This one sound like nothing I know

hui4 zhen3[consultation]. Does "hui4" mean to meet? and "shen3" mean to see?

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