Re: We love playing fast and loose

Posted by TheFallen on November 17, 2004

In Reply to: We love playing fast and loose posted by Lap of the Goddess (OZ) on November 17, 2004

: : : : Hi,

: : : : I have got some problems with the word "practice" in some contexts.
: : : : The sentence is the following: We had research grants from the federal government, as well as a large hospital-based practice that included treating patients who neeeded to have their communications skills evaluated, for instance, after a stroke.

: : : : Well, what is practice in this context?

: : : : Thank you very, very much for your help.

: : : :
: : : : Best regards,

: : : :
: : : : Elaine Pepe
: : : : São Paulo/Brazil

: : : This from the American Heritage Dictionary On-line:-

: : : 4. Exercise of an occupation or profession: the practice of law/medicine.

: : : In your sentence, it simply means a group of doctors or medical professionals who, I would guess, probably specialised in speech therapy.

: : : For the record, in UK English at least, the verb is always spelled "practise" and the noun "practice" - similarly with the verbal "license" and the nominal "licence" and (the easy way to remember this) the verb "advise" and the noun "advice". I however seem to remember that transatlantically they play rather fast and loose with this rule and probably ignore it entirely, knowing them.

: : Only foreigners spell license licence.

Coming from England, given the language is still called English, I'm claiming the moral high ground here. One can be licensed to have a medical practice, or can practise hard to get a driving licence. There are no alternatives. Bloody Paul Revere.

• Re: We love playing fast and loose Bruce Kahl 17/November/04
  • Slightly different meaning Bob 17/November/04