Words to Avoid in an OET Letter

Judgmental Expressions

• Obese, overweight → BMI is above the ideal levels.
• Drinker → He drinks 3 – 5 bottles of beer everyday. 
• Smoker → He smokes around 20 cigarettes per day. 
• She is a patient of hypertension / He is suffering from diabetes →  She has had hypertension / She is diabetic.

Connectors

• Do not start sentences with Also, But, And, Because. However, you can use them in the middle of the sentences.
• Replace But with However / Although. 
• Avoid Besides, Moreover, Furthermore. Replace with “Additionally,” or “In addition to,”
• Forget So, Hence and Thus. You can use “Therefore” instead.

Passive Errors

• She was commenced on ibuprofen → ibuprofen was commenced.
• She was transfused 3 litres of red blood cells → 3 litres of red blood cells was transfused.
• She was prescribed ibuprofen → Ibuprofen was prescribed.
• He was administered antibiotics → Antibiotics was / were administered. 
• He was prescribed antacids → Antacids were prescribed. 

Apart from those listed above, avoid the following too:

1. Casual or informal language: Avoid slang, colloquial expressions, or overly casual phrases such as “gonna,” “kinda,” or “you know.”
2. Overly emotional language: Steer clear of words that may sound subjective or overly emotional, like “terrible,” “amazing,” or “heartbreaking.” Stick to objective and clinical terms.
3. Vague terms: Words like “thing,” “stuff,” or “a lot” lack precision. Instead, provide specific details or measurements.
4. Jargon: While medical terminology is necessary, ensure it is appropriate and understandable for the intended recipient. Avoid overly complex terms that could confuse.
5. Contractions: In formal communication, avoid contractions like “don’t,” “won’t,” or “it’s.” Use their full forms instead (“do not,” “will not,” “it is”).
6. Unnecessary repetition: Refrain from repeating the same information or phrases unless it’s essential for clarity.
7. Personal opinions: Avoid phrases such as “I believe” or “I think,” as the letter should focus on facts and clinical observations.
8. Ambiguous abbreviations: Unless the abbreviation is widely recognized (e.g., BMI, BP), write out the full term to avoid confusion.

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