[Scientific language in surgery. A neglected topic].

Abstract

Language continues to be the vehicle for communication in the scientific world. Correct use of language, following the rules that govern it, dignifies both the individual and the community that uses it. Such use also benefits the language itself, by encouraging its development and thus making it a useful tool for the precise expression of ideas and knowledge. The present article summarizes the most frequent errors in medical articles written in Spanish, especially in surgery, and proposes the correct alternatives according to the Spanish Royal Academy of Language (Real Academia Española). The article is structured in four sections: lexical and semantic features, grammatical features, morphologic and syntactic features, and use of accents.