Talk:Fetal-maternal haemorrhage

Latest comment: 10 years ago by Manfi in topic [Untitled]

[Untitled] edit

Propose that this page be re-named 'Fetomaternal hemorrhage' on the basis that it is of a technical nature and that within the technical / medical world there is consistent spelling of 'fetus' (rather than foetus). This is not an Americanism, since beyond the sphere of influence of the USA, usage in UK and Commonwealth medical literature is consistently for 'fetus' and its adjectival form 'feto'. Also, see the discussion relating to fetus and references quoted in Foetal-Maternal Haemorrhage which use the fetus/feto spelling. FlyingDoctor (talk) 11:51, 28 April 2010 (UTC)Reply

Strongly disagree. Following wikipedia guidance/rules the correct spelling of foetus and foetal maternal haemorrhage have been used. Had an American or other nationality started the page then feto would be acceptable, I am English and have used the correct form here. While both feto and foetal versions are in common use, foetal is the correct English form of the word. James2b (talk) 20:01, 6 September 2010 (UTC),Reply

Perhaps I can convince you by referring you to the Royal College of Obstetricians web site search function. You'll not be successful with a search for 'foetus' whereas 'fetus' appears many times. As I said in my explanation, the spelling in the UK and Commonwealth technical literature is fetus even though in popular print media, foetus often appears. You could do the same search in the Royal Colleges of Australia and NZ etc. but I'm guessing the RCOG is most likely to convince you (27 Sussex Place, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RG, UK ) By the way, my copy of the OED (Shorter) explains that fetus is often incorrectly spelt as foetus and states that the latter is only acceptable if the oe is digraphed. viz. 'fœtus'. Respectfully FlyingDoctor (talk) 07:55, 12 September 2010 (UTC)Reply

There isn't much convincing to do. As a member of the collage (MRCOG) I agree that the medical spelling of fetus/foetus is set at fetus.

Wikipedia is not however a medical text, and guidance on here states specifically that pages should be aimed at people with a non-specialist knowledge. The 'lay person' spelling in the UK, where the initial author originates is foetus, and this is how I believe it should stay.

While the original spelling of foetus in english is thought to have been a mistake in the adaption from latin, this is the common form in use in the non-medical world.

Part of my hesitancy to agree to changing to feto- is the continuing dilution of the english language by people too lazy to write words differently than they may sound. James2b (talk) 10:35, 23 October 2010 (UTC)Reply

I have moved it back to "fetal", which is the correct spelling in both American and UK/Commonwealth English, derived from the Latin "fetus". "Foetal" is an etymologically incorrect variant often used in the media and old texts. Manfi (talk) 13:12, 31 May 2013 (UTC)Reply