My work colleagues and I have been having a discussion about doctors (we work in healthcare), and we're split down the middle as to whether a specialist doctor would have a speciality, or a specialty (no "i"). Is there a specific use for each word, or can they be interchanged?
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There seems to be divergence on that point: I suspect that Edit: Others seem to think so as well. |
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Specialty is the word used in American English (the OED reports it's chiefly Northern American), while speciality is used in British English. In medicine (as for what reported by the OED) both specialty and speciality are used. |
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It's standard US medical editing practice to change instances of "specialities" to "specialties." Note the certifying agency: American Board of Medical Specialties. |
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Ideally, both of them mean the same thing. The usage is the only difference. Like prioritise and prioritize. |
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