Why consistency matters in medical and medico-legal writing

In medical and medico-legal writing, consistency is not just a stylistic preference. Even small inconsistencies can have significant consequences for interpretation, credibility and usability.

Seemingly minor variations can confuse readers, slow comprehension or raise doubts about the reliability of the document, especially when the content is reviewed by regulatory bodies, legal professionals or clinicians.

How small inconsistencies can create big problems

Even subtle inconsistencies can have an outsized effect. For example:

Inconsistent terminology can alter meaning

Using a medical term in slightly different ways can introduce ambiguity or change interpretation. For example:

• Mixing up adverse events and side effects

• Alternating between participants, subjects and patients

• Switching between British and American spelling of technical terms (e.g. haematology vs hematology)

• Switching between plain English and medical terminology (e.g. heart attack vs myocardial infarction)

In clinical, regulatory or legal contexts, such variations may lead readers to question whether the same concept is being discussed, or whether important distinctions are being overlooked.

Inconsistent formatting reduces readability and trust

Formatting inconsistencies can make a document harder to navigate and undermine its professional appearance. Examples include:

• Headings that vary in style or hierarchy

• Bullet points used inconsistently or mixed with numbered lists without rationale

• Tables or figures labelled differently across sections

• Inconsistent use of bold, italics or capitalisation for key terms

When formatting lacks uniformity, readers must expend extra effort simply to follow the structure – distracting them from the content itself.

Inconsistent referencing raises credibility concerns

References are a critical marker of accuracy. Inconsistencies can raise red flags about attention to detail and make readers question whether sources have been checked carefully. For example:

• Mixing citation styles (e.g. Vancouver and Harvard)

• Incomplete or missing references

• Inconsistent journal abbreviations or author formatting

Why consistency is critical in regulatory and legal contexts

In medical or medico-legal content, documents may be scrutinised in court, audited or reviewed by regulatory authorities. In these settings, even minor inconsistencies can undermine credibility.

A document that appears rushed, uneven, or internally inconsistent can cause readers to doubt:

• the reliability of the data

• the robustness of the analysis

• the expertise of the author or organisation

Consistency helps convey that the content has been prepared with care, rigour and professionalism.

How consistency improves clarity and readability

Consistency isn’t just about avoiding mistakes – it actively supports comprehension. When terminology, formatting, figures and references are predictable and uniform:

• the content is easier to read and understand

• readers can focus on meaning rather than being distracted by variations

• confidence in the accuracy and professionalism of the document increases

In short, consistency reduces cognitive load and makes complex information more accessible.

Why consistency is central to medical editing

Because of its importance, checking for consistency is never an optional extra in medical editing. It is a core part of the editing process, alongside checks for clarity, accuracy and logical flow.

A skilled medical editor ensures that a document:

• uses terminology consistently throughout

• follows a uniform structure and formatting style

• presents references correctly and consistently

• aligns with relevant guidelines

By doing so, the editor protects meaning, preserves credibility and ensures the document is genuinely usable for its intended audience.

Final thoughts: consistency is not optional in medical writing

In medical and medico-legal documents, consistency is not a ‘nice to have’. It directly affects interpretation, usability and professional credibility.

Clear, consistent writing signals:

• attention to detail

• respect for the reader

• confidence in the content

Ultimately, consistency helps ensure that critical information is understood as intended – exactly where it matters most.

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A note on terminology: The terms medical copyeditor, medical proofreader and medical editor are often confused and used interchangeably. To add to the confusion, there are yet other terms used for different niches such as plain-English editor, medico-legal copyeditor or editorial assistant (the latter is commonly used in medical communications). I personally use medical editor to describe my role, and medical editing to describe both medical copyediting and medical proofreading, as this suggests a hybrid approach as per my own clients' preferences ... plus, it's simpler! See here for more detail on the traditional differences between proofreading and copyediting.

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To learn more about me and my background, please take a closer look here.