Avoid the Word “Respectively” for Clear Writing

Some writers forget the number one principle in scientific and medical writing: make the reader’s job easy.

One way they make the reader’s job more difficult is by using the word respectively. Writers like to use the word because it seems easier to write. But using respectively makes the writing more difficult for the reader to understand.

Look at the following examples. Which version do you find easier to read and understand?

Example 1

Before: In the chimera, glycine and glutamine were changed to valine and glutamic acid, respectively.

After: In the chimera, glycine was changed to valine and glutamine was changed to glutamic acid.

Example 2

Before: Patients were given metropolol and metformin for hypertension and diabetes, respectively.

After: Patients were given metropolol for hypertension and metformin for diabetes.

Readers can feel even more confused when there are more than two items in the list. In some cases, you might save a few words, but at a cost to the reader.

Example 3

Before: The infection rate was 22%, 31%, and 47% in patients with diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease, respectively.

After: The infection rate was 22% in patients with diabetes mellitus, 31% in patients with heart failure, and 47% in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Although the AMA Manual of Style allows respectively, make your reader’s job easy and avoid using the word in your writing.