Why is doctors’ handwriting hard to read?

handwritten

written by hand, not typed or printed.

prescription

a written order from a doctor for medicine

stroke

a line or mark made when writing

messy strokes

untidy or unclear handwriting marks

abbreviation

a shortened form of a word

symbol-like

looking similar to a symbol

decoding

the process of understanding or interpreting something difficult

clinical practice

medical work involving the treatment of patients

pronounced

very noticeable or obvious

prescribe

to officially recommend or order medicine

write in shorthand

to write using shortened forms of words

out of habit

because it has become a usual behavior

distorted

changed from the normal shape or appearance

dosage

the amount of medicine to be taken

pharmacist

a person trained to prepare and give out medicines

accustomed to

familiar with something because of experience

dispense

to prepare and provide medicine

illegible

impossible or very difficult to read

dozens of patients

a large number of patients (usually more than twenty)

Misreading

an incorrect understanding or interpretation of something written

Medication

a substance or medicine used to treat an illness or condition