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If the only thing on a line is the word "follow up"

Posted By: and all the headers and footers are on 2006-03-29
In Reply to: Hmm, that comes out to almost 8 cpl 65 character - sm

templated, which in my case worked out to about one-third of the page, and I was paid by the page, 12 cents a line was great. All my signature lines were macroed and a large number of my reports were as well. I averaged $45 an hour. Your mileage may vary, but I don't think I was missing anything there.


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Gross line = each line on page counts as a line, even if it's only 1 word. nm
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gross-anything on line counts as line,even one word
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When transcribing "command" or "imperative" form, use verb form or "follow up"
For a long time I would become confused by "discharge instructions" type followup/follow up usage ...

Yes, the patient was to follow up with his doctor ... but was also to make a follow up appointment ...

In my experience, certainly your QA may vary and/or be inconsistent all-on-its-own ... but most of these truncated forms, fit into what I was taught was called "imperative case" and follow up is being used as a VERB ...

[[[ even though there is a reasonable argument to be made that "followup with primary care physician in 2 weeks" refers to an "appointment" which is a noun. ]]]

You can figure out the prevailing "rule of thumb" for your QA ...

Not having to think it through --- priceless.

Here's the thing. We were paid on a 50-char line SM

because we were on new software and it was hard (before EDiX). Then we went to 60 char and you have never heard the screeching and griping (LOL. We just didn't know).


I have told this story before, but for five years I was the supervisor in the MT dept. All I did was evaluate MTs, line counts, average lines per hour, just endless figuring. I could tell you off the top of my head what any particular dictation should count out to.


In fact, after I decided to go back to transcribing, I knew the very day that my former employees started cheating - our line counts were posted by ssn on a computer-generated list. I knew that work like the back of my hand.


When EDiX did their spiel, I was eager to start with them because I knew how they supposedly counted their lines and I knew how many lines a day I could type. Man, I was gonna be RICH.


Not one line count EVER matched what it used to. Bad thing about that is, I just got blank silence on the telephone when I asked what was the deal. When I asked my immediate supervisors how they were counting these lines, I got "I don't know. I'll get back to you." Nobody ever answered my question. I gave them a year full time, and then I had to start working other jobs to make ends meet so I quit.


They asked me to come back, and I said I would, part time. They said they really needed me on that account. All told, I was employed there three times in three years. I never made enough money to even cover my basic expenses. I cannot live like that.


My biggest problem with nationals, and the reason I refuse to work for them, is that the money goes to the suits first, the MTs next. People who do what we do simply do not need that much supervision. If they hire newbies who do need extensive supervision (and they do, we all did), we all pay for it in that situation -- I'm not against hiring newbies, by the way, but the $ it takes to hold their hands the way the need their hands held should not come out of the pocket of the veteran MT who sits down and chugs out her work day in, day out.


So no more nationals for me. I make three times what I made at EDiX now, working for a company that could be considered a national because we're scattered out, but it's still run by the owner, and her aim in life is for us to make as much $$$ as possible because then SHE does. That's the way it should be.


National companies treat MT as a cost center and that is not right. That's for the facilities to do. The MTSO should treat us as an income-generating entity instead of a hole to divert money away from their executives. They've got it all wrong!


Another thing coming out of the line rate? No wonder
pay rates are going down. We are being nickel-and-dimed to death. I am going to give up subs and just handle my fave account and give up the others. Sheesh. Try being an MTSO and you might feel differently. We are NOT all rich. I live in a modest home in a modest neighborhood and drive an 8-y/o car. My kids are happy but not rich and spoiled.

What is the impression of an MTSO lifestyle?
There is no such thing as a gross 65 character line! OMG! No wonder MTs are making peanuts SM

Some MTs can't even define a line.


A gross line is a any line with typewritten characters on it no matter how long or how short.


A 65 character line is just that - a line with 65 characters on it.


WOW!


I agree with Tinks....no such thing as a 65 character GROSS line....unless
you just so happen to type 65 characters during on that particular line. LOL

A gross line can be a full typed line or it can be one word on a line to complete a sentence that began on the prevous line. But it gets counted as an entire line.


word or line

Which one is better:  billed per 65-character line or per word?


Cuz i've been a word geek reading 1000 wpm since age 8. This MT thing keeps
guess if I couldn't be a doctor, MT is the closest I could come without investing $100K.
Word line count
The company I IC for told me to use the word count in the Word, divide the characters with spaces by 65 to get my line count.  Are you guys saying that this is not accurate?  The owner is a very honest person, so if this is not accurate, I'm sure she does not know it.  I think this is how she bills her clients as well. 
line count in word
Use the characters with spaces count and divide by 65.
per word versus per line

I have never been paid by the line before, and I was wondering before I go any further, what would be the minimum requirement of lines per day for most services?  I want to be full time and have benefits.


 


Thanks


I use both DQS & Word and avg about the same line count.
Two separate part time accounts.  I really don't see much difference.
line count in word
Microsoft word line count - what is the name of it and where can I buy it.  Also,on a dictaphone, how can i tell how many minutes of dictation i have left. 
Word line count
This is what i actually meant. i get paid per gross line and i need to figure out how many lines i am typing per day. someone told me there is a program for that
line counting in Word
Thank you for your help. I tried to do a test counting in Word but it seems to count the blank lines too so it is not accurate.
line counting in Word
Of course! I should have thought of that. Thanks for the advice.
So do they let you get your own line count using Word or
s
Line counting on Word...

I use templates for my reports and charge by the page, but I have been interested in charging by the line.  Do you include the template lines with your line count or minus that?  I am completely confused with this, still.  Thanks again~  


Line Count in Word

I am an IC and will be starting with a new client this week.  Can someone tell me how to get an accurate line count in Word?  I know that have a word/line count in Tools, but I have found that it is not accurate (it usually gives you more lines than you actually typed).  I don't want to cheat anyone, so I am hoping someone can tell me how to get an accurate line count.  Thanks in advance for your help.         Trish


Line count in word

Depends if you are counting gross or cpl.  The gross does count the blank lines but it is an accurate line count.  You can even put on the numbers to show you that it is.  You can do this under file and page set up.  You can also do to sections only.  But you can also take characters with spaces and divide by 65 or whatever character line you are charging.   Other than that you can buy a program that works.  When I used a program I liked Sylcount as you could set it up to count twice for a capital letter,bold, underline, etc.  And you are using two characters to do that.   But it takes a while to get used to and time is money, so I told my docs I was sticking with gross lines, lower rate and easier and less time to count and so we all agreed.  They are happy, I am happy. 


Line Count in Word
Thanks very much.  Very helpful.  I love this board -- I get so many answers to questions I have!  Thanks again.
Word line count
I check my Word line count against my employer's every few days or so. While you're in Word go up to Tools, Word Count. My pay is supposedly 65 cpl with spaces too, so I divide the word count that says with spaces by 65. I just did a report with 12,722 characters wtih spaces by my count. I just checked their count by dividing that number by 65 and my count was 195.72. On their counting it is 196.
Well, I love some Autocorrect features--best thing about Word-- and I backup *.acl file---so I never
Well, I love some Autocorrect features--best thing about Word-- and I backup *.acl file---so I never lose it. Just replace it in the Windows folder (copy and paste my newest backup *.acl file--which I copy once a day--into the Windows folder on the C:drive). takes less than a minute, never "lose" Autocorrect anyumore. For years I did, though, before I figured out where it was. Just search for *.acl on your computer and copy the file that comes up as owner.acl or whatever you named your computer-- and then put it on the desktop as the backup file, jsut make a folder or whatever, newest backup acl-- along with Normal.dot-- and copy these once a week onto a disk.
Courier 10 in Word is a 72 character line.
I was offered a position for the same as you mentioned and declined. I found a position that pays 10 cents a gross line with Courier 12, 65 character line.

You do need to remember, a line is a line when paid by gross line. So, if you initials are the only characters on a line, you are paid for that full line.

Think about .07 a line ---IF a word is considered 5 characters - sm
So that would be 5000 characters/65 (if a 65-char. line), gets you ~77 lines. Divide 5.5/77 and get .07. Now are spaces included? If so how is that factored in? Presuming from the offer that spaces are not included, .07 is fine if just starting and probably the average if less than 2 years experience.
WORD/LINE COUNTER QUESTION

Is there a program that you can down load to keep a running total of your lines all day.  I keep forgetting to go into word count after every report.  The company keeps track but I want to be sure it is right.  I have M. Word 2000 so I cannot leave it running like the newer versions. 


Are you paid by the line, word, hour?

In Word you take the line count with spaces SM

and divide it by 65.  That will give you your line count.  So, if my report had 11,700 characters with spaces, that would equal 180 lines.  Multiple 180 lines x. 0.11 (your cost per line) and that would equal $19.80 for that particular report.


Good luck!


Chickadee


Please take note that the Word line counter--sm
is not accurate because it counts ALL lines, even those that are blank. If your reports are double spaced, it will count the lines in between as lines. be careful. recommend a good line counting program instead.
luv2type-line count in word
Thanks for your help!  I'm in Ohio about 1 hour from pittsburgh.  they're are a lot of docs here though.  does it sound good to try and negotiate and start at a higher rate and then drop down a bit?  Also does using your line count in word work pretty good for you.  Do you not find the need to get a separate counter?  Thanks so much for your help!
Word does have Line Count under Tools.
not have an add on.  I use MS Word 2003 and it has a line count on the tool bar.  Are you sure you know what you mean when you say there is no line counter in Tools in MS Word?
Line count verification in MS Word.
I get paid on a 65-character line with spaces, no headers/footers.  When I highlight the text I type (nothing else), and then check under Tools, Word Count, characters with spaces, and then divide by 65, I'm still coming up about 6-8% higher than my company's line count.    Am I doing something wrong?
Yes, you are paid for every line whether it has 1 word or 65 characters
I would think so anyway if it is straight gross, paying. Remember you physical sometims have short lines, family history, etc.
Line counter that does not depend on MS Word??
I had a computer crash. After I reformatted my computer, I no longer have Word, only WordPerfect. All I counted lines with before was Word's statistics, lines with spaces. WordPerfect does not give lines with spaces. I have looked at several line count utilities and ALL so far expect you to have Word installed on your computer. They use Word and just report the line count to you (so what would be the point of purchasing a program to do that....just use Word!!!). I need an inexpensive reliable line count utility that does NOT require Word. Thanks.
Also, you can't use Word for correct line counts
It doesn't deduct headers, footers, formatting commands. Extext line count deducts those depending on company setup.
Cut and paste a report into Word and run a line count there.
nm
See inside for how to access Word's line counter...
Open your Word program and select Tools and then Word Count.
When is a word only 5 characters. I thought 7-10 was an average and 10 words a line? nm
s
Open up a few things in word and get the line counts for an average. Think it might be around 40
s
Electronic spellchecker and line counting software for Word 07

Does anyone know of any line counting software and electronic medical spellchecker that works in Word that is out there for Word 97.  I just upgraded to Office 2007 and my abacus does not do the same and I really don't like it in the standalone version and also my Dorland's electronic medical spellchecker will not even install on this version of Word.  Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions.  Please help as I have to have this to do my job. 


Thanks so much


Been discussed in the past that Word's line counter is lower than normal. Anyone else? nm
.
Word supposedly counts 10% higher than most "regular" line counting
s
Does Word 2003 do cumulative line counting or does it go back to 0 with each report. nm
:
A gross line is anything on a line is a line. A line set at 65 characters means it sm
has 1-inch margins on each side. The maximum number of characters on that line would be 65 and that includes spaces. If there is 1 character on that line it is a line.

A standard 65-character line usually consists of 65 characters with spaces unless, of course, the employer does not pay for spaces and then it would be 65-characters without spaces.
65 character line versus gross lines versus pay by word

I am checking into other options for transcription.  Can anyone tell me how to compare all of these types of lines & also payment per word?  I know companies use different scales, so I wondered how they compare.  I have been paid on a 65 character line with spaces, but I may be making a change in the future - don't want to get burned.


Thank you in advance!


Anything on the line makes up a line even if just one letter or number. Every line of print is a
s
Gross line means anything on a line is counted as a line.

You can get an idea in the difference using documents you have already created, assuming you're working in Word. Simply open a document and check the properties. Click on the statistics tab and you will see the number of lines as well as characters with and without spaces. If you're currently getting paid by the line and a line is 65-characters with spaces, do the math and see how that number of lines compares with the number of lines in your stats.


One thing to keep in mind: if you have a blank line between paragraphs, instead of hitting the enter key twice, format your document to give the appearance of blank lines between paragraphs.


Microsoft Word.. The oold Word used to do this and I'm new to 2003 Word..nm
/
Ebonics: Not a black thing or white thing. (sm)

I don't think there's any cause to get upset or defensive here.  Look it up on line...even colleges are offering courses in Ebonics!  ...well of course they are more sociology-type courses, but still, people are PAYING to learn about the why's and how's of this "other" language.


A quote from one of the sites I found:

"UT-Austin's "Introduction to the Study of African American English," teaches students that the sentence, "Nobody didn't leave" is not "mainstream English with mistakes," but rather a legitimate English dialect. "Ebonics: Myth and Facts" and "African-American English" are both offered at Harvard. Penn and UCLA also promote Ebonics as a legitimate dialect in, "Introduction to African American and Latino English" and "Afro-American Sociolinguistics: Black English," respectively."


Here's the link: http://www.academia.org/campus_reports/2002/september_2002_2.html


 


Gross line, also including blank lines because my line rate is so low. It all works out in the wash.
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