Specialty or speciality

[sarawilcox]

We had a query about this.

From what I can tell "speciality" is generally more common in British English but it looks like, in health, "specialty" is used.

The UK Medical Schools Council has a page on "specialties": https://www.medschools.ac.uk/studying-medicine/after-medical-school/specialties

And the GMC talks about "specialties" on its curricula page: https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/standards-guidance-and-curricula/curricula

[sarawilcox]

Also "specialty" on the BMA page about Doctors’ titles explained

[sarawilcox]

Some other comments on NHS.UK Slack channel:

• Oxford Style Manual specifically says "Speciality (US & Med. specialty)".

• And I'd think Google would recognise both as having the same meaning so it probably doesn't matter all that much in terms of the findability of content.

• Agree - doctors/hospitals talk about "specialty" and I've always used that spelling in a medical context. I've noticed that the spelling isn't consistent in the UK, however, even in health information.

[sarawilcox]

More references

(Thanks to Ray Newman.)

• “Speciality (US & Med. specialty)” – New Oxford Style Manual
• “Speciality (UK), specialty (US), though word used in UK as long ago as 1860 (OED)” – Guardian style guide on Twitter ​​
• “Specialty is acceptable in medical/scientific contexts – otherwise ‘speciality’ is preferable.” – BBC Style Guide ​
• “Specialty, not ‘speciality’, when referring to medical specialties” – Royal College of Surgeons style guide ​
• “Specialty. Not speciality when referring to a field of practice.” – Royal College of Nursing Style Guide (PDF only, 383KB)

Proposed text for style guide​

In a medical context we use "specialty". Doctors and hospitals have "specialties". ​

See also "specialist"

[sarawilcox]

At April Style Council meeting, we agreed that “specialty” is well established in medical settings and also that often you can get around using “specialty” by talking about someone who “specialises in” or “is a specialist in”.

Proposed text for style guide

In a medical context we use “specialty”. Doctors and hospitals have “specialties”.

You can generally avoid using “specialty” anyway. For example, we’re more likely to use the word "specialist” [link] or to talk about a health professional who “specialises in” something.

Needs clinical approval before we can publish.

[sarawilcox]

Approved by clinicians.