Using colons to express a ratio

   MT Reference Style Guide  >  Medical Transcription Grammar, Usage and Style  >  Punctuation  >  Colons and Semicolons  >  Using colons to express a ratio

When expressing a ratio, use a colon in place of the word to. Do not use a virgule, dash, hyphen or other mark. Use the colon only when the values are associated with the ratio.

Dictated: The odds for recovery are two to one.
Transcribed: The odds for recovery are 2:1.

Dictated: Mycoplasma one to two.
Transcribed: Mycoplasma 1:2.

Do not use a colon when the expression uses words or letters instead of values.

P-to-E ratio NOT P:E ratio
male-to-female ratio NOT male:female