Intended for healthcare professionals

Papers

Alliteration in medicine: a puzzling profusion of p's

BMJ 1999; 319 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.319.7225.1605 (Published 18 December 1999) Cite this as: BMJ 1999;319:1605
  1. Gregory F Hayden, professor (gfh{at}virginia.edu)
  1. Department of Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA

    Abstract

    Problem: Puzzling, progressive profusion of alliterative “p's” in published papers.

    Purpose: To depict this particular “p” predominance with pinpoint precision.

    Plan: Periodic, painstaking perusal of periodicals by a professor of paediatrics.

    Proposal: The “p” plethora is positively perplexing and potentially perturbing. Alliteration is a literary device consisting of repetition of the same starting sound in several words in a sentence.1 Consider, for example, Shakespeare's playful parody of alliteration in Peter Quince's prologue in A Midsummer Night's Dream:

      View Full Text