I love the plain language movement. If we could rid the earth of the word utilize I would be very happy. But this post is not really about plain language--it is about language that is simple but doesn't provide enough information. I am talking about the information doctors give you, or more specifically, the information provided with your prescription.

You see, I just ended a course of antibiotics. When the doctor called to tell me I would have to be taking antibiotics, she told me to take them with food, twice a day, and make sure to take them for all ten days. That's it.

When I picked up my prescription, the bottle said: "Take twice a day with food." My pharmacy (like most) gives a paper detailing more specifics, but these contradicted the instructions. The information said that taking the antibiotic with food reduces its effectiveness, and suggests you take it one hour before a meal or two hours after, and to take it with "plenty of water." The role of food is to stop the antibiotic from messing with your digestion.

So here are my questions:

What does it mean "to take with food?" Does it mean with a meal, with a cracker, while eating food or after eating?

When you say twice a day, should I space it out? By how many hours? Does it matter if it is morning and night?

When you say plenty of water,  does that mean a full glass of water? How many ounces exactly? Drink more after?

As you can tell, both the doctor's directions and certainly the pharmacy's instructions, were vague. You can be simple but yet be precise.