A STAT News poll of its readers found that roughly 60% prefer the one-word spelling 'healthcare' over the two-word 'health care.' The survey, conducted via the publication's reader engagement channels, highlights a linguistic shift that has gained traction in recent years.
Style guides have long been divided on the matter. The Associated Press Stylebook, widely used in journalism, still recommends 'health care' as two words, while many medical and industry publications have adopted the closed form. The poll results reflect a growing colloquial preference, even as formal standards lag behind.
According to STAT, about 60% of participating readers voted for the single-word version. The exact number of respondents was not disclosed, nor are detailed demographic breakdowns available. The poll was informal and not peer-reviewed.
How organizations choose to spell the term can influence public perception and editorial consistency. For publications like STAT, which adhere to style guides, the reader preference may not immediately change internal policy but could spur further discussion.
A caveat: The poll is not statistically rigorous, and the 60% figure comes from a single, non-scientific survey. Different audiences or methodologies might yield different results.