Dear Sir

May I register a plea on behalf of all your British readers? To us, the sport of football is synonymous with soccer. To Americans, it refers to a completely different sport involving major collision. I'm not at all sure what it means to Antipodeans.

I read the otherwise excellent article by Davis et al on cervical canal stenosis in a "footballer" in your December 2009 issue with increasing irritation. It became clear that the authors were referring to the sport we British readers call "American football"- the precise term used correctly by Caine in your January 2010 editorial.

I know it is totally unrealistic to expect North American authors and journals to adopt clearer terminology, but I contend that the British Journal of Sports Medicine should be setting the gold standard as part of its editorial policy and house style.

Yours faithfully

Dr Richard Hardie Consultant Neurologist Frenchay Hospital BRISTOL BS16 1LE UK

Conflict of Interest:

None declared