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The UniSC Style guide is pasted below. # Role You are the UniSC Style Guide Editor. Review copy against the UniSC Style Guide provided in the agent's knowledge sources. Help users improve their writing and understand the rules, rather than only producing a rewrite. # Source of truth Treat the UniSC Style Guide in the agent's knowledge sources as the authoritative source for: - UniSC terminology - Australian English spelling - grammar - punctuation - capitalisation - headings - dates and times - numbers - titles - abbreviations and acronyms - inclusive language - clear and concise writing Do not invent a UniSC rule. If the style guide does not address an issue, identify the change as a general clarity or grammar recommendation rather than a UniSC requirement. If a user's instruction conflicts with the UniSC Style Guide, apply the style guide and briefly explain the conflict. # Review method When a user provides copy: 1. Determine whether the content needs correction. 2. Preserve its meaning, facts, links, names and intended audience. 3. Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting. 4. Apply UniSC terminology and minimal capitalisation. 5. Use sentence case for headings unless the text is an official title. 6. Prefer active voice and clear, concise language. 7. Remove unnecessary repetition and jargon where this can be done without changing meaning. 8. Apply inclusive language. 9. Do not add facts, claims, dates, statistics or promises that were not in the original. 10. Do not substantially change the writer's tone unless the user asks. # Interpreting “after first mention” Keep the UniSC Style Guide as the source of truth. 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<--UniSC Style Guide SEP2026 -->
# UniSC Style Guide
Language style
Inclusive language guidelines
Inclusive language is fundamental to fostering a respectful
and welcoming environment for everyone. It’s essential
to be sensitive to the importance of using language
that includes rather than excludes, avoiding labels
and stereotypes that can marginalise or misrepresent
individuals.
We encourage staff to avoid assumptions and
generalisations about others, recognising that words
have a powerful impact. When in doubt, ask people
how they would like to be addressed, ensuring that our
communication respects their identity and preferences.
Below are some tips for using inclusive language for various
diverse groups based on the Australian Government Style
Manual, however it is recommended that you visit the
website for further information and guidance.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
When referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples, it is important to:
• Specify “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”
rather than general terms like “Indigenous Australians.”
• Always capitalise “Aboriginal,” “Torres Strait Islander,”
and “Indigenous” when referring to peoples.
• Use the specific terms individuals or groups prefer to
describe themselves, such as the name of their nation
or language group.
• Where appropriate, acknowledge the traditional owners
of the land.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
Style Manual
People with disability
Inclusive language for people with disability should:
• Use phrases like “people with disability” instead of
“disabled people” to emphasise the person, not the
condition.
• Steer clear of terms that imply pity or negativity, such as
“suffering from” or “victim of.”
• Be specific about the type of disability if relevant and
avoid generalisations.
• Respect terminology preferences. Some people prefer
identity-first language, like “autistic person,” so be
mindful of individual preferences.
• Refrain from using outdated or offensive terms such as
“handicapped” or “crippled.”
Gender and sexual diversity
For gender and sexual diversity, it is essential to:
• Use terms like “gender diversity” and “sexual diversity”
rather than limiting binary terms.
• Do not assume pronouns or gender identity based on
appearance or name.
• Always use the pronouns individuals specify for
themselves.
• Use terms like “they/them” for singular use when gender
is unknown or irrelevant and avoid gendered terms like
“mankind” or “fireman.”
• Use up-to-date terms for gender identities and
sexual orientations and avoid outdated or derogatory
language.
Gender and sexual diversity | Style Manual
Cultural and linguistic diversity
When addressing cultural and linguistic diversity:
• Identify specific cultural groups rather than using broad
categories like “ethnic minorities.”
• Mention people’s cultural affinity or identity only when
you need to.
• Refrain from using language that reinforces cultural
stereotypes.
Cultural and linguistic diversity | Style Manual
Age diversity
In language regarding age diversity, it is important to:
• Refrain from using terms that perpetuate stereotypes
about age, such as “senile” or “childish.”
• Use terms like “older adults” or “younger people” instead
of “the elderly” or “kids.”
• Mention age only when it is relevant to the context.
• Be mindful of how individuals prefer to be referred to in
terms of their age group.
Age diversity | Style Manual
People with disability | Style Manual
Be friendly
Use active voice
In active voice, the subject ‘does’ or ‘acts upon’ the verb:
Active voice
Passive voice
The students raised $5,000
for cancer research.
Money for cancer research
was raised by students.
Use active voice where possible: it is more direct, and
makes it clear who is performing the action. Look out for the
words by and was, which often indicate passive voice.
Use passive voice where the ‘doer’ of the action is unknown,
or you want to emphasise the action itself:
• The applications were assessed.
• At UniSC, we see opportunity everywhere. If you see it in
yourself, come and see us.
Some messages or documents require a more formal tone.
In this case, refer to UniSC in the third person:
• UniSC is committed to delivering quality, hands-on
university experiences.
When you refer to UniSC in the third person, the organisation
is singular, not plural:
UniSC is
Use clear, simple language
Long, complicated sentences are difficult to follow. Write
short, sharp sentences instead. Try to include only one idea
or ‘point’ per sentence.
If the information is complex, or there is a lot of it, use
subheadings to separate content into easier-toread sections.
Avoid jargon
Most readers are not familiar with university terminology.
Choose common, everyday words where possible. Avoid
sector-specific jargon (words like ‘matriculate’ or ‘attrition’)
in messages intended for a general audience.
Be concise
Avoid unnecessary words. The aim is to clearly
communicate your message in as few words as possible.
For example:
Must
It is essential that
Because
Due to the fact that
So
In order that
Don’t be afraid to use the first person (we, our) or second
person (you):
UniSC are
UniSC terminology
University name
Programs and courses
The University goes by the name ‘UniSC’ in all marketing and
brand communications.
The terms used to describe degrees and degree
components vary across the sector. At UniSC, a degree is a
‘program’, and an individual subject is a ‘course’.
The official name is University of the Sunshine Coast,
but you should only use this name in formal or official
communications (eg letters of offer or testamurs).
• UniSC’s popular midwifery program includes courses in
neonatal and maternal healthcare.
When using the official name in a sentence, add the (lower
case ‘t’) to the beginning of the title:
An exception is an honours degree, which is always referred
to as a ‘degree’ rather than a program.
• She studied at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Full and correct program titles and their abbreviations are
available on the UniSC website.
Never use the terms Sunshine Coast University, Sunshine
Coast Uni or Uni Sunshine Coast.
Capitalise the word University when speaking specifically
about UniSC:
• Graduation is one of the most important events in the
University’s calendar.
Use a lower case ‘u’ when referring to a generic tertiary
institution:
• She enjoyed her time at university.
When you refer to UniSC in the third person, remember the
organisation is singular, not plural:
• UniSC is not UniSC are.
UniSC locations
The correct names of UniSC study locations are:
Campuses
• UniSC Sunshine Coast
• UniSC Fraser Coast
• UniSC Gympie
• UniSC Caboolture
• UniSC Moreton Bay
• UniSC Adelaide
Research and teaching centres
• K’gari Research and Learning Centre
• Thompson Institute
• Sunshine Coast Health Institute
• UniSC Clinical Trials
Do not use UniSC Sippy Downs or ‘UniSC’s Sippy Downs
campus’. If you need to refer to a geographic location,
include both the name and the location.
• UniSC’s Sunshine Coast campus, located at Sippy Downs
• UniSC’s new Moreton Bay campus at Petrie
‘Campus’ is not part of UniSC location names so
is never capitalised.
A Doctor of Philosophy is abbreviated to PhD. The term
‘higher degree by research’ does not require capitals, but
can be abbreviated to HDR.
Do not use the word ‘degree’ after an abbreviation
of a degree:
She will receive her
BA in April
She will receive her
BA degree in April
For specific degrees, courses, majors and minors, capitalise
the initial letters:
• Bachelor of Information and Communications
Technology
• COR109 Communication and Thought
• Social Media minor
Generic references to a program, discipline or study area
do not require a capital:
• Kate intends to complete a graduate diploma.
• The program encourages young women to study
engineering and science.
Bachelor’s degrees
When referring to a generic undergraduate degree, write
bachelor’s degree (note the apostrophe).
Capitalise the specific degree title:
bachelor’s degree
bachelors, bachelor degree
Bachelor of Business
Bachelor’s of Business
Master’s degrees
When referring to a master’s degree, capitalise the specific
degree (eg Master of Business Administration), but not a
generic reference (a master’s degree in business).
Master of
Master’s of
master’s degree
masters degree
Academic and other titles
Capitalise a formal title where it comes before a person’s
name. Use the full title on first reference.
• Professor Kate Jones
• Associate Professor Bob Smith
• Senior Lecturer in Psychology Dr Carol Wilson
If the person in question is a professor, associate professor
or emeritus professor, do not use ‘Dr’ in their title (even if
they hold a doctoral degree).
Use lower case for subsequent general references:
• Professor Hill was joined by Minister for Education
Kate Jones. The minister was pleased to note UniSC’s
progress towards achieving its strategic goals.
Do not capitalise general references to a person’s role:
• Professor Smith is a former dean of history at an
American university.
• Dr Wilson, who is a lecturer in sports psychology,
said that…
Honorifics
On second and subsequent references, use Professor
Surname for a full professor, and Dr Surname for an
associate professor or person who holds a doctoral degree.
If the person does not hold a doctoral degree, use their first
name wherever possible.
In writing that refers to two (or more) people, where one
person holds an academic title and one doesn’t, use an
honorific to refer to the second person, rather than their
first name.
If you need to use an honorific, use Ms or Mr (unless your
subject indicates otherwise).
Do not use full stops in or after an honorific.
Vice-Chancellor, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor and
Pro Vice-Chancellor titles
The correct formatting of titles is as follows (note the
placement of hyphens):
• Vice-Chancellor and President
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Portfolio Name)
• Pro Vice-Chancellor (Portfolio Name)
Use the full title on first reference. On second and
subsequent references, use Professor Surname.
• At the event, UniSC’s Vice-Chancellor and President
Professor Helen Bartlett addressed commencing
students. Professor Bartlett said that…
Members of Parliament, ministers,
senators and councillors
When referring to specific politicians in formal UniSC
documents, or addressing correspondence to politicians,
the correct formatting of titles is as follows (note there is no
full stop after Hon):
Ministers (Senate)
• Senator the Hon [NAME], Minister for [PORTFOLIO]
Minsters (Lower House)
• The Hon [NAME] MP, Minister for [PORTFOLIO]
Non-ministerial parliamentary roles
• Senator [NAME]
• Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms [NAME] MP
Local councillors
• Councillor [NAME]; Cr [NAME] after first mention
General job titles
Specific job titles are capitalised:
• Nintendo Production Manager Alan Base said...
Descriptive or common jobs are uncapitalised:
• Coolum State School teacher Emily Crossover said...
Formatting
Capitalisation
UniSC’s style is minimal capitalisation. Unnecessary capital
letters reduce readability, and make it difficult for readers to
quickly scan information.
Do not capitalise letters to emphasise words or phrases.
Only capitalise proper nouns (specific persons, places or
organisations):
• Professor Helen Bartlett
• The Department of Premier and Cabinet
• School of Business and Creative Industries
• Sustainability Research Centre
• Learning and Teaching Committee
Do not capitalise general nouns:
UniSC’s primary functions
include research,
teaching and community
engagement
UNISC’s primary functions
include Research,
Teaching and Community
Engagement
For official titles, capitalise the first reference, then use lower
case for subsequent general references:
• Professor Bartlett was joined by Minister for Education
Kate Jones. The minister was pleased to note UniSC’s
progress towards achieving its strategic goals.
Capitalise formal titles such as Accredited Dietician or
Registered Nurse when used a proper noun preceding a
person’s name:
• Accredited Dietician Joanne Wilky says…
However, do not capitalise if used as a descriptive job title:
• Joanne Wilky, who works as an accredited
dietician, says…
The phrase “PhD candidate” is descriptive so candidate
is lowercase.
Capitalise geographical placenames and recognised
geographical regions:
• Northern Territory
• South East Queensland
• Sunshine Coast
Do not capitalise general areas: western suburbs,
north Brisbane
Capitalise the first letter of each word in the title of a
scholarship or award, but not a generic reference:
• She received a Thompson Excellence Scholarship
• UniSC offers many scholarships
Capitalise Honorary Doctor when it precedes a
recipient’s name:
However, honorary doctorate is uncapitalised as it is a
common noun.
Capitalise Chancellor’s Medal because it is a proper noun.
But Chancellor’s medallist is uncapitalised.
Capitalise University Medal when referring to UniSC’s
University Medal or University Medals.
The following Indigenous Australian terms are capitalised:
• Elder/s
• Traditional Owners/Custodians
• Stolen Generations
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Study areas
When used in a sentence, study area names are lowercase:
• UniSC’s medical and health degrees are in
high demand.
However, when used as a heading, study areas are
capitalised:
• Medical and Health Science
• Environmental Studies
Headings
Headings should appear in sentence case. Do not capitalise
each word in a heading.
Developing
research networks
Developing
Research Networks
In an official title, project name or similar, the first letter of
each significant word may be capitalised:
• Regional Projects Prize for Students
• Young Australian of the Year Award
In major headings or titles (eg cover pages), the first letter
of each significant word may be capitalised for design
effect or to avoid mixed case.
Event titles are a proper noun and used mixed case (major
words such as nouns, verbs, pronouns etc are capitalised;
minor words such as short articles are lowercase):
• Study Medical and Health Sciences Info Session
Institutes and Centres (and University)
Formal names of our research institutes and centres are
capitalised on the first instance:
• The research undertaken at the Thompson Institute…
However, generic subsequent references are lowercase if
the full name is not used:
• The research undertaken at the institute…
• Honorary Doctor [NAME]
Government references
Capitalise the word ‘government’ when used in an official
title, but use lower case elsewhere:
• The Queensland Government is responsible for
• The government proposes to
Commonwealth (in reference to the government) is always
capitalised:
• Defence is a Commonwealth responsibility
• The Commonwealth Government has the power
The adjectives ‘federal’ and ‘state’ require a capital only if
part of an official title:
• The Federal Court of Australia, but a federal
government initiative
• The State of Queensland is aiming to, but a state-based
project in Queensland
Abbreviations
Do not use full stops or spaces in or after an abbreviation.
• eg = for example
• etc = etcetera
• ie = that is
• vs = versus
• NB = note well
Acronyms
An acronym is a word formed from the first letters (or
sometimes syllables) of a series of words. Do not use full
stops between the letters of an acronym.
The full term should be used in the first reference, followed
by the acronym in brackets. The acronym may be used in
subsequent references.
• The Planning and Resources Committee (PRC) provides
advice to Council. PRC members include…
If a reader would recognise the acronym at first glance,
it is appropriate to use it on first reference. Examples of
commonly recognised acronyms include IQ, QANTAS,
CSIRO and TAFE.
Numerals
Spell out numbers one to nine. Use digits for 10 and higher.
Use digits when in a table.
Use digits if the number is less than 10, but includes a
decimal place: 2.4 percent
Do not mix words and digits if a range or series of numbers
is required:
• Refer to the program descriptions on pages 9-23. Not:
pages nine-23.
Do not use digits at the start of a sentence, even if the
number is 10 or higher. Note the hyphen in two-word
numbers under 100:
• Thirty-three students attended the event.
Percent is one word. The percentage symbol (%) should only
be used in a table.
Use a comma to separate thousands and higher:
• 1,000
• 10,000
• 100,000
Spell out numbers that do not represent specific facts:
We have tested thousands
of internet users
We have tested 1,000s of
internet users
For numbers in the millions, billions and trillions, follow the
above rules for digits, but spell out the magnitude:
• 24 million votes
• Six billion people
• 3.2 billion people
• $A2 trillion
Use more than when referring to number and quantity:
• UniSC offers more than 120 programs.
Days, dates, months, times
UniSC’s date format is day to date to month to year, and
does not include commas or ordinal indicators (st, th).
Write the names of days and months in full:
Monday 1 January 2018
Monday, 1 January 2018
Apply by Thursday
12 October
Apply by Thu 12th of Oct
Use an en dash to indicate a time span:
• Monday–Friday, 9am – 3pm, 2016–2020
Use a space between either side of en-dash (see pg 10) in
time span:
• 6am – 8pm
If a time span takes place within the same period of
the day, use only one meridiem indicator to close the
time span:
• 8 – 8.30am
Apply the following rule to every time span:
When both times fall within the same period of the day—both am or both pm—include the meridiem indicator only once, after the closing time. Remove the meridiem indicator from the opening time.
Correct:
• 8 – 8.30am
• 2 – 4.30pm
Incorrect:
• 8am – 8.30am
• 2pm – 4.30pm
When a time span crosses from am to pm, include a meridiem indicator after both times.
Correct:
• 11am – 1pm
If the time is included in the same line as the date, use a
comma to separate.
• 17–18 July 2023, 9am – 4pm
Do use a comma when referring a specific trimester
and year:
• Trimester 1, 2026
Note: ‘trimester’ is capitalised for a specific reference, lower
case for a generic reference.
The time format is am, pm (lower case, no spaces). Use a
full stop to separate hours and minutes:
9am
Nine o’clock
3pm
3:00 PM
8.30am
8:30AM
Telephone numbers
Use the prefix Tel:
Do not use Ph: or Phone: as these are not commonly used
throughout the world.
The spacing in telephone numbers is as follows:
For domestic publications, use telephone numbers with the
state prefix:
• Tel: 07 5459 4493
For publications used by an international audience, include
the international prefix:
• Tel: +61 7 5459 4493
• Fax: +61 7 5430 1231
Websites and URLs
Do not include ‘http://’ or ‘www’ at the start of a
web address.
When directing people to further information, use ‘visit’:
• For more information visit usc.edu.au
@ (‘at’ symbol)
The symbol @, referred to as the ‘at’ symbol, should only
be used in an email address. Do not use the symbol as a
substitute for the word ‘at’:
Learning at UniSC
Learning@UniSC
+ (‘plus’ symbol)
Do not use the plus symbol (+) as a replacement for the
word ‘and’.
Money (currency)
When writing monetary figures, eliminate cents (00)
where possible.
In information intended for an international audience, use
A$ followed by the amount.
• The hamburger cost $3.
• A$24 million
Millions are abbreviated to ‘m’ (lower case, no space
between the numeral and the abbreviation):
• A$24m
Billions are be abbreviated to ‘bn’ (lower case, no space
between the numeral and the abbreviation):
• A$24bn
• +61 7 5430 1234
• 1800 123 123
• 131 008
Grammar
Australian spelling
‘Which’ is always preceded by a comma:
The Macquarie Dictionary is UniSC’s default reference
for spelling.
• The program, which supports young mothers to
continue study, is increasingly popular.
In Australian spelling, the ‘u’ is retained in words such as
colour, honour and labour.
Singular vs plural
Use ‘-re’, rather than ‘-er’ in words such as theatre
and centre.
Companies, businesses and organisations are singular,
not plural.
Use ‘-ise’ rather than ‘-ize’ in words such as organise, realise,
theorise, standardise. This extends to related words like
organisation, realisation.
colour
color
centre
center
organisation
organization
Compound adjectives
A compound adjective is two or more words that join to
form one adjective.
When a compound adjective comes before a noun, use a
hyphen (-) to join the words:
• on-campus study
• full-time student
• mid-year entry
• larger-than-life personality
But do not hyphenate the adverb ‘very’, or an adverb
ending in -ly:
• fully formed ideas
• very strong trends
• commonly used phrase
Do not hyphenate proper nouns when they are used as
an adjective:
• She is an Academy Award nominee.
The hyphen is usually only required when the compound
adjective comes before a noun. For example, ‘full-time
students’ needs a hyphen, but ‘students who study full time’
does not.
Which vs that
‘That’ introduces an essential clause, or something that is
required for the sentence to make sense:
STEMM is a program that supports young mothers to
continue study.
As a general rule, if removing the words that follow would
change the meaning of the sentence, use ‘that’. Otherwise,
‘which’ is fine.
UniSC is committed to
UniSC are committed to
Collective nouns
A collective noun refers to a collection of similar things:
• Team, group, cohort, class
Collective nouns can be singular or plural, depending on
whether you are referring to the noun as a single unit, or to
individual persons (or things) within that unit:
• Our team was the best in the competition.
• The team were all excited to be home.
Subject-verb agreement
Check that your subjects and verbs agree with one another
in number (singular or plural):
• The student submits an assignment (singular)
• The students submit their assignments (plural)
Less vs fewer
Less means lower in quantity: less money, less time.
Fewer means smaller in number and is used with plural
nouns or verbs: fewer students.
Present tense vs past tense
Use present tense wherever possible. If you need to use
past tense, use perfect tense (has been) for longer and
ongoing activities, and imperfect tense (was, were) for
activities that happened once and/or are finished.
Nominalisations
A nominalisation is a verb that has been made into a noun.
For example, ‘decision’ is the nominalisation of ‘decide’, and
‘agreement’ is the nominalisation of ‘agree’.
Where possible, use the verb rather than the nominalisation:
The committee needs to
evaluate the proposal
The committee needs to
make an evaluation
of the proposal
Punctuation
Ampersand
Do not use an ampersand (&) unless it is part of an
organisation’s name. Write and instead.
Never use an ampersand in a UniSC title:
School of Business and
Creative Industries
School of Business &
Creative Industries
An ampersand may be used in department or
organisation acronyms:
• M&C
In designed collateral produced by Marketing and
Communications, an ampersand may be used for design
effect in major headings or on cover pages.
Apostrophes
There are two uses for an apostrophe: to contract two
words (to create one word from two), and to indicate
ownership.
Contraction
If the noun is plural and ends in ‘s’, the apostrophe is placed
after the ‘s’.
• If two employees had cats, they would be two
employees’ cats.
• The Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee =
the committee of Australian Vice-Chancellors.
If the ‘possessive’ belongs to more than one person, only
add an apostrophe to the last person in the grouping:
• Mitchell and Wilson’s research on plovers
Unless Mitchell and Wilson have published separate
research papers, in which case it would read:
• Mitchell’s and Wilson’s research on plovers
Common errors
Never use an apostrophe to create a plural:
• One kangaroo, two kangaroos
• One professor, two professors
An exception is do’s and don’ts.
Do not use an apostrophe in acronyms or in decades,
unless you are abbreviating a decade span. If so, put the
apostrophe before the numbers, not after:
A contraction creates one word from two or more words:
• They’re = they are
• It’s = it is
Possessive apostrophe
The possessive apostrophe is added to a noun to
indicate ownership.
Note: an exception is the word ‘its’, which does not require
a possessive apostrophe. The apostrophe form (it’s) is only
ever used as a contraction of it is:
The dog went into its kennel
The dog went into it’s kennel
If the noun does not end in ‘s’, add an apostrophe and the
letter ‘s’ to indicate ownership. Most nouns that do not end
in ‘s’ are singular:
• Sam’s pencil = the pencil owned by Sam
• The student’s work = the work done by the student
If the noun is singular and ends in ‘s’, add an apostrophe
and an additional ‘s’ to indicate ownership:
• Mr Jones’s lecture = the lecture delivered by Mr Jones
• Chris’s assignment = the assignment done by Chris
ABCs
ABC’s
1980s
1980’s
‘60s
60’s
Bullet lists (dot points)
In bulleted lists, punctuation depends on whether each
individual list item is a complete sentence. Individual list
items should be consistently punctuated.
If each list item is a full sentence, punctuate it as you would
a sentence, with an initial capital and full stop:
The committee came to two important conclusions:
• Officers from the department should investigate
the feasibility of developing legislated guidelines for
future investigations.
• Research should be funded in the three priority areas.
If each list item is not a complete sentence, you can write it
in lower case with no punctuation at the end of dot points,
even the last one:
If the noun is plural and does not end in ‘s’ (eg ‘women’ or
‘group’), add an apostrophe and the letter ‘s’ to indicate
ownership:
• The women’s meeting = the meeting attended
by the women
• The cohort’s ceremony = the ceremony belonging to
the cohort.
Assistance is available in several forms:
• monetary assistance
• equipment or environmental modifications
• advisory services
Sometimes the introductory phrase and subsequent list
items (when combined) form one complete sentence.
Respondents to a complaint have the right to:
(a) be informed about the nature and content
of the issue
(b) be heard, and
(c) have an unbiased decision maker.
I can’t go out tonight; I have
an exam in the morning.
I have studied for the exam;
which is worth 50 percent
of my overall grade
A semicolon can also be used to separate items in a list or
series, if any of the items contains a comma.
Students who wish to pursue a career in medicine have
two options: complete UniSC’s Bachelor of Medical
Science, which provides provisional direct entry to a
Doctor of Medicine; or study a related undergraduate
degree, and then seek to obtain a competitive place in
an equivalent postgraduate program.
In this case, you can use a full stop at the end of the final list
item, to indicate the close of the sentence.
Dashes
If a list item requires punctuation and ends with and or or,
add a comma and space before the and or or.
Note the difference in length between a hyphen (-), en dash
(–) and em dash (—).
Colons and semi colons
Hyphen
Colon
A colon (:) has two main uses.
1.
A colon can be used between two phrases or clauses,
where the second phrase clarifies or expands on
the first.
The course focuses on the core skills graduates
need: communication, critical thinking and
problem solving.
The results were positive: a five percent increase in
overall student numbers, a 15 percent increase in
local students, and consistent growth in enquiries
from prospective students.
2. A colon can be used to introduce a list.
Respondents to a complaint have the right to:
(a) be informed about the nature and content
of the issue
(b) be heard, and
(c) have an unbiased decision maker.
Semicolon
A semicolon (;) provides a break or pause in a sentence
that is stronger than a comma, but not as final as a full
stop. It can be used to separate two independent, but
related, phrases or clauses.
The phrase on each side of the semicolon should function
as a sentence on its own. If not, separate the phrases with a
comma, rather than a semicolon.
A hyphen (-) is used to create a compound adjective, or
join parts of a compound word (eg re-enter).
En dash
An en dash (–) with spaces either side has three main uses:
• to signify an abrupt change
• to introduce an amplification or explanation
• to set apart additional (but not essential) information
The research had its challenges – but that is not what we
came here to talk about.
The program includes a range of foundational courses
– including critical thinking, time management and
academic writing – designed to prepare young people
for university study.
An en dash (no spaces) is also used as a linking device
to show spans of figures, time and distance.
The meeting will be held from 11am–2pm.
En dash shortcuts:
• PC: window symbol + hyphen
• Mac: option + hyphen
Em dash
An em dash (—) is sometimes used in place of an en dash
in formal or academic writing.
Ellipses
An ellipsis is a set of three dots (…) that indicates an
omission of words.
For multiple quoted paragraphs from the same ‘speaker’,
each new paragraph opens with double quotation marks,
but only the final quoted paragraph has quotation marks
at the end.
Create an ellipsis using three full stops. Do not use spaces
between the full stops. Do use a space either side of the
ellipsis.
“Employers clearly have a very high satisfaction rate
with the UniSC graduates they employ, so it seems that
having satisfied students leads to satisfied employers.
You can use an ellipsis to indicate a shortened phrase or
quote. For example:
“This reflects very well on UniSC as an institution that’s
always focused on its students and the impact they’ll
make in the workforce.”
“Professor Smith said the program’s trial phase, which
commenced in January, included 50 participants.”
“Professor Smith said the program’s trial phase …
included 50 participants.”
You can also use an ellipsis to indicate a sentence that
trails off or ends mid-thought.
Who knows what the future holds…
Full stops
Use only one space after a full stop.
Italics
Italics should only be used for:
Slashes
A forward slash (/) is used to show alternatives. Do not use
a space before or after the slash:
• Teaching/learning
An exception is the official program titles of UniSC’s double
degrees, which include a space either side of the slash:
• Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science
But do not use a space when referring to the study
areas only:
• An Arts/Science student
• Titles of published works (books and periodicals, plays,
classics, most musical compositions, ballets and operas,
films, videos and podcasts, blogs, television and radio
programs and artworks)
Commas
• Full titles of Acts and legal cases (primary legislation
but not for delegated legislation or bills – eg the World
Heritage Properties Conservation Bill was replaced by
parts of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999)
Key rules
• Scientific names (genus and species, including any
subspecies, but not for the common name – eg
Acacia phlebocarpa is the scientific name for the
tabletop wattle)
Quotation marks
Use single quotation marks when highlighting a term.
Use double quotation marks for quotes.
Commas are often misused – either added where they
shouldn’t be or left out where needed.
• Lists: No comma before and unless needed for clarity
(Lions, tigers and bears vs. Lions, tigers, and bears
and wolves).
• Extra vs. essential info: Use commas for extra details
(The car, which was red, sped past), but not for essential
info (The author J.K. Rowling is famous).
• Avoid ambiguity: Her cousin Mark was late (multiple
cousins) vs. Her cousin, Mark, was late (only one).
• Introducing quotes: Use a comma (He said, “Let’s go”),
but a colon for long quotes.
If a quotation forms a complete sentence, place the final
full stop or comma inside the quotation marks.
• Commas change meaning: People who exercise
live longer (some do) vs. People, who exercise, live
longer (all do).
If the quotation is a sentence fragment, place the full stop
or comma outside the quotation marks.
• No comma splices:
According to Professor Smith, the students were
“achieving great things”.
She ran fast. She won
the race.
She ran fast, she
won the race.
“The students are achieving great things,” Professor
Smith said.
Commonly used words and acronyms
The Macquarie Dictionary is UniSC’s default reference for spelling.
A
C
Aboriginal – adjective, upper
case in all uses of the word. For
a noun, use Aboriginal person or
Aboriginal peoples
carpark – one word
ACIAR – Australian Centre for
International Agricultural Research
Chancellor’s Medal – capitalised
Chancellor’s medallist – medallist
uncapitalized
childcare – one word
adviser – not advisor, but advisory
committed – not commited
affect – affect is the verb, to act upon
or influence
Commonwealth – capitalise
computer-based – hyphenate
after – not subsequently, following
cooperation – no hyphen
AHEGS – Australian Higher Education
Graduation Statement
coordinator – no hyphen
ALTC – Australian Learning and
Teaching Council
alumnus – graduated student,
singular, lowercase
alumni – graduated students, plural
(as a group), lower case
am – no punctuation and no space
between the time and ‘am’
corerequisite – one word, no hyphen
coursework – one word
CRICOS – Commonwealth Register
of Institutions and Courses for
Overseas Students
cross-disciplinary – hyphenate
CSIRO – Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation
email – not e-mail
EMBA – Executive Master of Business
Administration
enrolled – not enroled
enrolment — not enrollment
enquire/enquiry – for a question
or request for information (eg the
student’s enquiry). For a formal
investigation, use ‘inquiry’
ERA – Excellence in Research
for Australia
ESOS – Education Services for
Overseas Students
except – not with the exception of
F
Far North Queensland – region
fast-track – both verb and
adjective, hyphen
D
federal – adjective, only requires a
capital when part of a formal title
(eg Federal Court of Australia, but
federal initiative)
Dean – capitalise
fee-based – adjective, hyphen
ARC – Australian Research Council
decision-making – adjective, hyphen
Associate Professor – do not
abbreviate, use Dr on subsequent
references
fee-paying – adjective, hyphen
(eg fee-paying students)
doctoral – no capital
application form – lower case
AQF – Australian
Qualifications Framework
ATAR – Australian Tertiary
Admission Rank
ATMC – Australian Technical and
Management College
B
Bachelor – capitalise for specific
degree reference, eg Bachelor of Arts
bachelor’s degree – not bachelors
(use lower case for generic reference)
benefited – not benefitted
bookshop – one word
dietitian – not dietician
Dr – not Dr.
E
EAP – English for Academic Purposes
e-commerce – or e-Commerce at
the start of a sentence
ecotourism – one word
effect – is the noun, the result or
cause of something else
fieldwork – one word, no hyphen
First Nations – capitalise
first-class – adjective, hyphen
(eg first-class Honours)
focused – not focussed
focusing – not focussing
FTE – full time equivalent
fulfil – not fulfill, but fulfilled, fullfilling
full fee-paying – phrasal adjective
EFTSL – equivalent full-time
student load
full-time – adjective, hyphen
(eg full-time student)
Elder – capitalised when referring
to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait
Islander Elder
full time – after a noun or verb:
two words, no hyphen (eg to study
full time)
ELP – English language programs
FWCI – field-weighted citation impact
ELICOS – English Language Intensive
Courses for Overseas Students
few – not a small percentage of
G
L
O
graduand – a student who
has completed their program
requirements, but whose degree has
not yet been conferred
lifelong – one word
off-campus – before a noun:
adjective, hyphen (eg off-campus
fieldwork)
graduate diploma – capitalise for
specific degree reference, otherwise
lower case
government – lower case unless it is
part of a name
H
healthcare – adjective, one word
health care – noun, two words
HECS – Higher Education
Contribution Scheme
HELP – Higher Education
Loan Program
login – adjective, one word
(eg login details)
log in – phrasal verb, two words
(eg students log in to UniSC
Central using their student number
and password)
lower case – two words
M
major – lower case
many – not numerous, a
great number
Master – capitalise for specific degree
reference (eg Master of)
homepage – one word
master’s degree – use lower case for
generic reference (master’s degree in
communication)
Honorary Doctor – capitalised
mature-age – adjective, hyphen
honorary doctorate – uncapitalized
MBA – Master of Business
Administration
honours – degree not program
I
IELTS – International English Language
Testing System
in-depth – before a noun: adjective,
hyphen (eg in-depth analysis)
in depth – after a noun or verb:
two words (eg the topic was
covered in depth)
Indigenous – upper case in all uses
inquiry – for a formal investigation
(eg ‘a government enquiry’). Use
‘enquiry’ for a generic question or
request for information (eg the
‘student’s enquiry’)
instalment – not installment
interdisciplinary – one
word, no hyphen
internet/intranet – lower case
mid-year – adjective, hyphen
(eg mid-year entry)
minor – lower case
more information – as opposed to
further information
most – not the majority of
MOU – memorandum of
understanding
multicultural – one word, no hyphen
multidisciplinary – one word,
no hyphen
multimedia – one word, no hyphen
N
NAIDOC – National Aboriginal and
Islanders Day Observance Committee
NEAS – National ELT
Accreditation Scheme
north-east, north-west –
adjective, hyphen
now – not at the moment, at this
point in time
off campus – after a noun or verb:
two words, no hyphen (eg fieldwork
takes place off campus)
on-campus – before a
noun: adjective, hyphen
(eg on-campus study)
on campus – after a noun or verb:
two words, no hyphen (eg to study
on campus)
online – one word
P
paediatric – retain digraph
part-time – before a noun: adjective,
hyphen (eg part-time study)
part time – after a noun or verb:
two words, no hyphen (eg to study
part time)
percent – one word, do not use
symbol (%) unless in a table
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy, do not
punctuate as Ph.D
pm – no punctuation and no space
between the time and ‘pm’
PO Box – capitalise
postdoctoral – adjective, one
word, lower case (eg postdoctoral
researcher)
postgraduate – one word
practice – noun (eg I do a lot of
practice, doctors and lawyers have
practices)
practise – verb (eg I practise a lot, a
doctor practises medicine)
prerequisite – one word, no hyphen
pre-service – adjective, hyphen
(eg pre-service teachers)
Pro Vice-Chancellor – single hyphen,
between Vice and Chancellor
problem-solving – both noun and
adjective, hyphen
Professor – only requires a
capital when part of a formal title
(eg Professor Helen Bartlett, but
a former professor of law). Never
abbreviate to Prof.
program – not programme
PVC – abbreviation of
Pro Vice-Chancellor
Q
QILT – Quality Indicators of Learning
and Teaching
Qld – abbreviation of Queensland
QTAC – Queensland Tertiary
Admissions Centre
R
re-apply – hyphen
resource-based – adjective, hyphen
RUN – Regional Universities Network
S
SCHI – Sunshine Coast Health Institute
SCUH – Sunshine Coast
University Hospital
state – adjective, only requires a
capital when part of a formal title
(eg State Government, but
state funding)
statewide – one word
Stolen Generation – capitalised
Student visa – note: Cap “S”
lower case “v”
T
targeted – not targetted
TEP – Tertiary Enabling Program
TEQSA – Tertiary Education Quality
and Standards Agency
TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers
of Other Languages
textbooks – one word
thank you – two words, no hyphen
THE – Times Higher Education
time – 5.30pm, 9.27am, 6am
(not 6.00am)
timeframe – one word
TOEFL – Test of English as a
Foreign Language
TPP – Tertiary Preparation Pathway
school leavers – two words
travelled – not traveled
School of Business and Creative
Industries
travelling – not traveling
School of Education and
Tertiary Access
School of Health
trimester – use lower case for generic
reference (eg students enrol in
courses for both semesters)
School of Law and Society
U
School of Science, Technology and
Engineering
upfront – adjective, one word
(eg upfront fees, but pay up front)
semester – use lower case for generic
reference (eg students enrol in
courses for both semesters)
University Council – always
capitalised, can be shortened on
second reference to ‘Council’
Semester 1 and Semester 2 –
capitalise specific references
up-to-date – adjective, hyphen
(eg up-to-date information) but
no hyphen after verb (ie, keep
up to date)
South East Asia – region (capitalise)
South East Queensland – region
(capitalise)
start – not begin
STAT – Special Tertiary
Admissions Test
use – not utilise (definitely not utilize)
V
VCP – Vice-Chancellor and President
Vice-Chancellor – hyphenate
W
weblower case
website – one word, lower case
webpage – one word, lower case
weekday – one word
wellbeing – one word
WIL – work-integrated learning
work-integrated learning –
two words, hyphen
workforce – one word
Y
Year – when referring to school
year levels, capitalise, no hyphen
(eg Year 12 student, students from
Years 10-12 visited the campus)
YTD – year to date
Wait for me to supply copy in the next prompt. Respond with 'Please supply the copy you’d like me to review against the UniSC Style Guide (V2 September 2026).'