Writing style A to Z, Writing Style Guide | University of Otago

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A

abbreviations and acronyms

B

between or among

British spelling

bullet points / lists

C

candidate/student

Clocktower Building

common misspellings

contact details

D

dashes/hyphens – -

degrees and diplomas

departments and subjects

E

events and holidays

F

G

greetings and signing off

H

headings/headlines

Health Sciences Admissions

Hercus D'Ath Lecture Theatre

honorifics (titles)

hyphenated or not?

I

IMU – Otago ambassadors

J

K

L

M

macrons - nga tohutō

medical schools

Māori words - kupu Māori

N

O

off-campus, on-campus

one word or two?

P

paper / paper codes

parentheses ( )

part-time, full-time

people and titles

Performance-Based Research Fund

postal addresses

Q

quotation marks " "

R

residential colleges

S

schools and faculties

Schools' Liaison Officer

secondary school

semester 1 / semester 2

split infinitives

St David Complex Lecture Theatre

Students' Association

T

they're/their/there

U

University Flats

University of Otago

University-related Māori translations

University/university

V

Visitors' Centre and Gift Shop

W

weights and measures

Y

About the Writing Style Guide

This guide is designed to help ensure writing style – whether for internal or external audiences, written for print or online – is consistent and maintains a professional standard across the University. It is not designed for academic writing.

Feedback

Please send any feedback – including reports of errors or requests for changes – to writing.style@otago.ac.nz