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Only capitalise job titles (academic or otherwise) when used as someone's title. General references should not be capitalised. Avoid abbreviating academic titles; Assoc Prof and Prof are not acceptable, but Dr is. For correct usage, refer to the honorifics (titles) listing.

  • It was generally known that Professor Jane Redmond and Associate Professor Joe Bloggs would be the night's big winners.
  • Whether the professors realised it or not, the students were nervous about sharing their thoughts with the illustrious panel.
  • The Director of Resources took his place at the head of the table. The meeting began once the director and the other board members were seated.
  • John Raven was Co-Director of the Centre for World Bowling Expertise last year. He and his fellow co-directors met monthly to ensure they stayed abreast of international bowling developments.
  • Assoc Prof Erickson was the first to arrive for the afternoon session.
  • The Directors were the first to be notified when the alarm was sounded.

Academic and related titles at Otago

Associate Professor

Only capitalise when used as someone's title. If writing about associate professors generally, then do not capitalise. The abbreviations Assoc Prof and Ass Prof are never acceptable.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor

A single hyphen only, as follows: Deputy Vice-Chancellor. DVC is the accepted informal abbreviation, but should only be used in subsequent instances.

In full, the deputy vice-chancellors' titles are as follows:

  • Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
  • Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement)
  • Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise)
  • Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement) Professor Tony Ballantyne was delighted to welcome the visitors to Otago.
  • Professor Richard Blaikie, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), was positive the trend would not continue past the current calendar year.
  • Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Helen Nicholson had much to say on the topic.

Head of Department

Only capitalise when used as someone's title. If writing about heads of department generally, then do not capitalise. HOD is the accepted informal abbreviation, but should only be used in the subsequent instances.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor

Use two hyphens as shown above. PVC is the accepted informal abbreviation, but should only be used in subsequent instances.

Professor

Use professor of, not professor in. Never shorten to Prof.

  • Professor of Earthquake Science Mark Stirling
  • Joe Bloggs was everyone's favourite professor.
  • The results were a surprise says Professor James Bond.
  • When the boy grew up, he hoped to become a Professor, like his father.

Vice-Chancellor

Always hyphenated when written out in full in the first instance. The abbreviation is VC (note capital letters and no full stops) in subsequent instances.

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

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