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Word Notes Example
adviser Note the -er ending. The adviser recommended an option that would shorten his study time by several months.
aegrotat Note the 'e'. An aegrotat pass has no mark or grade awarded.
ageing Note the 'e'. Ageing is a an inevitable fact of life.
app Short for applications, particularly those used on mobile devices. Use lower case. Anyone can now use an iPhone to try their hand at surgery using the Bonedoc app.
Botanic Garden The well-known Dunedin garden is referred to as the Botanic Garden not botanical or Gardens. The Marsh Study Centre is located directly across the road from the Botanic Garden.
convener Note the -er ending. The convener said the next meeting would be the committee's final for the year.
data Use the correct form as required:
  • datum - singular
  • data - plural
All of the study participants gave permission for their personal data to be collected and then stored for up to six years.
driver's licence Note the -ce ending. You will need to present your driver's licence or similar government issued ID when requesting a new student ID card.
enrol / enrolment No double 'l'. However enrolled, and enrolling. To enrol at Otago you must complete the following process ...
focused No double 's'. The research focused exclusively on two dwellings, one led by a male primary earner, the other by a female primary earner.
foetus Note the 'o'. The Zika virus can be transmitted from mother to foetus.
fulfil / fulfilment

No double 'l'. However: fulfilled and fulfilling

He hoped to fulfil his life-long dream to become the first university graduate in his family.
gynaecology Note the 'a'. Gynaecology is the branch of physiology and medicine which deals with the functions and diseases specific to women and girls, especially those affecting the reproductive system.
hypothesis Use the correct form as required:
  • hypothesis - singular
  • hypotheses - plural
  • hypothesise - to form a hypothesis
After must time spent hypothesising about the origins of the phenomenon, she was disappointed to learn that the hypothesis she'd spent weeks investigating had already been disproven in a recent article.
internet Use lower case. Accessing the internet is a part of everyday life for many people in New Zealand.
judgement Note the 'e'. In the examiner's professional judgement, the students' responses were too similar to be a coincidence.
knowledgeable Note the 'e'. Otago academics were knowledgeable on a wide range of topics.
led This is the past tense of to lead. She led the team to victory one last time.
orthopaedic Note the 'a'. Orthopaedic surgery or orthopaedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system.
paediatrics Note the 'a'. Paediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents.
program (computer) Without -me ending. He would need to install the program on his laptop before proceeding.
programme (non-computer) Note the -me ending. The popular multi-disciplinary programme focuses on human behaviour and social phenomena.
signalling Note the double 'l'. By withdrawing from his teaching commitments, he was signalling his readiness for retirement.
targeted No double 't'. The researchers say that their finding suggests that at-risk mothers and children should be better targeted for Vitamin D supplementation.
TB The abbreviation for tuberculosis. Researchers such as Otago's Professor John Crump are at the forefront in the battle against TB.
while While is preferred to whilst. Mouth breathing while sleeping may increase tooth decay risk.

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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