Why a style guide? - University of Queensland

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Why a style guide? - University of Queensland

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Most style guides in Australia use the Macquarie Dictionary as the final word on ......giving in to those who have it in their minds to commit acts of terrorism on the ...

Why a style guide?
Each news organisation has its own style guide, and while many are similar they’re not identical. 
So if they’re similar why not have just one?  The reason is partly about ‘correct writing’ but 
it’s also about consistency and standards of editorial performance. What one news organisation 
thinks is important may not be valued by another. 
For example, some news organisations never use the word “actress”, but call both men and 
women in the acting profession actors. We acknowledge that while it is no longer common to 
distinguish acting professionals by gender, there are some limited occasions when the word 
“actress” is used, such as in the Academy Awards. So, our style, similar to that of News Limited, 
is that usually the word “actor” is the only noun we would use to refer to men or women in that 
occupation, but some occasions call for gender distinctions. The ABC doesn’t bother listing it, 
but in practice probably always uses “actor”. 
This example is a small illustration that different newsrooms have different approaches to style. 
The ABC’s Radio National guide is available to the public online http://style.radionational.net.
au/?apage=U . Check it out.
Consistent style also gives reporters a sense of being part of a professional team. If all reporters 
have a consistent approach to punctuation, word use, and grammar (where there is sometimes 
more than one right answer) the publication will give readers, viewers and listeners confidence 
they can trust your newsroom as authoritative in all aspects of communication: accurate in 
telling the news that matters, and providing reliable analysis and commentary – all within an 
accurate, succinct and lively style. There is no single definitive style guide. This guide is just 
another one. 
When you work in different newsrooms you will find different approaches, but each style guide 
is providing consistency for each newsroom.
Most style guides in Australia use the Macquarie Dictionary as the final word on language and 
spelling. Fowler’s A Dictionary of Modern English Useage is also a popular foundation. There 
are a number of useful works in the Reference section.

If you find errors or inconsistencies please contact us. Use the contact us button in latest
additions to help us keep this guide useful and up to date. Suggest words you notice are missing
but which may be usefully included. Tell us why.
Academic style
This Style Guide is intended for use by journalism and public relations majors. However
as university students you should also follow an accepted style of academic writing and
referencing. For this, go to the UQ Library website
www.library.uq.edu.au/services/referencing.html.
Click on Referencing Styles and scroll down to APA (American Psychological Association) UQ
Library “How To” Guide.

                   
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References
Fowler, H.W. (1965) A Dictionary of Modern English Useage, 2
nd
 ed, London: Oxford 
University Press.
Kahn, J.E. (ed) (1985) The Right Word at the Right Time, London: The Reader’s Digest 
Association. 
Murray-Smith, S. (1990) Right Words, Ringwood: Penguin.
McLeod, C. and K. Lockwood (eds) (2009) Style: the essential guide for journalists and 
professional writers, 4
th
 ed, Melbourne: News Custom Publishing.
Partridge, E. (1973) Usage and Abusage, rev. ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Truss, L (2003) Eats, Shoots and Leaves: the zero tolerance approach to punctuation, London: 
Profile Books.
Watson, D (2003) Death Sentence: the decay of public language, Sydney: Random House.
Watson, D (2004) Don Watson’s dictionary of weasel words: contemporary clichés, cant and 
management jargon, Sy

0

References

Fowler, H.W. (1965) A Dictionary of Modern English Useage, 2

nd

 ed, London: Oxford 

University Press.

Kahn, J.E. (ed) (1985) The Right Word at the Right Time, London: The Reader’s Digest 

Association. 

Murray-Smith, S. (1990) Right Words, Ringwood: Penguin.

McLeod, C. and K. Lockwood (eds) (2009) Style: the essential guide for journalists and 

professional writers, 4

th

 ed, Melbourne: News Custom Publishing.

Partridge, E. (1973) Usage and Abusage, rev. ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Truss, L (2003) Eats, Shoots and Leaves: the zero tolerance approach to punctuation, London: 

Profile Books.

Watson, D (2003) Death Sentence: the decay of public language, Sydney: Random House.

Watson, D (2004) Don Watson’s dictionary of weasel words: contemporary clichés, cant and 

management jargon, Sy

0

References

Fowler, H.W. (1965) A Dictionary of Modern English Useage, 2

nd

 ed, London: Oxford 

University Press.

Kahn, J.E. (ed) (1985) The Right Word at the Right Time, London: The Reader’s Digest 

Association. 

Murray-Smith, S. (1990) Right Words, Ringwood: Penguin.

McLeod, C. and K. Lockwood (eds) (2009) Style: the essential guide for journalists and 

professional writers, 4

th

 ed, Melbourne: News Custom Publishing.

Partridge, E. (1973) Usage and Abusage, rev. ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Truss, L (2003) Eats, Shoots and Leaves: the zero tolerance approach to punctuation, London: 

Profile Books.

Watson, D (2003) Death Sentence: the decay of public language, Sydney: Random House.

Watson, D (2004) Don Watson’s dictionary of weasel words: contemporary clichés, cant and 

management jargon, Sy