Link to something only if it helps meet the user’s need

Links (hyperlinks) are words or images that users can click to go to other content.

Links help people navigate digital services or products. But they can also reduce readability and increase cognitive load. For this reason, use them only when they support a user need.

Links are also important for search engine optimisation. Search engines use links to:

Shorten single words and grammatical phrases with care

Single-word contractions use the first and last letters of a word and sometimes other letters in between.

Choose acronyms and initialisms people will recognise

Acronyms comprise the initial letters (and sometimes syllables) of the words in a term and are pronounced as a word.

Initialisms comprise the initial letters (or sounds) of the words in a term and are pronounced as letters, not as a word.

Limit use of italics

Italics are sloping letters. Roman type is upright and the default font type.

Italic type makes text stand out from surrounding roman type. The contrast can help readers notice important words, identify differences and find those words again.

Limit the use of abbreviations

Abbreviations contain the first single letter or first few letters of a word. They don’t include the last letter of a word.

There is no single Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity

First Nations people are often called Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. But there is significant diversity within these 2 groups.

There is a wide range of nations, cultures and languages across mainland Australia and throughout the Torres Strait. Given this diversity, respectful language use depends on what different communities find appropriate.

Learn about the user before you design a form

Find out about users and their needs through user research. Understand the user and their needs before you design any kind of form (web-based or print).

People use forms to access a service and to meet government requirements.

Sometimes a user will need to fill in a form on behalf of another user. Or a public servant might use a form to record what the user tells them (for example, a statistical survey).

Cite electronic media correctly

Electronic media include film, television, radio and podcasts. When you write about electronic media you could also be referring to a script or a review.

Many of the general naming rules apply:

Cite musical compositions correctly

Musical compositions include:

• songs
• operas
• ballets
• dances
• chamber music
• soundtracks
• electronic music.

Information about musical compositions can include the:

Cite classics as book titles

Disciplines and sources define the term ‘classics’ in different ways. This guidance covers ancient Greek and Roman works (until the 5th century) and works from the medieval period (from the fall of the Roman empire until the middle of the 15th century).

In references and in-text citations, treat the titles of classics as you would other book titles.