The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
Royalty and representatives of the royal family should be addressed with their correct title.
Always use capitals for the title of the current Australian monarch.
The full title of the current monarch of Australia is ‘Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Australia and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth’.
Use the correct term when referring to ambassadors, high commissioners, nuncios and other diplomatic staff.
The title for diplomats depends on what they represent:
Use initial capitals when writing to ambassadors, high commissioners and nuncios.
Follow these rules to address and title academics and professionals correctly. The guidance focuses on academics, medical practitioners, dentists and veterinarians. Apply the rules when writing about individuals in other professions.
The academic and professional titles held by individuals usually have initial capitals. This includes honorary titles.
Use lower case if you use a title generically.
Refer to members of Australian parliaments and councils in the correct style. Follow these rules to address and title people correctly.
Capitalise the titles of the current holders of the positions of:
Do this even when the titles are abbreviated.
If referencing prime ministers or treasurers generically, use lower case.
Standard units of measurement support readability and accuracy. Express precise values for users by combining numerals with the correct unit symbol.
Australia uses the metric system for most quantities:
Decimals are useful when people need a precise value. Fractions are useful when an exact value is not important.
You can express a less-than-whole number as a decimal or as a fraction.
In text, write decimal values as numerals. Write fractions as words.
A mathematical relationship is the connection between sets of numbers or variables. In most content, the connection should be described in words. Only use symbols if there’s a user need. Code symbols correctly to ensure they are accessible.
In most content, explain mathematical relationships using words instead of symbols.
Many people will understand simple operations written with symbols (1 + 1 = 2). But other mathematical relationships are hard to understand unless they are written in words. Symbols might not be available in every font set and the default settings of screen readers might not read all symbols.
Phrases are groups of words that add meaning to a sentence. Write and punctuate them correctly to give people clear and useful information.
A phrase is a group of words that makes sense on its own but doesn’t contain a subject and a verb.
Phrases can only add meaning to a sentence. They can’t stand on their own.
Types of phrases include:
Clauses are building blocks: sentences can have one or more. When they’re well structured, clauses give people clear information.
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb.
A clause can be:
A main clause can usually stand alone as a sentence, but a subordinate clause can’t.
Every sentence has at least one main clause. The main clause is also known as:
Percentages help people compare things and understand proportions. Use numerals with the percentage sign. Be concise when you write about percentages.
Use the percentage sign next to a numeral in text. Don’t use a space between the number and the percentage sign.
15%
15 %
Use decimals rather than fractions with the percentage sign.
