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Writing Skills

Please remember that CLC staff give only generic advice to students. Any specific guidelines given by your Faculty, School or lecturer should be followed at all times.

Spelling

If you have any doubts about how to spell a word correctly, your first step should be to consult the Australian Oxford Dictionary or the Macquarie Dictionary.

The spellcheck on your computer is very useful for picking up spelling mistakes. Be aware, though, that a lot of software gives American spelling preferences which are sometimes different from standard Australian spelling. For example:

  • ise/ize endings in words like advertise, criticise.
    Australian spelling uses ise ending in words like this.
  • our/or endings in words like colour, honour.
    Australian spelling uses our endings in words like this.

Do not change the spelling of words in the titles of books or films or in the names of organisations.

The OWL web site at Purdue University offers information on general writing skills and grammar rules. Just be careful to note any American spelling.

RMIT's Learning Lab gives advice and information about writing for academic purposes.

Click on the following links for information regarding: