University of Tasmania, Australia

'a' or 'an'

Common usage

Italics

Latin words and phrases

'that' or 'which'

'a' or 'an'

Before h, use ‘an’ if the h is silent (eg: an hour, an heir) and use ‘a’ if the h is not silent (eg:  a hero, a hotel, a historian).

Common usage

• amid, not amidst
• among, not amongst
• any more, not anymore (but anyhow, anyone, anything, anyway, anywhere)
• ‘compare to’ when comparing similarity, ‘compare with’ when comparing difference
• contrast to, not contrast from
• different from, not different to or different than (US)
  
• either ... or, not either … nor
• ‘enquire’ is asking for information, ‘inquire’ is investigating
• fewer refers to numbers, less refers to quantity, e.g. fewer than 40 staff, less than half of the class
• less than, not less then
• more than (when referring to number and quantity), not ‘over’
• neither ... nor, not neither … or
• partner, not spouse
• 'past' in present tense, 'passed' in past tense
• similar to, not similar with
• 'stationary’ is fixed or immobile, ‘stationery’ is pens and paper
• that or which
• while, not whilst

Also refer to Inclusive language.

Italics

Where possible avoid italics on websites as some users may have difficulty in reading italics on screens.

Newspapers

• the Mercury
• the Australian
• the Melbourne Age
• The Examiner

Also refer to Latin words and phrases.

Latin words and phrases

Phrases such as the following would typically be italicised:

• Modus operandi
• in situ
• ultra vires
• inter alia.

Some expressions, which are accepted as part of our English lexicon, do not require italics:

• de facto
• testamur
• vice versa
• Professor Emeritus
• an ad hoc committee confirmed the status quo.

'that' or 'which'

If a clause is definitive, use ‘that’. Use ‘which’ if a clause is descriptive. ‘Which’ is usually preceded by a comma:

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