Styling your communications: Using the Australian Government Style Manual
By Lisa Ritchie, Communications Strategist and Founder of EngagingDev
Did you know the Australian Government has an official Style Manual?
My experience is that many people working on Australian aid programs have not heard of it. Yet it is one of the most useful resources available to communications professionals and wider program teams.
What is the Style Manual?
The Australian Government Style Manual is the official guide to government writing and publishing. It’s free, online and easy to access: stylemanual.gov.au.
It covers:
Grammar, punctuation and conventions.
Accessible and inclusive content.
Structuring content.
Referencing and attribution.
Content types.
And it’s not just about rules – it also provides writing tips on plain English, active voice, cutting jargon and structuring sentences for clarity.
How to use the Style Manual
When I work with programs to develop communications strategy, I often include an editorial style guide as an annex. I typically split these style guides into 3 sections:
Program terminology: Defines program-specific terms. For example, MEL, MERLA, MELA or other iterations of the monitoring and evaluation function.
Spelling: Sets rules for commonly used words (such as adviser not advisor, program not programme).
Style: Covers usage of stylistic conventions such as acronyms, numbers, bullet points, and the Oxford comma.
For Australian programs, the Style Manual is the reference point. For New Zealand, the guide is at digital.govt.nz, and other governments often have similar resources.
The Australian Government Style Manual is a resource all program team members can use to support clear written communications.
Why use the Style Manual?
The Style Manual is a quality resource, written by specialist editors, and it’s free and accessible with an internet connection.
Further benefits include:
Consistency: A shared standard across programs, contractors, consultants and teams.
Accessibility: Writing that works better on screens and with assistive technology.
Credibility: Professional, well-structured documents signal authority.
Efficiency: Donors can focus on content, not corrections, reducing review time.
It is a ready-made, rich resource literally at our fingertips.
The Style Manual comes with surprises
The Style Manual is a living document, evolving as language and digital communication change. And, in my experience, some of its rules catch people off guard:
Numbers: Only zero and one are written out in words. From 2 onwards, use numerals (except when starting a sentence) (fun fact: the New Zealand government style differs from Australia, where numerals are used for all numbers, starting at 0.)
Lists: A simple “and” or “or” is enough between the final 2 items – no semi-colons required.
Oxford commas: Do not use them unless a complex sentence needs one for clarity.
The takeaway
The Australian Government Style Manual is more than grammar rules. It’s about making communication clearer, more inclusive and credible.
It is a fantastic resource for all program staff – not just communications specialists. The more teams who use it, the stronger and more consistent our collective communications will be.
Explore the Australian Government Style Manual at stylemanual.gov.au or follow the link in the post below.