Spelling

We use Australian spelling, which is often different to American or British. Some common examples are listed here, but if you are unsure check the Macquarie Dictionary.

Correct Incorrect
~ise
  • recognise
  • finalise
  • organise
 ~ize
  • recognize
  • finalize
  • organize
~yse
  • analyse
 ~yze
  • analyze
~our
  • colour
  • labour
 ~or
  • color
  • labor
~re
  • centre
 ~er
  • center
~ement
  • judgement
  • acknowledgement
 ~ment
  • judgment
  • acknowledgment

Use your spell-check.

Tip: You may need to set the language in Microsoft Word to English (Australian) to stop it automatically changing your words to US spelling.

If you are referring to a specific organisation or publication, or using a direct quote, always use the original spelling.

Correct Incorrect
World Health Organization World Health Organisation