People and places

One of the most dynamic areas of style relates to the way we refer to people, simply because it intersects closely with social and political change. 

For example, over time we have been using less formal forms of address for institutional positions. And we have adjusted language to be gender neutral and to avoid derogatory or discriminatory terms.

It's not always easy to keep up with these changes and the preferences of the communities that they affect

This section of the ASG sets out some core principles that will help you use contemporary and inclusive language for ability, age, gender, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We also cover the common style questions about organisations, place names and addresses.

If you’re after more general advice on language, including topics such as the use of capital letters or Latin terms, please see our Language category.