Using punctuation correctly in academic writing

Stakeholders in the project include residents, employees, nearby businesses and investors.

Note for a simple list of single items, there is no comma needed before ‘and’ (after the second-last item).

This report encompasses professional development, qualifications and upskilling, teaching and learning, and retention.

Note the use of the comma before the final ‘and’.

Compare the following: It was a dark, stormy night (dark and stormy)

It was an Australian red wine. (You cannot say ‘an Australian and red wine’, therefore no comma is required)

In November 2005, the committee agreed to a review.

Further, the study was limited in that it only looked at closed loops.

However, it must be noted that redundant systems were not a factor in this study.

The researcher explained the procedures, however, an issue is that the participants do not always adhere to the guidelines.

What makes this observation more important is that it is the first time it has been recorded, yet it also represents a clear departure from previous methods.

The first trial yielded three positive results, but the second, none.

Note: the word ‘yielded’ is assumed but not needed in the second result.

The Treasurer stated, ‘Hospitals are the responsibility of the states.’

Various methods, such as interviews and observations, were used.
The University of Melbourne, which is in Parkville, is Victoria’s oldest University.

Some of the studies seem to confirm the theory; others appear to refute the concept arguing that it is incomplete.

Often, in these sentences, the semicolon could be replaced with a full stop, but the sentences would be abrupt and not clearly linked.

Where smaller parts of the sentence already contain commas, use a semi-colon to make the separation between them clearer.

The contributors are Marie Noël, Professor of History; Stephen White, Research Fellow in Media Studies; and Wu Ming, lecturer at the IT Research Institute.

The research investigated four key areas: the engineering ability of the applicants; the frequency of field opportunities; experience; and whether or not the engineers were learning as a result of these opportunities.

Note: the role of the semi-colon (;) in separating items within a complex list

Note: you do not need to use an introductory ‘be’ verb phrase together with a colon, e.g. The research investigated four key areas which were: the engineering …

There are several reasons for doing a PhD: career advancement, a personal sense of achievement, and development of research skills.

The report examines one area: students’ transition issues.

The three-hour exam is set for the following Monday.

The program requires forty hours full-time study.

A school-based project was undertaken.

Quotation marks are most commonly used to indicate direct quotes, i.e. language excerpts taken directly from original work and used in your writing.

The use of double or single marks varies according to different referencing systems, such as APA and MLA: check a style manual for the referencing system you are using to see whether to use double or single quote marks.

For all other situations, the rules below are generally applicable in Australia.

Use single quotation marks to note direct speech (i.e. what someone has said).

She described the candidate as, ‘highly intelligent and articulate’.

Note that the quotation marks start and end the quote only, the full stop is in the final position.

The University of Melbourne’s grounds are extensive.

A student’s fundamental role in academic writing is to answer the question. 

(Singular, apostrophe position before s)

Students’ timetables are available on the LMS.

(Plural, apostrophe position after s)

Note: Decades do not require apostrophes, e.g. 1990s, 2000s

In academic writing we generally avoid using contractions as they are considered informal (unless the contraction is part of a direct quote or if you have been told informal writing is OK, e.g. for a blog).

Full forms are preferred in communications, for example, cannot instead of can't, will not instead of won't.

Usage note: it’s = it is 100% of the time.

Possessive form is its (e.g. The report is in its fifth iteration.)