Glossary Formatting
A glossary is useful when a document contains enough specialist or unfamiliar terms to justify a reference section. Keep definitions clear, order entries alphabetically and separate the glossary’s job from a simple list of abbreviations.
Use a glossary for a substantial set of specialist or unfamiliar terms, arrange entries alphabetically, and format them for quick lookup.
Key details
Important caveats
Boundary
Do not automatically merge a short list of abbreviations into the glossary when the governing report style treats shortened forms as a separate front-matter list.
Further guidance
Organization
List glossary terms alphabetically and format term-definition pairs consistently so readers can scan and locate entries.
Practical Application
Use a glossary when readers need repeated help with a substantial set of specialist or unfamiliar terms. Arrange entries for quick lookup—commonly alphabetically—and keep term formatting and definitions consistent.
Reader Check
Will readers benefit from a separate lookup section, and are the glossary entries organized and formatted consistently enough to scan?
When Useful
Use a glossary when readers need repeated access to specialist or unfamiliar terms; explain a small number of terms in the main text instead of creating unnecessary back matter.
Worked Example
If a report uses many technical terms, create an alphabetized glossary with the term visually distinct from its definition instead of scattering one-off definitions throughout the document.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Reports — Australian Government Style Manual (opens in a new tab)Australian Government Style Manual · Report front matter, lists of shortened forms, glossary placement and alphabetical organization
- Acronyms and initialisms — Australian Government Style Manual (opens in a new tab)Australian Government Style Manual · Accessibility and glossary guidance for acronyms and initialisms