Australia

   "Our route took us across three big Australian states-Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria-and one little one: the Australian Capital Territory" (Boston Globe). Australia is divided into states and territories, which should not be confused, as they are in the example. The Australian Capital Territory is a federal zone carved out of the states of Victoria and New South Wales to be the seat of the national capital; it is roughly analogous to the District of Columbia in the United States. A much larger chunk of northern and central Australia is occupied by the Northern Territory, which also lacks statehood. Another fairly common error is seen here: "For several years, he worked as a mining engineer in Kalgoorlie, in western Australia" (Minneapolis Star). Western Australia is a state and thus should be capitalized (as should the neighboring state of South Australia). But perhaps the most common, and certainly the most regrettable, geographical error of all with Australia is seen here: "... and nowhere on earth will you find a more perfect harbor than in Australia's capital, Sydney" (Newsday). Australia's capital is in fact Canberra. Finally, and entirely incidentally, it is perhaps worth noting that Aussie, the diminutive term for an Australian, should be pronounced "Ozzie," not "Ossie."