University Formatting Requirements

• University Formatting Requirements for ETDs (985.01 KB)

General Formatting Guidelines

Font Type and Font Size

• MS Word: Text - Times New Roman; 12pt
• LaTeX: True Type Fonts (TTF; .ttf extension); Size: \normalsize (12pt equivalent)
• Footnotes, table and figure titles and captions, and long quotes: Times New Roman, no smaller than 8pt
• Equations: no smaller than 10pt

Page Size

8.5 inches x 11 inches

Exception: for large tables and figures only, 8.5 inches x 14 inches

Page Margins

Portrait Pages:

• Left and Right margins: 1.25 inches
• Top and Bottom margins: 1 inch

Landscape Pages:

• Right and Left margins: 1 inch
• Top and Bottom margins: 1.25 inches

Individual Figures, Tables, or Equations:

• Right and left margins: at least 1 inch
• Consider rotating a table to fit within the page margins (title at the top)

Setting the Page Margins:

Click on the Page Layout tab. In the Page Setup section, click on Margins and select Office 2003 Default.

Line Spacing

Single line space (1.0)

Double line spacing (2.0)

• Front pages: see detailed instructions for individual pages in our Front Page section below.
• Body of manuscript: double-space the text.
• Footnotes, table and figure titles & captions, and long quotes: single-space the text.

Refer to the Line Spacing section at MS Word Help for further assistance.

Page Numbers

All pages are numbered, except for the title page.

• All page numbers: located in the footer section, centered, .75 inch from the bottom of the page
• Footer from Bottom: setting should be .5 inch

• Front Pages: small Roman numerals. The title page is counted as page i, but the page number is not displayed.
• Body of Thesis/Dissertation: Arabic numerals. The first page of the Introduction/Chapter 1 (or Thesis Statement if used) is page 1. The remaining pages are numbered consecutively to the end of the document, including the Appendices.
• To change the page numbering from small Roman numerals to Arabic numerals: insert a section break. See Page Numbering (under Guides) on our Word Help page or go to LinkedIn Learning. Page numbers on landscape pages should be in the same location as a page number for portrait pages. This can be addressed by:
  • Changing the location of the page number using the instructions provided below.
    • Microsoft Word Landscape Page Numbers (University of Mississippi)
    • Use Different Orientations in the Same Document (MS Word)
  • Rotating the image of the figure or table on the page manually or using the rotate function in Word. See Rotate a picture or shape.

Content to Exclude in an ETD

Do not include the following content in a dissertation or master's thesis:

• Biography; CV; lists of published articles, conference proceedings, presentations or awards
• Blank pages anywhere in the document
• Running headers anywhere in the document
• Horizontal or vertical lines or page borders

Supplemental Files and File Naming Conventions

Supplemental Files:

1. Any file format can be used in supplemental files.
2. University formatting rules do not apply to supplemental files.
3. Material in supplemental files will be provided on a CD-ROM in a pocket insert at the back of the print copy.
4. The content is presented exactly as it is uploaded to the ETD Administrator site.

File Naming Conventions:

• Recommended File Naming Conventions for ETDs (75.22 KB)

Front Pages

Page Order

• Title Page (Required)
• Certification Page (Dissertations only)
• Copyright Page (Optional)
• Dedication (Optional)
• Acknowledgments (Optional)
• Disclaimer (Optional)
• Abstract of Dissertation/Thesis (Required for dissertations)
• Table of Contents (Required)
• List of Figures (Required if figures are used)
• List of Tables (Required if tables are used)
• List of Abbreviations (Optional)
• List of Symbols/Nomenclature (Optional)
• Glossary of Terms (Optional)
• List of Equations (Optional)
• Preface (Optional)

Title Page (Required)

1. Dissertation/Thesis Title
   • Start 2 inches from top edge of page or 1 inch below the top page margin.
   • Capitalize the significant words in the title. Example: This is the Title of My Dissertation
   • Center the title on the line and single space if the title is more than one line.
2. 3 single (1.0) blank line spaces
3. by (Your Name): text is on the same line as "by" and centered
4. 3 single (1.0) blank line spaces
5. Degree held, date conferred (Month Year), conferring Institution
   • Center the text on the line
   • List your lower degrees first and do not include certificates earned
   • Format your previous degrees as follows: B.A. [Initials of degree] in [field of study], Month Year, name of institution conferring the degree. Examples: 
     • B.A. in International Relations, May 2005, University of Delaware
     • M.A. in International Relations, May 2007, The George Washington University
6. 2 single (1.0) blank line spaces
7. A Thesis/Dissertation submitted to:
8. 3 single (1.0) blank line spaces
9. Central Paragraph:
   • Use the format shown below; text is centered on the page, with single spacing and line breaks where indicated. Text: The Faculty of [line break] The [name of School or College] [line break] of The George Washington University [line break] in partial fulfillment of the requirements [line break] for the degree of [Doctor or Master] of ...
     • DO NOT include department names in the degree title.
   • 
10. 3 single (1.0) blank line spaces
11. Month, Day, Year degree conferred (spell out the month)
    • Summer graduation: August 31, 20xx
    • Fall graduation: January xx, 20xx
    • Spring graduation: May xx, 20xx (date of University Commencement)
12. 3 single (1.0) blank line spaces
13. Dissertation/Thesis directed by
14. 1 single (1.0) blank line space
15. Thesis Advisor's or Dissertation Director's formal name (example: Joseph Smith, not Joe Smith)
16. Thesis Advisor's or Dissertation Director's full professorial title (example: Associate Professor of History)
    • Find your committee members' titles in the GW Online Directory or contact your School Administrator.
    • Do not include administrative titles.
    • Examples:
      • GW Faculty: list their professorial title only.
      • 
      • Non-GW Faculty: include their professorial title and name of their home institution.
      • 
      • Committee Member is in the workforce: list their name, job title, and place of employment.
      • 
17. The title page is counted as page i, but the page number is NOT displayed.

Certification Page (Dissertations only)

The Certification Page is required for dissertations; DO NOT include in a thesis.

1. This page is numbered ii
2. The first paragraph is left aligned and double-spaced. The date in this paragraph is the date of your dissertation defense. Text: The [School or College] of The George Washington University certifies that [student's full name] has passed the Final Examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy as of [date of dissertation defense (Month DD, YYYY). This is the final and approved form of the dissertation.
   • 
3. 3 single (1.0) blank line spaces
4. Dissertation title: single-spaced and centered on the line; capitalize the significant words in the title.
5. 3 single (1.0) blank line spaces
6. Your Full Name
7. 3 single (1.0) blank line spaces
8. Dissertation Research Committee: list only the Dissertation Director (or Dissertation Co-directors) and the two readers who are members of the core research proposal committee.
   • Exceptions:
     • School of Engineering and Applied Sciences: may list up to six committee members
     • School of Business: may list up to five committee members.
   • 1 single (1.0) blank line space
   • List your dissertation director/co-directors first
   • Each entry is indented .5 inch
     • Single-space the individual committee member listing if more than one line; indent both lines
     • Use 1 single line space between each committee member's information
   • Examples:
     • One director:
       • 
     • If two directors:
       • 

Copyright Page (Optional)

Text is single spaced and centered on the line and top to bottom of the page (4.5 inches on the vertical ruler)

© Copyright year by Your Name
All rights reserved

Please use the symbol © on your copyright page. To insert this symbol on the page in Windows, type: Crl+Alt+c or Alt+0169

Year: year the degree is conferred

Page Headers for the Front Pages

1. One inch from the top edge of the page
2. Font type and size: Times New Roman, 12 pt, in bold
3. Center the page header on the line.
4. Use upper and lower case letters.
5. Use 2 single (1.0) blank line spaces between the page header and the first line of text or entry on the page.

Refer to the Line Spacing section at MS Word Help for further assistance.

Dedication and Acknowledgments Pages (optional)

Use two (2) single (1.0) blank line spaces after the page header.

Dedication (optional): Text is left-aligned and double-spaced.

Acknowledgements (optional):

• Indent the first line of each paragraph .5 inches.
• Text is left-aligned and double-spaced.

Abstract of Thesis (Required for Dissertation)

1. Title of Dissertation/Thesis
   • The title should be in Times New Roman, 12 pt.
   • Capitalize the significant words in the title.
   • Center the title; single space the title if more than one line.
2. Use 2 single (1.0) blank line spaces before and after the title.
3. Indent the first line of each paragraph .5 inches.
4. The text is double-spaced.

Table of Contents (Required)

1. Do not include the title page, certification page, and copyright page.
2. Single space within each entry; double space between entries.
3. Make sure the text for the entries does not overlap with the page number column.
4. Check this page for Bookmark errors! In the example, the blue line shows the page margins.

List of Figures and List of Tables (Required if figures or tables are used in the ETD)

List of Figures (required if used in the document):

1. Single space (1.0) within each entry; use one (1) single blank space between entries.
2. Include the Figure or Table number, title or caption, and page number on which the figure or table appears.
3. The text for entries should not overlap with the page number column.
4. The image below shows the correct formatting for the list of figures and list of tables. The blue line shows the page margins.

List of Tables (required if used in the document): refer to the formatting guidelines above for List of Figures.

List of Abbreviations, List of Symbols, Glossary of Terms, List of Equations (Optional)

The formatting is the same for the following pages:

• List of Abbreviations (optional)
• List of Symbols/Nomenclature (optional)
• Glossary of Terms (optional)
• List of Equations (optional)

1. Bold and center the page header at the top of the page.
2. Follow the page header with 2 single (1.0) blank line spaces.
3. Left align the text with the left page margin.
4. Single space within each entry.
5. Double space between entries.

Model Pages or Style Guides for Front Pages by GW School or College

• Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
• Elliott School of International Affairs
• Graduate School of Education and Human Development
• Graduate School of Political Management
• Milken Institute School of Public Health
• School of Business
• School of Engineering and Applied Science
• School of Law

Body of Document

University formatting rules for page margins, page numbering, line spacing and page order govern the formatting of the main body of the manuscript, including the appendices.

• Otherwise, use the manuscript style (such as APA, Chicago Style, etc.) appropriate to your field of study or as directed by your advisor and/or department.
• Consult the GW Libraries Citation Style Guide website for information on specific styles.

Page Order

1. Thesis Statement (as required by your department or advisor; this is numbered as page 1)
2. Chapter 1 Introduction
3. Chapter 2
4. Chapter 3...5
5. Bibliography, References, or Works Cited (required except for the School of Law)
6. Appendices (optional)

Page Headers

1. One inch from the top edge of the page
2. Font type and size: Times New Roman, 12pt, bold
3. Center the page header on the line.
4. Use upper and lowercase letters.
5. Use 2 single (1.0) blank line spaces between the page header and the first line of text or entry on the page.

Chapters

1. Number the first page of the first chapter or introduction as page 1.
2. Chapter titles are determined by the author.
3. Start a new chapter on a new page.
4. Font type and size: Times New Roman, 12pt
5. The text is double-spaced except for:
   • Figure and table titles and captions
   • Long quotes
   • Footnotes and endnotes
   • Bibliographic entries

Figures, Tables and Images

1. Label figures, tables and images according to the style guide used for your manuscript.
2. Figure, Table, and Image title & caption text: Times New Roman, no smaller than 8pt
3. The use of color in photos, figures, tables, charts and images is allowed.
4. Page margins for individual figures, tables and images may be modified to 1 inch for right, left, top and bottom page margins.
5. For large figures, tables, and images, consider the following options:
   • Changing the page orientation to landscape
   • Landscape pages must use portrait page numbers (Microsoft Word Landscape Page Numbers, University of Mississippi)
   • Rotating the image of the figure or table on the portrait page manually or using the rotate function in Word. (Rotate a picture or shape)
   • Changing the page size up to 8.5 x 14 inches (legal size)
     • The required page margins must be maintained.
     • Note: legal pages will be reduced proportionately to 8.5 x 11 inches or 6 x 9 inches when printed and bound.
     • Visit MS Word Help for information on changing page size and orientation.

Footnotes

• Font type and size: Times New Roman, no smaller than 8pt
• Single-spaced (1.0)
• Formatting should conform to your school's requirements or to the writing style used for the thesis or dissertation.

Endnotes

• Font type and size: Times New Roman, 12 pt
• Single spacing within entries; double spacing between entries

Bibliography, References, Works Cited (Required)

• Font type and size: Times New Roman, 12 pt
• Single spacing within entries; double spacing between entries

Appendices (Optional)

1. Page margin requirements apply to these pages.
2. These pages should be numbered consecutively from the last page of the Bibliography, References or Works Cited pages.
3. Copyright permissions, if any, should be placed in the last appendix of the manuscript.

Supplemental Files and File Naming Conventions

Supplemental Files:

1. Any file format can be used in supplemental files.
2. University formatting rules do not apply to supplemental files.
3. Material in supplemental files will be provided on a CD-ROM in a pocket insert at the back of the print copy. The content is presented exactly as it is uploaded to the ETD Administrator site.

File Naming Conventions:

• Recommended File Naming Conventions for ETDs (75.22 KB)

Linking and Media Files

When selecting a media file format to include in your dissertation or thesis, consider accessibility and long-term preservation. For example, you should not use a file format that uses software that is proprietary or not widely available to your readers.

External Links

1. Links pointing to sources outside of the main body of the document should not be embedded in the document.
2. These links may change or the pages could be withdrawn over time, losing the reference to those pages.
3. Possible exceptions would include a link to an archived website.
4. Links embedded in the main body of the document should not link to the supplementary files; instead, reference the files in the body of the document and point to the location of those files.

Internal Links and Bookmarks

Linking internally to other places within the main document is permissible. Example: bookmarks in the table of contents.

Multimedia File Types and Formats

ProQuest highly recommends placing multimedia files as supplementary files rather than embedding them in the body of the document. Supplementary files are exempt from page margin restrictions, and they will be included on a CD-ROM placed in a pocket at the back of the printed document.

Common multimedia file formats supported by ProQuest for long-term preservation:

Image Files	Video Files	Audio Files	Application Files
.gif	.mov (Apple QuickTime)	.wav	.xls
.jpg (JPEG)	.avi (MS Audio/Video Interleave)	.snd	.ppx
.tiff/.tif	.mpg (MPEG)	.aiff	.doc
.png			.csv
			.xml
			.htm

Additional file formats supported by ProQuest

Formatting Checklist

Make sure that your page margins, page numbering and line spacing follow University requirements. You may download our checklist below.