This document provides tips and tricks for formatting a thesis in Microsoft Word, covering topics such as margins, page numbers, styles, figures, tables, and tables of contents. It highlights differences between Word 2003 and 2007 and provides step-by-step instructions for formatting elements. Resources are also listed for those seeking additional help with thesis formatting in Word.

1. Tips & Tricks for Writing Your
Thesis in MS WORD
Presented by
Shelly Baumann, Coordinator
202 Eielson Building (907) 474-7464
PO BOX 757560 (907) 474-1984 fax
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7560 gradschool@uaf.edu
http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/
UAF Graduate School’s

2. General Thesis Information
 Thesis Formatting Workbook
 Thesis Formatting Workshop
 Thesis Submittal Form:
 Master’s
 PhD

3. Microsoft Office
2003 vs. 2007
 Interface is very
different and takes a
bit of getting use to.
 Files saved with the
default setting in
Office 2007
CANNOT be opened
by earlier versions.
 To change go to
tools, options, &
save tab
Program 2003 Ext. 2007 Ext
Word .doc .docx
Excel .xls .xlsx
Power
Point
.ppt .pptx
Access .mdb .accdb

4. MS Word Compatibility

5. Revealing Your Formatting
Find this button
on your toolbar

6. Page Setup: Mac
 MARGINS

7. Page Setup: Windows MS Word
2003 or Earlier
 MARGINS
 Left: 1.5
 Right: 1.0
 Top: 1.5
 Bottom: 1.0

8. Margins: Windows MS Word
2007

9. Widows & Orphans

10. Section and Page Breaks

11. Section and Page Breaks cont.
 Use page breaks when
format stays the same
 Use section breaks (next
page) when format
changes or between
chapters
 For example, use for
landscape table or figures!
That page will be
landscape and the rest
portrait.

12. Inserting Breaks:
MS Word 2007

13. Header/Footer: Mac
Format page numbersFormat page numbers

14. Header/Footer: Windows MS
Word 2003 or Earlier

15. Header/Footer: Windows MS
Word 2007

16. Page Numbers: Mac
 Click on INSERT in
the menu bar
 Then click on PAGE
NUMBERS

17. Page Numbers: Windows MS
Word 2003 or Earlier

18. Page Numbers: Windows MS
Word 2007

19. Formatting Page Numbers

20. Landscape Page Example
 Page Number is
in the upper right
hand corner
 1” from top &
right

21. Styles for Mac
 Formatting Palette

22. Styles for Mac cont.

23. Styles for Mac cont.

24. Styles for Windows Word 2003
or Earlier

25. Styles for Windows Word 2003
or Earlier cont.

26. Styles for Word 2007

27. Styles for Word 2007 cont.

28. Outlined Numbering for Mac &
Word 2003 or Earlier
 Select a Heading
(Chapter or
Subsection)
 Right Click
 Select Bullets &
Numbering

29. Outlined Numbering cont.
 Select the style you
prefer
 All can be modified
using the
CUSTOMIZE button

30. Outlined Numbering cont.
 To modify
 Click Customize
 You must select and
modify each level you
will be using in your
document.

31. Outlined Numbering for Word
2007
 To modify or
customize the list

32. Figures: Inserting from File

33. Formatting Figures: Mac

34. Formatting Figures : Windows
 Right click on the picture

35. Formatting Figures: Word 2007

36. Captions for Figures
 Select the figure
 Right click
 Select Caption
 If caption is not an
option, then go to
INSERT in the main
menu bar and select
CAPTION.

37. Captions cont.

38. Captions cont.

39. What a Figure with Caption
Feature Should Look Like

40. Tables

41. Tables:
Windows MS Word 2007

42. Tables: Inserting & Deleting
Columns & Rows

43. Captions for Tables
 Find the cross and
select
 Then right click
 Select Caption
 If Caption is not an
option, then go to
Insert and select
Caption

44. Table of Contents: Mac
 Leader Dots

45. Table of Contents: Windows

46. Table of Contents: Word 2007

47. Leader Dots
 Go to Format and
Tabs
 6 for UAF
requirements rather
than 6.5

48. Tabs & Leader Dots:
MS Word 2007
 On the Page Layout tab, click the
Paragraph Dialog Box Launcher.
 In the Paragraph dialog box, click
Tabs.

49. When All Else Fails
 If the Table of Contents will not cooperate after
the last time you update, then insert leader dots
with the tab.
 If a table or figure will not print with the
document print it separate.

50. Resources
 Writing Your Dissertation with Microsoft
Word: A step by step guide by Vincent
Kiernan
 The WEB
 A refresher on this workshop or the
Thesis Formatting workshop go to:
http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/current/ready-
to-graduate/

51. The Perfect Thesis/Dissertation
 If the Graduate School deems you have a
perfectly formatted thesis.
 Then we will pay $100 towards your thesis
binding costs!

52. Electronic Copy is Now
Required
 You are now required to submit an
electronic copy (searchable .pdf or .doc)
when you turn in your copy for format
check and when you submit your final
copies

53. Thank You!
 Please fill out the evaluation form.