Margins
All margins—top, left, right, and bottom—should be set to 1.0 inch throughout the manuscript. All material contained in an appendix must fit within the 1.0 inch left, top, right, and bottom margins. This also applies to tables and figures placed within the appendices or chapters.
Font Size and Font Style
Text in a manuscript must be 12-pt. font size and Times New Roman. The text of the manuscript must be formatted in one size and one style of type font throughout, including the page numbers. Variations of font size and style can be used in material in appendices. Variations of font size and style for tables and figures are listed in the subsection titled “Table Content” and “Figure Content” in Section IV.
Text Alignment
Text in the abstract, acknowledgments, preface, and all chapters is prepared using only left justification (ragged right margin, as illustrated throughout this manual). Exceptions are chapter titles and first level subheadings, which require center justification.
Line Spacing for Text Paragraphs and Titles
Standard double line spacing is used throughout the manuscript, except the references list or bibliography. No extra line spacing is used between titles and text paragraphs or
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between two text paragraphs. When beginning a new file, set the word processing program to double line spacing. Remember to set the line spacing boxes (labeled “Before” and “After”) to 0 pt.
Paragraph Format
Theses and dissertations are written in paragraph (essay) format. Therefore, the first line of each paragraph must be indented a half inch. The first-line indent should be consistent throughout the chapters. Paragraphs are left justified (i.e., the right edge of the text should be uneven).
Bold font, shading, or highlighting may not be used within paragraphs. Italics may be used sparingly for emphasis. Bold font is acceptable in equations or text when needed for scientific or mathematic notation.
Sentence Format
One space should be used after the punctuation at the end of sentences for the abstract, acknowledgments, preface, and all chapters. Spacing should be consistent throughout the text.
Fill each line of text as much as possible, before allowing the text line to wrap to the next line, or to the next line on the following page. This includes lines, titles, captions, citations, and internet addresses (URLs).
