How do I number pages differently in the various sections of my thesis or dissertation

Your thesis/dissertation is comprised of several different sections which require a distinct numbering format. All page numbers should be located on the bottom of each page that requires them. And all page numbers should be the same font and size as the main body of text.

  • No Page Number
    • Title Page, Dedication, Acknowledgments
  • Lowercase Roman Numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.)
    • Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures, Abstract
  • Arabic Numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.)
    • Main Body, References, Appendices
  • No Page Number
    • About the Author (if used, list "End Page" in the Table of Contents)

To accomplish this, you may choose one of two options. You can insert section breaks in the document where the change in style happens, and then format the page numbers of each section. Check to ensure the sections are not linked so that the changes in page numbers are limited to a given section.

Alternatively, you could create 3-4 separate Word documents - one for each style of page numbering. You'd then save each as a PDF and then combine PDFs using Adobe Acrobat. A tutorial on setting up page numbers in Word can be found on the Formatting section of the ETD Resource Center website.

You can use Microsoft Word to create complex documents. Books and other large documents occasionally require different page number formats in different sections of one document. For example, you can number the index pages with Roman numerals (for example, "i.", "ii.", "iii.") and the main document with Arabic numerals (for example, "1", "2", "3"). This article describes how to set up different page numbering formats.

There is no prescribed page numbering style for all honors project. We only ask that you do not print the page number on the title page.   The easiest way to format page numbers for different sections, for example using roman and arabic numbers, is to create section breaks in your document. Instructions for Word users.

You may use the formatting style recommended by your discipline's style manual, or whatever style is acceptable to your advisor and department.  (For a list of print & online style manuals, see Style and Citation Guides, by Title or Subject.)  

You may also wish to view theses submitted by others in your department in previous years to get some ideas for formatting.If you have difficulty with the page numbering appearing as would like, please do not hesitate to contact us for help.

Let's say you want to use different page numbers or number formats and styles in different parts of your document. You could use page numbers such as i, ii, iii… for the introduction and table of contents and 1, 2, 3… for everything after. The trick is to divide the document into sections and to make sure those sections aren’t linked. Then, set the page numbering for each of those sections by following these steps.

Notes: 

  • If you're using Word Online, you can add page breaks but not section breaks. If you have the Word desktop application, use the Open in Word command to open the document. When you’re done and you save the document, it will continue to be stored where you opened it in Word Online. If you don’t have Word, you can try or buy it in the latest version of Office now.

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  1. Click at the very beginning of the first page where you want to start, stop, or change page numbering.

    Microsoft Word provides you with the option of selecting a numbering style (e.g. “Roman Numeral”, “Arabic”) and gives you the option of selecting the “starting at” number.  You can set the page numbers for your entire document, or if you need more control, you can do it section-by-section as well.

    If you want continuous pagination that is all in the same format, go to the Insert Ribbon, and in the Header & Footer Group, click on the Page Number icon. Choose the appropriate placement of the number and a style.

    If you are writing a Rackham dissertation, you have somewhat more complicated pagination. For example, Rackham’s guidelines require that the page numbers begin on the the third or fourth page of your document (depending on if you include a graphical frontispiece) and the page number on that page should be Roman numeral “ii”. Page numbering should continue on in roman numerals until the first page of Chapter 1 is reached.  At that point, the numbering should restart in Arabic (“1, 2, 3…”). Rackham requires that all of your page numbers be placed at the bottom center of your pages.

    To accomplish this, we are going to divide the document into different “sections”, break them apart (so they can have different page number formatting), and then add the page numbers.

    How do you number pages differently in a thesis?

    One of the required page numbering changes for your thesis or dissertation is that you need to use Roman numerals (e.g., "i, ii, iii") for your introductory sections (Abstract, Table of Contents), and then switch to Arabic numerals (e.g., "1, 2, 3") and begin the page numbering at "1" at the start of Chapter I of your ...

    How do I put page numbers in different sections?

    Add different page numbers or number formats to different....
    Select between the intro and the body of the document and go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page. ... .
    In the header for the body section, deselect Link to Previous. ... .
    In the intro section select Page Number and choose a location and style..

    How do you number sections in a thesis?

    And it's really quite simple:.
    Number figures and tables separately..
    Number them consecutively, using Arabic numbers (e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc.) ... .
    Each figure or table should have a title, e.g.: ... .
    Check very carefully that the numbering and page numbering are all correct in your list of tables and figures..

    Which Programmes provide different options according to which you can number your pages?

    Excel..
    Microsoft Teams..
    OneDrive..
    OneNote..
    Outlook..
    PowerPoint..
    Project..