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Fix it in Word

How to fix thesis line spacing in Word

What the rule sets in the TypesetOS checker apply for line spacing. One of: double, single, 1.5: MIT Thesis. Double: Stanford Dissertation, Columbia GSAS Dissertation, Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Dissertation, University of Michigan Rackham Dissertation, ProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission, Generic US Graduate School Thesis, APA 7th Edition: Student Paper and Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition. Single: UC Berkeley Dissertation.

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What this rule means

Line spacing is the distance between lines of text. Double spacing is 2.0 and single spacing is 1.0.

The checker reads the spacing that most of the body text uses. Some schools accept more than one value; the table shows which.

What each rule set asks for

Each row is the rule set the TypesetOS checker applies, taken from the guide linked in its last column. Open the school’s own page for the full list of rules.

What each rule set in the TypesetOS checker asks for: line spacing
School or styleWhat the checker appliesHow it is handledGuide it comes from
MIT ThesisMIT Thesis format requirementsOne of: double, single, 1.5Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.MIT Libraries: Specifications for Thesis Preparation
Stanford DissertationStanford Dissertation format requirementsDoubleChecked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.Stanford Student Services: Format Requirements for Your Dissertation or Thesis
UC Berkeley DissertationUC Berkeley Dissertation format requirementsSingleChecked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.UC Berkeley Graduate Division: Dissertation Writing and Filing
Columbia GSAS DissertationColumbia GSAS Dissertation format requirementsDoubleChecked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.Columbia University GSAS: Formatting Guidelines and Dissertation Template
Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD DissertationHarvard Griffin GSAS PhD Dissertation format requirementsDoubleChecked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Dissertation Formatting Guidance
University of Michigan Rackham DissertationUniversity of Michigan Rackham Dissertation format requirementsDoubleChecked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School: Formatting Guidelines
ProQuest / UMI Dissertation SubmissionProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission format requirementsDoubleChecked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.ProQuest: Preparing Your Manuscript for Submission to ProQuest
Generic US Graduate School ThesisGeneric US Graduate School Thesis format requirementsDoubleWorking reading: source being re-checked.Shown for reviewThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.University of Notre Dame Graduate School: Style Guide for Formatting Dissertations and Theses
APA 7th Edition: Student PaperAPA 7th Edition: Student Paper format requirementsDoubleChecked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition: APA Style student paper setup guide
Chicago Manual of Style, 17th EditionChicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition format requirementsDoubleWorking reading: source being re-checked.Shown for reviewThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this.The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed.: CMOS Shop Talk (official CMOS editorial guidance on margins and page numbers for Turabian/Chicago-style papers)

Generic US Graduate School Thesis and Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition are working readings, because the source for each is being re-checked.

TypesetOS is not affiliated with the schools and organisations named on this page. Compare the values with the current guide that applies to your submission.

Fix it in Word

Steps in Word (Windows and Mac)

  1. On the Home tab, right-click “Normal” in the Styles gallery (Control-click on a Mac if right-click does nothing) and choose Modify.
  2. Click Format at the bottom left, then Paragraph….
  3. Under Spacing, set Line spacing to Single, 1.5 lines or Double as the table shows. For another number, choose Multiple and type it in the At box.
  4. Click OK, then OK again.
  • Block quotes, footnotes, tables and the reference list often have their own spacing and can differ from the body text on purpose. Check your school’s guide for them.

Microsoft’s own instructions:

Then check the file

Run the free format checker on the saved file to see whether this rule now passes. It names what it checked and what it could not check. It does not decide whether your school will accept the file.

Open the free format checker

Other fixes in Word

Word steps last reviewed: 2026-10-17.