How to fix thesis margins in Word
What the rule sets in the TypesetOS checker apply for margins. 1 in margins on all sides: MIT Thesis, UC Berkeley Dissertation, Columbia GSAS Dissertation, Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Dissertation, ProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission, APA 7th Edition: Student Paper and Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition. margins of 1.5 in left and 1 in right, top and bottom; Mirrored margins with a 1.5 in inner margin when printed on both sides: Stanford Dissertation. margins of at least 1 in on all sides: University of Michigan Rackham Dissertation. margins of 1.5 in left and 1 in right, top and bottom: Generic US Graduate School Thesis.
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What this rule means
Margins are the blank space between the text and the edge of the paper: top, bottom, left and right.
Word stores them for each section of the file. The checker compares every section of your file with the values in the table.
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.
| School or style | What the checker applies | How it is handled | Guide it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIT ThesisMIT Thesis format requirements | 1 in margins on all sides | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | MIT Libraries: Specifications for Thesis Preparation |
| Stanford DissertationStanford Dissertation format requirements | margins of 1.5 in left and 1 in right, top and bottom; Mirrored margins with a 1.5 in inner margin when printed on both sides | Checked automaticallyThe formatter does not fix this one; use the steps below. | Stanford Student Services: Format Requirements for Your Dissertation or Thesis |
| UC Berkeley DissertationUC Berkeley Dissertation format requirements | 1 in margins on all sides | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | UC Berkeley Graduate Division: Dissertation Writing and Filing |
| Columbia GSAS DissertationColumbia GSAS Dissertation format requirements | 1 in margins on all sides | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | Columbia University GSAS: Formatting Guidelines and Dissertation Template |
| Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD DissertationHarvard Griffin GSAS PhD Dissertation format requirements | 1 in margins on all sides | Checked 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 requirements | margins of at least 1 in on all sides | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School: Formatting Guidelines |
| ProQuest / UMI Dissertation SubmissionProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission format requirements | 1 in margins on all sides | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | ProQuest: Preparing Your Manuscript for Submission to ProQuest |
| Generic US Graduate School ThesisGeneric US Graduate School Thesis format requirements | margins of 1.5 in left and 1 in right, top and bottomWorking 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 requirements | 1 in margins on all sides | Checked 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 requirements | 1 in margins on all sidesWorking 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)
- Click anywhere in your document and open the Layout tab (it is called Page Layout in older versions of Word).
- Click Margins, then Custom Margins… at the bottom of the list.
- Type the Top, Bottom, Left and Right values from the table. Leave Gutter at 0 unless your school asks for a binding margin.
- Next to Apply to, choose Whole document, then click OK.
- If your school asks for mirrored margins, open Multiple pages in the same dialog and choose Mirror margins. The Left and Right boxes then read Inside and Outside.
- A larger margin for binding can be typed as the Left margin or as a Gutter. They are different settings, so use the one your school’s guide names.
- A section break can carry its own margins. If a margin is still reported after these steps, open the dialog in each section and set Apply to This section.
Microsoft’s own instructions:
More on this: How to format thesis margins in Word
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.
Other fixes in Word
- How to set the page size of a thesis in Word
- How to fix the body font and size in Word
- How to fix thesis line spacing in Word
- How to fix skipped heading levels in Word
- How to start every chapter on a new page in Word
- How to number tables and figures in Word
- How to fix the reference list layout and hanging indent in Word
- How to put the front pages of a thesis in order in Word
- How to add page numbers to a thesis in Word
- How to fix the position of page numbers in Word
- How to fix Roman and Arabic page number formats in Word
Word steps last reviewed: 2026-10-17.