How to fix Roman and Arabic page number formats in Word
What the rule sets in the TypesetOS checker apply for page number format. Arabic numerals throughout: MIT Thesis and APA 7th Edition: Student Paper. Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numerals: Stanford Dissertation, UC Berkeley Dissertation, Columbia GSAS Dissertation, Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Dissertation, University of Michigan Rackham Dissertation, ProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission, Generic US Graduate School Thesis and Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition.
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What this rule means
The number format is how the numbers are written: Arabic (1, 2, 3) or Roman (i, ii, iii).
Some rule sets ask for Roman numerals in the front matter and Arabic numerals from chapter 1. That needs a section break between the two.
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 | Arabic numerals throughout | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | MIT Libraries: Specifications for Thesis Preparation |
| Stanford DissertationStanford Dissertation format requirements | Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numerals | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | Stanford Student Services: Format Requirements for Your Dissertation or Thesis |
| UC Berkeley DissertationUC Berkeley Dissertation format requirements | Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numerals | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | UC Berkeley Graduate Division: Dissertation Writing and Filing |
| Columbia GSAS DissertationColumbia GSAS Dissertation format requirements | Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numerals | 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 | Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numerals | 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 | Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numerals | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School: Formatting Guidelines |
| ProQuest / UMI Dissertation SubmissionProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission format requirements | Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numerals | 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 | Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numeralsWorking 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 | Arabic numerals throughout | 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 | Roman numerals for the front matter, then Arabic numeralsWorking 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)
- Double-click a page number to open the Header & Footer tools.
- Click Page Number, then Format Page Numbers….
- In the Number format list choose 1, 2, 3 or i, ii, iii as the table shows.
- Under Page numbering choose Continue from previous section or Start at and type the number, then click OK.
- For Roman then Arabic, put the cursor at the end of the front matter and use Layout, Breaks, Next Page. In the footer of the first chapter page turn off Link to Previous, then format that section as Arabic and start at 1.
Microsoft’s own instructions:
More on this: Fix Roman and Arabic page numbers 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 fix thesis margins 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
Word steps last reviewed: 2026-10-17.