How to fix the position of page numbers in Word
What the rule sets in the TypesetOS checker apply for page number position. Bottom centre: MIT Thesis. Front matter: bottom centre; main text: bottom centre: Stanford Dissertation, UC Berkeley Dissertation, Columbia GSAS Dissertation, Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Dissertation, University of Michigan Rackham Dissertation, ProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission and Generic US Graduate School Thesis. Top right: APA 7th Edition: Student Paper. Front matter: bottom centre; main text: top right: Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition.
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What this rule means
The position is where the page number sits on the page: top or bottom, and left, centre or right.
Some rule sets ask for a different position in the front matter than in the main text. 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.
| School or style | What the checker applies | How it is handled | Guide it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIT ThesisMIT Thesis format requirements | Bottom centre | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | MIT Libraries: Specifications for Thesis Preparation |
| Stanford DissertationStanford Dissertation format requirements | Front matter: bottom centre; main text: bottom centre | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | Stanford Student Services: Format Requirements for Your Dissertation or Thesis |
| UC Berkeley DissertationUC Berkeley Dissertation format requirements | Front matter: bottom centre; main text: bottom centre | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | UC Berkeley Graduate Division: Dissertation Writing and Filing |
| Columbia GSAS DissertationColumbia GSAS Dissertation format requirements | Front matter: bottom centre; main text: bottom centre | 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 | Front matter: bottom centre; main text: bottom centre | 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 | Front matter: bottom centre; main text: bottom centre | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School: Formatting Guidelines |
| ProQuest / UMI Dissertation SubmissionProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission format requirements | Front matter: bottom centre; main text: bottom centre | 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 | Front matter: bottom centre; main text: bottom centreWorking 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 | Top right | 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 | Front matter: bottom centre; main text: top rightWorking 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
Word on Windows
- Open the Insert tab and click Page Number.
- Choose Top of Page or Bottom of Page, then pick the option aligned as the table shows.
- If the old number is still there, double-click it, select it and press Delete.
- Click Close Header and Footer, or press Esc.
Word on Mac
- Open the Insert menu and click Page Numbers….
- Choose the Position (header or footer) and the Alignment the table shows.
- Click OK.
- If the old number is still there, double-click it, select it and press Delete.
- A different position in the front matter needs its own section. Add a section break, then turn off Link to Previous in the footer of the new section before you change it.
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 Roman and Arabic page number formats in Word
Word steps last reviewed: 2026-10-17.