How to add page numbers to a thesis in Word
What the rule sets in the TypesetOS checker apply for page numbers. A page number is shown: MIT Thesis, 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, APA 7th Edition: Student Paper and Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition.
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What this rule means
The checker asks that page numbers are shown. It reads the page-number fields in the headers and footers of your file.
Whether the title page carries a number is a question for your school’s own guide. The checker’s rule only asks that page numbers are shown.
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 | A page number is shown | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | MIT Libraries: Specifications for Thesis Preparation |
| Stanford DissertationStanford Dissertation format requirements | A page number is shown | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | Stanford Student Services: Format Requirements for Your Dissertation or Thesis |
| UC Berkeley DissertationUC Berkeley Dissertation format requirements | A page number is shown | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | UC Berkeley Graduate Division: Dissertation Writing and Filing |
| Columbia GSAS DissertationColumbia GSAS Dissertation format requirements | A page number is shown | 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 | A page number is shown | 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 | A page number is shown | Checked automaticallyThe TypesetOS formatter normally fixes this. | University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School: Formatting Guidelines |
| ProQuest / UMI Dissertation SubmissionProQuest / UMI Dissertation Submission format requirements | A page number is shown | 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 | A page number is shownWorking 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 | A page number is shown | 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 | A page number is shownWorking 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 Bottom of Page or Top of Page and pick the position the table shows.
- If page 1 shows no number, double-click its header or footer and untick Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab.
- Click Close Header and Footer, or press Esc.
Word on Mac
- Open the Insert menu and click Page Numbers….
- Choose the Position and Alignment the table shows.
- If you want a number on the first page, tick Show number on first page.
- Click OK.
- Numbers that were typed into the header or footer by hand are text, not page-number fields, and will not count.
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 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.