How to Fix Roman & Arabic Page Numbers in Word Theses
Word can maintain different numbering sequences reliably when front matter and main text are separated into sections and the relevant header or footer link is broken.
1. Insert a section break before the main body
Place the cursor at the end of the front matter, immediately before the first page that should use the new numbering sequence.
Choose Layout > Breaks > Next Page under Section Breaks. A normal page break does not create a new header/footer numbering context.
2. Turn off Link to Previous
Open the header or footer in the new section and turn off Link to Previous for the area containing the page number.
Headers and footers have separate links, so verify the one you actually use.
3. Set the format in each section
Use Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers in the front matter and choose the numeral style your instructions require.
Repeat in the main-body section, select the required format, and set the starting value specified by your institution.
4. Update the table of contents and inspect the result
After numbering is stable, update the table of contents and check its page references.
Inspect the rendered pages after the final change so section transitions and numbering are easy to spot.
Sources
Word behavior in this guide is cross-checked against Microsoft’s current support documentation. Your institution’s current thesis or dissertation handbook remains the authority for submission-specific rules.
Continue with the related Word guides
Try a ready-made format on your DOCX
Upload the thesis DOCX you already wrote, choose currently available formatting requirements, and inspect the rendered result before deciding whether to unlock the final Word file.