ThesisFormatter

United States - Dissertation

Harvard University thesis formatting guidelines

This page helps Harvard University students check Word/PDF formatting risks before submission. It summarizes what to verify and links back to the official source.

Official source

Harvard Griffin GSAS dissertation formatting guidance

Rules can change. The final audit uses the official guideline uploaded by the student or the current university source.

Official-source checkpoints

Harvard Griffin GSAS publishes dissertation formatting guidance covering page size, margins, spacing, fonts, embedded PDF fonts, tables, figures, pagination, and front/back matter.

  • Confirm page size is 8.5 x 11 inches unless a musical score exception applies.
  • Check all margins are at least 1 inch.
  • Check dissertation body text is double spaced, while block quotations, footnotes, and bibliography entries use the allowed single-spacing rules.
  • Check fonts are 10 to 12 point and embedded in the final PDF; Times New Roman 12 pt is one recommended option.
  • Check preliminary pages use lower-case roman numerals and body pages use Arabic numbering starting at page 1.

Audit focus for this university

  • font embedding and PDF export risks
  • single-spaced exceptions for TOC, lists, footnotes, bibliography entries, and long tables
  • continuous figure/table numbering without duplicate labels
  • front matter order, pagination, and chapter-opening page-number behavior

Formatting points to verify

  • Source: Verify the current official guideline before final repair.
  • Font and size: Check body font, heading styles, captions, and footnote styling.
  • Spacing and margins: Compare margins, line spacing, indents, and page setup against the guide.
  • Navigation: Check TOC, list of figures, list of tables, captions, and internal links.
  • Page numbering: Check front matter, body start, appendices, footer/header placement, and PDF output.
  • Delivery: DOCX is preferred for repair; PDF is useful for audit and comparison.

Common risks before submission

  • Table of contents is empty, too deep, or not clickable.
  • List of figures or list of tables is handmade instead of generated from captions.
  • Margins, spacing, captions, or footnotes vary across sections.
  • Page numbering restarts or changes after PDF export.
  • Official guideline is missing or partial, requiring human review.

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