Harvard Griffin GSAS — Dissertation formatting guidance
At a glance
Harvard Griffin GSAS dissertation formatting is designed for formal review and archival submission (PDF-ready): it emphasizes strict page setup (1-inch margins), consistent typography (10–12 pt with embedded fonts), and enforceable pagination rules (Roman numerals for front matter, Arabic for main text, with special cases for TAC/title/copyright pages).
This page focuses on layout you can apply and check in Word (.docx): page setup, spacing, front matter order and pagination, headings consistency, and tables/figures/captions placement rules.
How to format / how to check formatting
- 1Click “Format using this template” to open the tool with this Harvard GSAS template pre-selected.
- 2Upload your .docx: optionally run “Check formatting” first to get a score and issues, then format.
- 3Download the result and verify key rules using the self-check notes below and the cleaned original guideline.
Key notes & self-check
Quick parameters (GSAS dissertation — layout)
Quick params| Item | GSAS expectation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paper size | US Letter (8.5" × 11") | |
| Margins | At least 1 inch on all sides | |
| Body spacing | Double-spaced body text | Some sections may be single-spaced (e.g., some lists/notes) |
| Font size | 10–12 pt | Fonts must be embedded in the final PDF |
| Page numbering | Roman numerals for prelims; Arabic for main text | Some pages are counted but not printed |
| Title/copyright pages | Counted as i/ii but not printed | TAC is not counted/numbered |
| Tables/figures | Near first mention; may stand alone on a page | Captions/headings rules apply |
| Figure/table numbering | Sequential or by chapter | Do not reuse numbers |
| No blank pages | Every page must contain text or images |
Common dissertation layout mistakes (high-impact + easy to verify)
Top mistakesTool-detectable / layout-related
- Margins smaller than 1 inch (often caused by images/tables extending beyond margins).
- Inconsistent line spacing (mixing single and double spacing unintentionally).
- Pagination not switching correctly (Roman prelims vs Arabic main text).
- Captions detached from their tables/figures or placed inconsistently.
Manual but critical
- Fonts not embedded in the final PDF (GSAS requires correct character rendering).
- Title/copyright/TAC special page-number rules applied incorrectly.
- Landscape tables/figures not oriented/bound correctly.
Submission self-check (actions, not parameters)
Checklist- Margins sanity check: scroll through pages with large figures/tables to ensure nothing crosses the 1-inch margin.
- Pagination sanity check: verify prelim pages use Roman numerals and main text starts at Arabic 1; confirm special pages (TAC/title/copyright) follow GSAS rules.
- Spacing sanity check: pick 3 body pages and confirm body text is double-spaced; check exceptions are intentional.
- Figures/tables sanity check: confirm captions/headings are placed per rules and remain with their figure/table.
- PDF readiness: when exporting to PDF, verify fonts are embedded and all characters render correctly.
What this page covers (and what it does not)
ScopeCovers: GSAS dissertation layout rules (page setup, spacing, pagination, front matter, headings, tables/figures placement).
Does not cover: department-specific writing requirements or committee preferences; those may add constraints beyond the GSAS baseline.
Official files / 原始格式要求
Attachments- DownloadThesis Sample En (DOCX)DOCX • 42.5 KB
