Basic Formatting Tips
The following is a list of basic formatting tips. Please be advised that it is not comprehensive. Students are still expected to read and follow the University’s Formatting Guidelines. Please go to the Graduate School website to download the most current copy of the guidelines. Apart from the USC Graduate School Guidelines, you should follow the APA format or the style recommended by your advisor. Where there is conflict, you should opt for following the USC Guidelines.
Title Page
* Follow the sample title page in the Guidelines for either the EdD or PhD degree.
* Graduation date is either December, May or August (2010)
* One font size throughout/No bold permitted
Margins for entire document
* Top: 1.0 inches
* Bottom: 1.0 inches
* Right: 1.0 inches
* Left: 1.5 inches
* ALL printing - including title page, text, words, lines, paragraphs, tables and the figures (plus descriptions), page numbers, footnotes, endnotes MUST fit within the margin requirements.
Page Numbers
* All pages numbers (from preliminary pages to the end) must be placed in either the top right or bottom right corner (includes pages with landscaped tables)
* Every page (from the preliminary pages to the end, including the appendices), must be numbered consecutively
* On pages with landscaped tables, page numbers cannot be landscaped. They must remain their portrait position.
Tables and Figures
* Table/figures must fit the margin requirements
* On pages where there is a landscaped table, landscaped page numbers ARE NOT permitted
Body
* Choose one font size and use throughout
* Running Headers/Footers are not permitted
Bibliography
* Must be organized alphabetically by the (first) author’s last name
* Single space each bibliography entry; double space between entries
Appendices
* Page number and margin requirements must be met
* Can use any spacing and different font size and styles (exception: heading, which must match previous headings used throughout the manuscript)
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