4.1 Page Layout

Margins

Student papers should use a simple, readable layout. Set the top, bottom, left, and right margins at one inch. Set paragraph tabs at one-half inch. Use a ragged right margin; do not justify the right margin.

Font

Use a 12-point readable font throughout the paper. The title page, headings, and main text should use the same font. Do not use boldface except where this guide allows it for headings or subheadings.

Spacing

Double-space the main text of the paper. Block quotations should be single-spaced, indented one-half inch from the left margin, and separated from the surrounding text by a double space. Do not place quotation marks around a block quotation unless the quotation marks are part of the quoted material.

Page NUmbers

Number every page of the paper. Use roman numerals for front matter, such as the contents page or abbreviations page. The title page counts as page i, but the number should not appear on the title page. The next page of front matter begins with ii. Use arabic numerals for the main text, appendixes, and bibliography.

On the first page of the main text, place the page number at the bottom center. On later pages, place the page number in the top right corner. Use the same rule for the first page of each appendix and the first page of the bibliography: bottom center on the first page, top right on later pages. Page numbers should appear by themselves, without periods, parentheses, or other punctuation.

Paragraph Indentation

At the beginning of a new section or subsection, do not indent the first paragraph. Indent the first line of each following paragraph one-half inch.