Headings

Numbered and non-numbered headings are both acceptable styles, though they cannot be used together--you must choose one style and apply it to all the headings in your disquisition.

The most common issues with headings are inconsistent line spacing. Headings, like the paragraph text, should be double-spaced with no additional line spacing above or below the heading.

Contents
  1. Formatting Requirements
  2. Troubleshooting
  3. Resources

Formatting Requirements

Headings identify new sections of your disquisition and must be easy to distinguish from the paragraph text. If you use several levels of headings, the different levels must be easily identifiable from both the text and from the various heading levels. Levels can be established by their placement, their font style (bold, underline, italics), or their number. Examples are provided in this section.

  • Formatting – All headings of the same level must share the same formatting throughout the disquisition, including in appendices. For example, if a first level subheading in Chapter 1 is bold, center aligned, and uses title case, then first level subheadings in all other chapters and any appendices must use the same formatting.
  • Running headers – Do not use running headers in the margins at the top of each page in the disquisition. Headings should appear only at the beginning of each section.

Major headings are used at the beginning of the main sections of the disquisition, such as on the Abstract page, the Acknowledgments page, and the first page of each chapter.

Major headings must use the following format:

  • Location – At the top of the first page of a major section (prefatory section, chapter, or appendix).
  • Alignment – Fully centered on the page.
  • Case – Use ALL CAPS in the same type of font as the rest of the disquisition.
  • Font style – Bold font is optional, but if one major heading is bolded, then all major headings in the disquisition must also be bolded.
  • Font size – Use a font size no larger than four points larger than the normal text in the disquisition. For example, if your paragraph text is size 12, then the major headings can be no larger than size 16.
  • Major headings must be included in the Table of Contents, including prefatory sections, chapter headings, and each appendix. Note: The Table of Contents should not include an entry for the “TABLE OF CONTENTS”.

Subheadings

Subheadings are used in chapters to subdivide the chapter content into subsections. If you use several levels of subheadings, the different levels of subheadings must be easily identifiable (either through numbering or formatting).

You can distinguish between different levels of subheadings using italics, bold font, underline, or alignment (for example, centered or left). Subheadings of the same level must share the same formatting method throughout the entire disquisition, including chapters and appendices. For example, if the first level subheading of Chapter 1 is bolded and center aligned, then the first level subheadings in all other chapters and appendices must also use the same formatting.

Subheadings must meet the following requirements:

  • Not begin a new page unless the heading appears at a natural page break.
  • Not be orphaned from the first paragraph in the section. If a subheading appears on the bottom of a page and the first paragraph in the section appears on the next page, then move the subheading to the next page.
  • Not be in ALL CAPS. Only major headings may be in ALL CAPS.
  • For non-numbered headings, each level of subheading must use unique formatting for that level and this formatting must be consistent throughout the entire disquisition. For example, first level non-numbered subheadings must look different from second level non-numbered subheadings.
  • All headings of the same level must share the same capitalization scheme. Sentence case capitalizes only the first word and proper nouns. Title case capitalizes all words except conjunctions, articles, and prepositions. Either method is acceptable, but it must be consistent.

Numbered headings vs. non-numbered headings

Using numbered headings is optional. When using numbered headings, the following apply:

  • All subheadings in the disquisition must be numbered.
  • You must number major headings for chapters, but do not number major headings outside the chapters, such as the prefatory pages or appendices. Unlike subheadings, the chapter numbers of major headings may be preceded with a label; for example, both "CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION" and "1. INTRODUCTION" are acceptable styles for a major heading.
  • The heading number must be followed by a period, both in the text and in the Table of Contents. For example, the first subheading in the second chapter would be numbered “2.1. Title of Subheading”.

The first number in the section number must correspond to the chapter in which it appears. Subsequent numbers correspond to the heading level and order of appearance of the heading.

Numbered subheadings can use the same formatting method between levels, because the heading numbers indicate the heading level, though we recommend using different formatting for different heading levels to improve the readability of your document. If you use non-numbered headings, then each level of subheading must use a different formatting method to help differentiate between the superior and subordinate subheading.

Issue: Line Spacing

  • Headings should be double-spaced, with no extra line spacing or blank lines above or below them.
  • In the paragraph settings dialog box, set all headings to be double-spaced with 0 pts before or after.

Issue: Major Heading Appears in the Middle of Page

  • Major headings should share the same formatting: bold font, aligned center to the page, uses ALL CAPS, and appears at the top of a new page.

You can force major headings to always appear at the top of new pages by enabling the "Page break before" option on the Line and Page Breaks tab of the paragraph settings dialog box. We recommend this method over others, such as using blank lines to space out content, because adding blank lines to space out content often results in blank lines appearing in unacceptable places when content shifts due to formatting changes. Using a forced page break ensures the content remains pinned to the top of whatever page it appears on, even if content above it shifts down.

Enable the "page break before" setting
Enable the "page break before" setting to force major headings to appear at the top of a new page.
Subheadings
  • Centered headings should be fully centered. Do not add spaces or tab spaces before these headings, which causes them to appear off-center.
  • Left-aligned headings should be flush with the left 1" page margin. Do not add spaces or tab spaces before these headings, which causes them to be indented.
  • All headings of an outline level should be formatted consistently.
  • Headings of different outline levels should be formatted differently and visually distinct, using a combination of alignment, bold, italics, or underlining.