Tips & Tricks for Writing Your Thesis in MS WORD

1. UAF Graduate School’s Tips & Tricks for Writing Your Thesis in MS WORD Presented by Shelly Baumann, Coordinator 202 Eielson Building (907) 474-7464 PO BOX 757560 (907) 474-1984 fax Fairbanks, AK 99775-7560 gradschool@uaf.edu http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/

2. General Thesis Information • Thesis Formatting Workbook • Thesis Formatting Workshop • Thesis Submittal Form: • Master’s • PhD

3. Microsoft Office 2003 vs. 2007 • interface is very different and takes a bit of getting use to. • Files saved with the default setting in Office 2007 CANNOT be opened by earlier versions. • To change go to tools, options, & save tab

4. About the Office Fluent User Interface Navigate the Office Fluent User Interface File MenuClick the Microsoft Office system button to see file commands. Quick AccessToolbar (QAT) Access common commands on this customizable toolbar. The MicrosoftOffice Fluent user interface (UI) has been completely redesigned. The old menus and toolbars are now integrated into a band called the “Ribbon,”making it easier to find the tools you need and create the results you want. Topics in this guide include: TabsClick tabs to access tools and commands. Dialog BoxesClick to open dialog boxes. The RibbonFind tools here that used to be in menus and toolbars. • Navigate the New UI • Understand the Quick Access Toolbar • Minimize the Ribbon • Understand the File Menu and New File Format • Use Microsoft Office System Help Lists and GalleriesClick or to access lists or galleries. GroupsUse related tools and commands grouped onto different tabs. Mini ToolbarUse options on the toolbar that appears when you select text on the page. View SwitchingSwitch view for a program. Different programs have different views available. Zoom ControlsZoom in or out using the slider, or click the + and –buttons.

5. Revealing Your Formatting Find this button on your toolbar if you are a Mac user

6. Page Setup: Mac • MARGINS

7. Page Setup: Windows • MARGINS

8. Format page numbers Header/Footer: Mac

9. Header/Footer: Windows

10. Page Numbers: Windows

11. Page Numbers: Mac • Click on INSERT in the menu bar • Then click on PAGE NUMBERS

12. Formatting Page Numbers

13. Section and page breaks

14. Section and page Breaks • Use page breaks when format stays the same • Use section breaks (next page) when format changes or between chapters • For example, use for landscape table or figures! That page will be landscape and the rest portrait.

15. Widows & Orphans

16. Figures: Inserting from File

17. Formatting Figures: Mac

18. Formatting Figures : Windows • Right click on the picture

19. Tables

20. Tables: Inserting & Deleting Columns & Rows

21. Table of Contents: Mac • Leader Dots

22. Table of Contents: Windows

23. Leader Dots • Go to Format and Tabs • 6 for UAF requirements rather than 6.5

24. Resources • Writing Your Dissertation with Microsoft Word: A step by step guide by Vincent Kiernan

25. When all else fails • If the table of contents will not cooperate after the last time you refresh insert leader dots with the tab. • If a table or figure will not print with the document print it separate. • If on a page you can not get the page number to align according to the margin requirements, print up the page, measure, move number, and repeat until it works.