Choosing a word processor or typesetting package
You can use any word processor, text-editor, or typesetting package you want to write your document. As long as you can set page numbers, set margins, and print from it, you can generate an appropriately-formatted PDF from it. However, please be aware that there are serious problems with WordPerfect's ability to convert accurately into a PDF file. We are not partisans of any specific word processing program. We share our experience with you in order to make the preparation and submission of your thesis/dissertation as easy as possible.
Software
Details
Microsoft Word
Pro
Consistent formatting when switching between different printers (compared to WordPerfect
Con
Complicated margin setting and page numbering (though this is moot now since the page numbering requirements have been loosened)
WordPerfect
Pro
Easy page numbering and margin setting
Con
Problem with reformatting for each different printer. This can be a very serious problem. If you have written and formatted your document on a computer with printer XYZ set as the default printer, then all the formatting may be altered when you print using a different printer (such as the PDF-generating printer-driver). If you are concerned about this and plan on using (or are already using) WP to write your document, please contact us.
Problem with proprietary fonts that don't survive the conversion to PDF. Corel has released an updated set of fonts to solve this problem. This link will take you to the appropriate download page. Look for: "WordPerfect® Office 2000 Symbols Fonts Update". Don't worry about the "2000" part, the fonts work with WP 9 as well.
WordPerfect 8 and earlier cannot embed fonts, making it dangerous to move a document between different computers.
LaTeX, TeX, etc.
Pro
Free and powerful non-GUI alternative to MSWord and WordPerfect, etc.
Beautiful-looking documents, high level of control and consistency
Once you know how to use it, it is easier to use than Word, WP, etc. E.g., it automatically generates your table of contents; it takes care of formatting your front matter for you: all you need to do is type in your name, document title, abstract, etc. once, and the style sheet puts them all in the right places, formatted correctly. You never have to fiddle with page numbers or margins.
If you are using complex mathematical equations and/or special symbols, you are pretty much obliged to use this package.
Beginning in 2010, it is no longer necessary to use a special UGA style sheet if you are using LaTeX, AMS-TeX, or similar mathematical text formatters. Nor do you have to comply with all the format guidelines that apply to conventional word processors. Instead, use LaTeX or related software in the normal way, selecting 12 point type and 1 1/2 or 2-line spacing, and precede your thesis with a properly formatted set of UGA-standard abstract, title, copyright, and approval pages.
It is understood that you do not control the format of the table of contents, chapter headings, and the like. Take care to follow all of the format specifications of your academic discipline, and to use LaTeX correctly, not running material out into the margins, nor mistyping opening and closing quotation marks, nor mixing up mathematical and textual italics.
An example of how to type a UGA thesis in LaTeX is here.
Creating single or multiple files
You can store/manage your file however you want. The graduate school requires only that you submit a single PDF file; how you produce that PDF–from a single or from multiple wordprocessor files–is completely up to you.
Files
Details
Single
Pro
Easier to keep track of your files and different versions
Easier to convert to PDF
Con
If your file is very large, saving, opening, copying, etc. can become very slow
The larger your file, the greater your loss if a small error/flaw in any part of it corrupts the whole thing.
Multiple
Pro
Your individual small files will open relatively quickly.
If any one file becomes corrupted, you don't loose your whole document.
Con
File management becomes more complicated: you need to keep track of more files and versions of those different files. It becomes easier to accidentally mix and match old and new files. Think carefully about how you are going to name and store your different files and different versions of those files.
Use standard fonts such as Arial, Courier, Helvetica, and Times. The use of unusual fonts may cause problems for the readers and when the document is printed. Use the front-matter template available from the Graduate School to do your front pages (abstract, title, copyright, approval, dedication, acknowledgements, table of contents). Do not combine this file with the body of your text.
Style requirements for ETDs: ETDs are expected to conform to the same stylistic requirements as paper theses or dissertations. The Graduate School thesis and dissertation style requirements are outlined in the Style Manual. Any work that is submitted that does not conform to the rules outlined in the Style Manual will be unacceptable and the student will not get credit for completion of a successful first format check until a corrected and/or more complete document is submitted.
Setting the margins: A minimum left margin of 1" is required throughout the entire document. However, if you intend to have your work printed and bound a 1.5" left margin is recommended. Use the following document margine guidelines (or every separate sub-document if your document is divided into several files).
Word
left, right, top, bottom: 1" (or 1.5" left)
header: 0.5"
footer: 0.5"
gutter: 0"
WordPerfect
left and right margins: 1"
Top-right page numbering:
top: 0.5"
header: 0.350" deep
page number code
right-justification
Bottom-center page numbering
top: 1.0"
bottom: 0.5"
page number code
bottom center
Note: All the margins for your entire document should be one inch. To set the top heading at 1.75" for section and chapter first pages, (with your line spacing set to double) hit the Enter key twice. This should give you the correct 1.75" spacing.
Footnotes
To stop footnotes from appearing on the incorrect page in Microsoft Word 97, refer to their Support Page on the topic.
Skipping Page Numbers
to fix page numbers that skip in Microsoft Word, click somewhere in the page after the skipped number. Then go to the File menu, click on "Page Setup...". In the dialog box that appears, there will be a row of tabs across the top. Click on the one called "Layout". Near the top of the dialog box there should be a control called "Section start:". It probably says something like "Odd page" or "Even page" (see below). If so, this is the source of your skipping page number. Changing the setting to "New page" should fix the problem. If the control does not say "Odd page" or "Even page", do not change the setting. This is not the source of your problem.
