Preparation and Printing of the Manuscript

Print Quality

A professional font in a size that is clear and easy to read must be used throughout the manuscript with the exception of computer programming languages, text within figures and tables, and previously published materials included within the appendices. Table 4.1 lists example fonts and sizes. Characters must be clear and sharp. Smudged, indistinct, or blurred letters are not acceptable. The official Word template provided by the Thesis Office uses Times New Roman 12 pt. If you want to use a different font you will need to make sure to change the font everywhere in the manuscript, including page numbers. 

The right margin of the manuscript may be justified if the spacing between words is not unusually large, if words are properly hyphenated, and if the right margin is justified on every full line of text, including footnotes, references, figure captions, and table titles. 

No prepackaged computer program completely adheres to the University of Utah Graduate School thesis guidelines. The Knowledge Commons in the Marriott Library is an excellent resource for computer questions. 

Color should be used only where necessary. Data within tables and figures may not be distinguished by color only, so as to make the information within accessible to people who have difficulty distinguishing colors. 

Table 4.1

Recommended fonts and print sizes.

 

Margins

All pages of the final manuscript must be within the following limits: 

• left and right margins: 1 1/4 inches 
• top and bottom margins: 1 inch 
• main headings pages (title in ALL CAPS) top margin: 2 inches 

Pages of text must be of consistent length, though the space above the bottom margin may vary depending upon a number of factors. 

• Only tables or figures appear on the page: Pages with tables and figures will vary in length depending upon the amount of data displayed in the table or the size of the figure. Tables and figures should be placed so they appear balanced on the page and with a space larger than a double space between multiple figures or tables placed upon the same page. 
• Display equations: Pages where a display equation ends the page may have a larger than normal bottom margin if there is not enough space for the next equation or next line of text above the bottom margin. 
• To avoid leaving a subheading at the bottom of a page: Because freestanding subheadings must be followed by at least two lines of text, the bottom margin may vary slightly on pages with freestanding subheadings. 
• Footnotes: Creating enough space for footnotes on a page may cause some variability in space at the bottom of a page. 
• Widow/orphan control: Some word processing programs can also create variability in the space at the bottom of a page in order to create a widow or an orphan. However, occurrences of widows and orphans are acceptable within the manuscript according to the student’s preference. 
• The end of the chapter: Large white space is permitted at the end of the chapter. However, at least two lines of text must be placed on the last page of any section/chapter of the manuscript. If a chapter ends with only one line of text on a page, a line from the preceding page must be moved to the last page. 

Accessibility in the PDF

Manuscripts uploaded to ProQuest for publication should be accessible to screen readers. Care should be used to preserve the formatting of headings, figure captions, and table titles within the converted PDF so that they can be parsed by screen-reading software and utilities. Make certain that you use accessibility tools while preparing the document and that the conversion tool you are using maintains the accessibility features.