Titles and Headings

This section details your document's formatting requirements for epigraphs, listings, chapter titles, and headings. It includes specifications for each element's placement, style, and organization, ensuring consistency and clarity throughout your work.

PAGE CONTENTS

EPIGRAPHS AND LISTINGS 

• Epigraphs
  • When used as chapter heads, do not enclose them in quotation marks.
  • Block on the right half or two-thirds of the page.
  • Author/s and title of the quotation are presented flush right and below the epigraph.
• Listings
  • All listings are indented from the left-hand margin for the first lines of text.
  • Carry-over lines must return to the original margin.
  • Numbers, dashes, bullets, etc., may precede listings.

CHAPTER TITLES (include in the Table of Contents)

• Each chapter begins on a new page.
• Place chapter number at least 1" from the top of the page (CHAPTER I); the chapter title follows three lines (spaces) below this (e.g., INTRODUCTION).
• Capitalize chapter titles (e.g., METHODOLOGY), use upper-case Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III, IV, V), and center over the body of the text.
• Triple space between the chapter title and text or centered heading.
• If the title exceeds the 3" limit, double-space and center all additional lines in an inverted pyramid.
• Do not bold or italicize. 

HEADINGS (see examples of heading formatting in Thesis or Project Editable Template document)

• Headings are the key to writing with precision and presenting material clearly and require consistency. Headings vary and should be chosen with clarity in mind. Strive to be clear, precise, and logical. Headings are organized and presented by levels (meaning a top-down progression based on their level of importance). Most theses/projects do not use more than 3-4 heading levels. See details below.

  • The three most common headings are Centered Heading, Flush-Left Heading, Paragraph Heading, and Additional Level Heading.
  • Each chapter must begin with the Centered Heading (not to be confused with the Chapter title).
  • Do not use abbreviations and acronyms.
  • Do not bold or italicize.

CENTERED HEADINGS (include in the Table of Contents)

• The first and most general one (for example, Introduction, Background, Methods, Results, etc.). Must be included in the Table of Contents for all chapters.
• Must be centered over the text.
• Two lines of text must follow on the same page for this heading and all others. If two lines of text do not fit on the page with the header, put the header on the next page.
• Do not underline, 
• Do not bold or italicize. 
• Center within margins.
• Capitalize only the first letter of each major word.
• The text should follow on the next double-spaced line below.
• The length of the title on any line must not exceed 3".

Note: If the title is lengthy, divide it into the appropriate number of lines and single-space the lines in the inverted pyramid style.

FLUSH-LEFT HEADING (include in the Table of Contents)

• The second level heading (also called Free-standing Sidehead) must be included in the Table of Contents for all chapters. Indent the flush-left heading within the Table of Contents to differentiate between the Center Header and the Flush-left Header.
• Must follow on the next doubled-spaced line below the Centered Heading (usually at the beginning of the chapter or section of a chapter) or proceeding a paragraph.
• Two lines of text must follow on the same page for this heading and all others. If two lines of text do not fit on the page with the header, put the header on the next page.
• Underline and set flush with the left margin; capitalize only the first letter of each major word.
• Do not bold or italicize. 
• The text should follow on the next double-spaced line below the heading.
• If the title exceeds the 3" limit, divide it into the appropriate number of lines.
  • All carry-over lines must be single-spaced and indented ¼" from the left-hand margin.

PARAGRAPH HEADING (DO NOT include in the Table of Contents)

• The third heading level (also called Paragraph Sidehead) should follow on the next double-spaced line below the header or proceeding a paragraph.
• Two lines of text must follow on the same page for this heading and all others. If two lines of text do not fit on the page with the header, put the header on the next page.
• Underline and indent the same as the first line of a paragraph (regular indent ½”). 
• Do not bold or italicize. 
• The first letter of each major word in the heading is capitalized.
• The text should follow on the next double-spaced line below the heading.
• Paragraph headings are not included in the Table of Contents.

ADDITIONAL LEVEL HEADING (DO NOT include in the Table of Contents)

• The fourth level of heading is not typical but can be used.
• Two lines of text must follow on the same page for this heading and all others. If two lines of text do not fit on the page with the header, put the header on the next page.
• Underline and indent the same as the paragraph heading with an additional ½” indentations and end with a period.
• Do not bold or italicize. 
• The text should follow after the period and on the same line as the heading. 
• Additional Level headings are not included in the Table of Contents.