Skip to the content of the web site.

Graduate Thesis Regulation

5 Typographic Design

Theses submitted must be submitted in .pdf format only.

Theses must follow standard typesetting conventions. The responsibility for graphic design and typesetting rests with the student. However, theses must meet minimum requirements for acceptance by the Graduate Studies Office and the Library and Archives Canada.

5.1 Standard Typesetting Conventions

From a technical perspective, custom implies the use of roman type; ten or eleven point type for the main text; line and word spacing appropriate for the typeface and the page; deliberate (and sparing) use of italic; consistency in the use of different typefaces for headings, footings, and titles; opening paragraphs set flush left, and all other paragraphs indented by at least one em; and many other maxims.

Please refer to your IST consulting office for information on computer-based typesetting systems. (See UW Resources, Information Systems and Technology section.)

5.2 Typographic Measures

Table 1 below lists conversion factors for common typographic measures.

Table 1 Typographic measures
Measure Abbreviation Definition
point pt 1pt = 0.013837 inches*
inch in 1 in = 72.27 pt
big point bp 72bp = 1 inch
centemeter cm 2.54cm = 1 inch**
pica pc 1 pc = 12 pt
didot point dd 1157 dd = 1238 pt
* The American Typefounders Association defined the official printer's point of 0.013837 inches in 1886.

**The length of an inch changed from 1/0.3937 cm to 2.54 cm in 1959; the size of a point did not. Consequently, the imperial 'size' of a point changed from 1/72 inch to 1/72.27 inch.
(Knuth 1984, p. 58)

5.3 Print

Students who are submitting paper copies to their department to meet Faculty requirements should be aware that the paper copy of a thesis may be printed on both (double-sided) the recto (right-hand) and verso (left-hand) sides of a page. The print on the original must be dark enough to support the number of copies required. The print and duplication of the thesis must be of the highest quality. Only solid, black print is acceptable. Broken, uneven, blurred or light lettering is not acceptable. Print must be without "shadows".

5.4 Paper

So that the thesis will not discolour and withstand frequent use, a good quality paper is required normally with a 25% cotton content such as Colonial Bond (12M) weight or Fox River Select Script (12M). The paper must be heavy enough to be opaque, especially for theses printed on both sides of a page. A recycled paper could be Fox River Select Script (12M) or XL Recycled Bond 10M. Lightweight computer paper is not acceptable.

Paper should be white or of a colour that gives good contrast with the text, so that it is easy to read and reproduce. (British Standard)

The recommended dimensions of the paper used for the manuscript are 21.5 cm. by 28 cm. (8 1/2 inches by 11 inches).

Thesis quality paper is available at all New Media Services locations (See Section 8.2) or refer to:

http://www.mediadoc.uwaterloo.ca/thesis.php

Graduate students wishing to use specialty paper should bring their theses to one of the four New Media Services campus locations http://www.mediadoc.uwaterloo.ca/index.php

5.5 Font Size and Spacing

The typesize of the main body of text must be 10 points or larger, with smaller sizes permitted for footnotes, graphs, formulae, appendices, etc. (Theses Canada). Type larger than 12 points is not recommended for the main text.

It is suggested that a serif typeface be used for the main text (i.e., Times Roman, Palatino, ITC Garamond, Baskerville, Lucida, or TeX's Computer Modern Roman). Monospaced typefaces that emulate typewriters, such as Courier, are not recommended though they can be used to set computer programs or computer printout as part of a thesis.

For example, the main text of this guide is set in 10 point Times Roman. (Note: This does not apply to the version you read on the Web.)

Line spacing, or leading , should be wide enough to permit ease of reading and should be appropriate for the typeface, font, page size, and line length. Due to the number of possible combinations of these factors, it is difficult to give precise guidelines, though some generalizations can be made. Ordinarily a longer line requires a larger font, and a larger font requires more leading. In most circumstances, 10 point text set in a narrow column should be set with at least 3 points of leading (a 13 point baseline, or 10/13). For the maximum line length (see Margins below regarding margins) an 11 or 12 point typesize is recommended, set with at least 5 points of leading (11/16, 12/17). As a third example, text set in 11 point on a 12 centimeter line should be spaced with leading of 3 or 4 points (11/14 or 11/15), depending on the typeface used. Text heavy with mathematics, particularly subscripts and superscripts, will benefit from additional leading to ensure that lines remain distinct (e.g. 10/15, 11/16, 12/17). (Paulley)

See examples in Margins.

5.6 Margins

Each page should include a minimum 1 inch (72 points) margin at the top, bottom, and outer edge of each page, and a minimum 1 1/8 inch (81 points) gutter margin . Wider margins, as part of an overall graphic design, are acceptable. (Paulley 7)

The main text should appear within this frame. Running heads and marginal notes may be placed outside the margins but not closer than 15mm from the outer edges of a page. Gutter margins must be left blank. ( Paulley )

These measurements allow for page-trimming for binding and leave room for minor corrections to original pages.

Example of a narrow column text: 10 point type with 3 point leading (10/13) - This would allow 2 columns per page (Note: these examples do not apply to the text you see on the Web.)

A Thesis embodies the results of a student's research program and exposes the work to scholarly criticism. It is prepared under the supervision of a faculty member. The thesis itself becomes the property of the University but other concurrent forms of publication are allowed. A Thesis embodies the results of a student's research program and exposes the work to scholarly criticism. It is prepared under the supervision of ...

Example of a maximum line length (16 cm): 12 point type with 5 point leading (12/17)

A Thesis embodies the results of a student's research program and exposes the work to scholarly criticism. It is prepared under the supervision of a faculty member. The thesis itself becomes the property of the University but other concurrent forms of publication are allowed.

5.7 Spelling

Either British or American spelling is acceptable; however, one or the other should be used consistently throughout. This includes the title page.

Characters that are not available on a standard keyboard may be inserted neatly by hand in black India ink or black letraset. If corrections are made, they must be done neatly; correction fluid should be used sparingly. (Note: This does not apply to thesis submitted electronically. )

5.8 Style Manuals and Texts

Where instructions in a style manual differ from specifications stated in the regulations, the regulations shall be the authority. Students should not use theses written in former years as models as these may not conform to the current regulations.

The following is a selection of manuals or texts that may be used as general references in the preparation of a thesis.

Style Manual

University of Chicago Press (1993). The Chicago Manual of Style (14th Edition). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.

Technical Writing and Graphic Design Texts

Alred, G.J., W.E. Oliu, and C.T. Brisaw (1992). The Professional Writer . New York, New York: St. Martin's Press. [Layout and design.]

Bringhurst, R. (1992). The Elements of Typographic Style . Vancouver, British Columbia: Hartley & Marks. [Fundamentals of typography.]

Kane, T.S. (1988). The New Oxford Guide to Writing. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. [Writing as a rationale and valuable activity.]

Rice, S. (1978). Book Design-Text Format Models. New York, New York: R.R. Bowker Company. ["An order catalog of text typography."]

Rubinstein, R. (1988). Digital Typography An Introduction to Type and Composition for Computer System Design. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley. [Typography from a computer typesetting perspective.]

Tschichold, J. (1991). The Form of the Book . Vancouver, British Columbia: Hartley & Marks. [A collection of 23 essays concerning various aspects of typography.]

White, J.V. (1988). Graphic Design for the Electronic Age. New York, New York: Watson-Guptill. [An excellent book on graphic design and layout of printed matter.]

Xerox Corporation (1988). Xerox Publishing Standards: A Manual of Style and Design. New York, New York: Watson-Guptill. [A combination of style manual and graphic design handbook.]

 

back to table of contents