Why does your page number jump back to “i” in Chapter 3, or show “1” on the title page? Almost always because Word’s section breaks and header links are set up differently from what you expect. Page numbering in Word for a thesis usually means two systems in one file: lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for the front matter and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) from Chapter 1. This guide gives the six steps, the rules some universities set, and fixes for the problems that appear most often.
This article is part of our guide How to Write a Master’s Thesis by the Mastermind PhD team and relates to our Thesis & Research Formatting service. Sources last checked: November 2026.
What is mixed page numbering? Mixed page numbering is a layout in which the preliminary pages (title page, abstract, acknowledgments, table of contents, lists of tables and figures) are numbered in lowercase Roman numerals and the main text restarts at 1 in Arabic numerals. In Word it depends on a section break between the two parts, so that each section can have its own number format and starting number.
What do universities actually require?
Check your handbook before you set up page numbering in Word, because rules differ.
| University | Front matter | Main text | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto (School of Graduate Studies) | Small Roman numerals, centered near the bottom | Every page numbered | Title page counts as page i but shows no number; the abstract is page ii |
| MIT (Libraries thesis specifications) | One consecutive sequence for the whole thesis | Same sequence | Title page is always page 1; every page is counted even if no number is printed |
So the Roman-then-Arabic pattern is common but not universal. If your university uses one continuous sequence, you only need a single section and a hidden number on the title page.
How does page numbering in Word work behind the scenes?
Three settings control everything:
- Section breaks divide the document into sections. Use Next Page breaks, which start the new section on a new page.
- Link to Previous decides whether a section’s header or footer copies the one before it. As long as it is on, any change you make spreads to the linked sections.
- Format Page Numbers sets the number format (i, ii, iii or 1, 2, 3) and whether numbering continues or starts at a chosen number, separately for each section.
Headers and footers are linked separately, so for page numbering in Word you unlink whichever one holds your page number. Most theses put the number in the footer.
📱 Get your formatting checked before submission — Send your faculty’s style guide with the file; we apply it to the front matter, tables, margins and references.
How do you set up Roman and Arabic page numbering in Word in six steps?
The steps follow Microsoft’s support instructions for Word for Windows; menu names are the same in recent Microsoft 365 versions.
- Show formatting marks. On the Home tab, click Show/Hide (¶) so that you can see section breaks.
- Insert a section break before Chapter 1. Place the cursor at the very start of the Chapter 1 heading, then go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page. Delete any ordinary page break left in the same spot.
- Unlink the main text footer. Double-click the footer on the first page of Chapter 1. On the Header & Footer tab, click Link to Previous so that it is no longer highlighted.
- Number the front matter. Click in a front matter footer and choose Page Number > Bottom of Page with a centered style. Then open Page Number > Format Page Numbers, choose i, ii, iii and set Start at to i.
- Number the main text. Click in the Chapter 1 footer, insert the page number if it is not there, open Format Page Numbers, choose 1, 2, 3 and set Start at to 1.
- Close and check. Click Close Header and Footer, then scroll through both sections and the transition between them.
How do you hide the number on the title page?
If your university counts the title page but does not show its number, as Toronto does, double-click the title page footer and tick Different First Page. Word then gives the first page of that section its own empty footer while the count continues, so the next page shows ii. If you want the second page of the document to show “1” instead, Microsoft’s guide suggests setting Start at to 0 in Format Page Numbers.
Make sure Different First Page is ticked only in the front matter section. If it is also ticked in the main text section, the first page of Chapter 1 will lose its number.
Should every chapter be its own section?
Not for numbering alone. Page numbering in Word continues across sections by default, so one break before Chapter 1 is enough. Extra sections are useful when you need:
| Need | Extra section break? | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape page for a wide table | Yes, before and after the page | Change orientation for that section only; keep numbering continuous |
| Chapter title in the header | Yes, one per chapter | Unlink the header but keep the footer linked so numbers continue |
| Appendices with their own numbering (A-1, A-2) | Yes, before the appendices | Format Page Numbers with chapter numbers, if your rules ask for it |
After each new break, open Format Page Numbers in the new section and confirm that Continue from previous section is selected. A break inserted later often restarts at 1 without warning.
How do you keep the table of contents correct?
The table of contents takes its page numbers from the field in each footer, so it shows Roman numbers for front matter entries and Arabic numbers for chapters automatically. After any change to page numbering in Word, right-click the table of contents and choose Update Field, then Update entire table. Do the same for the lists of tables and figures.
What goes wrong most often, and how do you fix it?
- Chapter 1 shows “v” or “vi”. The section break is missing or Link to Previous is still on. Check that a Next Page break sits before Chapter 1 and that the Chapter 1 footer is unlinked.
- Changing one footer changes all of them. Link to Previous is on. Unlink in the later section, then reformat.
- Numbering restarts in the middle of the thesis. A later section is set to Start at 1. Switch it to Continue from previous section.
- A blank page appears before Chapter 1. There is a page break and a section break together. Delete the page break.
- Numbers change when exported to PDF. Update all fields first (Ctrl+A, then F9), and export with Word’s own Save As PDF rather than a printer driver.
If page numbering in Word still behaves oddly, show formatting marks and look for stray section breaks inside the front matter; one extra “Continuous” break is enough to restart the count.
How do you check the final file?
Before you submit, check page numbering in Word in the exported PDF, not only in the document view:
- The title page shows no number (or the number your rules require).
- Front matter runs i, ii, iii without gaps.
- Chapter 1 starts at 1, and numbering continues through the references and appendices.
- Every table of contents entry matches the printed page number.
- Landscape pages carry the number in the same position as portrait pages if your rules ask for it.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does Word keep showing Roman numerals in my chapters?
Because Chapter 1 is still in the same section as the front matter, or its footer is linked to the previous section. Insert a Next Page section break and turn off Link to Previous.
Do I need a separate file for the front matter?
No. One file with a section break is safer, because the table of contents and cross-references then stay accurate. Separate files make it easy for numbers to drift.
Does the title page count as page i?
At many universities it does, even though no number is printed; Toronto states this explicitly. Others, such as MIT, count it as page 1 of one continuous sequence. Follow your handbook.
Can I do this in Word for Mac?
Yes. Page numbering in Word for Mac uses the same commands: insert a Next Page section break, unlink the footer, and set the format and starting number under Page Number, then Format Page Numbers.
What about Google Docs?
Google Docs supports section breaks and different page numbering per section, but Roman numeral formats are limited. Many students do the final formatting in Word for this reason.
Sources
- Microsoft Support. Customize page numbers and their formats in different Word document sections. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/customize-page-numbers-and-their-formats-in-different-word-document-sections (accessed November 2026)
- Microsoft Support. Start page numbering later in your document. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/start-page-numbering-later-in-your-document-c73e3d55-d722-4bd0-886e-0b0bd0eb3f02 (accessed November 2026)
- Microsoft Support. Insert a section break. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-section-break-eef20fd8-e38c-4ba6-a027-e503bdf8375c (accessed November 2026)
- Microsoft Support. Update a table of contents. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/update-a-table-of-contents-6c727329-d8fd-44fe-83b7-fa7fe3d8ac7a (accessed November 2026)
- University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies. Formatting (thesis formatting and submission). https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/academic-progress/program-completion/formatting/ (accessed November 2026)
- MIT Libraries, Distinctive Collections. MIT Specifications for Thesis Preparation. https://libraries.mit.edu/distinctive-collections/thesis-specs/ (accessed November 2026)
Sources last checked: November 2026. This article is general educational guidance and does not replace your university regulations or your supervisor’s instructions. How we prepare our content.