◆ In short
For a thesis the standard is 1.5 spacing for the text and single spacing for footnotes, long quotations, bibliography, captions and tables. Double spacing is used only if your regulations ask for it. In Word you do not set it paragraph by paragraph: you change it once in the Normal style (right-click the style → Modify → Format → Paragraph → Line spacing: 1.5 lines), and it applies to the whole thesis. Watch the spacing before and after paragraphs, which adds to the line spacing, and the page count: going from 1.5 to double makes the thesis about a third longer.
Which spacing, part by part
Body text
1.5The standard at almost every university: it reads well and leaves room for your supervisor's pen corrections.
Footnotes
SingleAt 10 pt. At 1.5 they fill half the page. See the footnotes guide.
Long quotations
Single, indentedBeyond three lines they are usually set apart: single spacing, left indent, often a point smaller, without quotation marks.
Bibliography
Single, space between entriesEach entry single-spaced, with 6 pt after it to separate it from the next.
Tables and captions
SingleInside tables 1.5 spacing just makes them longer for no reason.
Double
Only if requiredSome departments ask for it on drafts for correction. It is rare in the bound copy.
How to set it in Word, once
The wrong way is to select everything and change the spacing from the button: it works, but the first paragraph you paste from another file brings the mess back. The right way is to change the style:
- On the Home tab, in the Styles group, right-click Normal → Modify.
- Bottom left: Format → Paragraph.
- Line spacing: 1.5 lines. Under Spacing set Before to 0 pt and After to 6 pt (or 0, if you prefer a first-line indent to separate paragraphs).
- Confirm and, at the bottom of the style window, choose New documents based on this template only if you want it to become your standard for every file.
Then do the same with the Footnote Text style (single spacing) and with the styles you use for quotations and bibliography. Our Word template already has all these styles ready.
For a single paragraph, the Line and Paragraph Spacing button in the Paragraph group on the Home tab is enough.
1.5 lines, multiple, exactly: Word's options
- 1.5 lines is the one to choose for a thesis: one and a half times the line height of the font you use.
- Multiple with a value (1.15, 1.3…) is for in-between values. Word's default style usually uses a multiple just above single, not 1.5: that is why a new document is not ready as it is.
- Exactly fixes the height in points. Avoid it in body text: if a line contains a formula or a taller character, it gets cut off.
- At least sets a minimum and lets the line grow if needed: only for special cases.
In LibreOffice it is under Format → Paragraph → Indents & Spacing → Line spacing: 1.5 lines; in Google Docs under Format → Line & paragraph spacing.
How much line spacing affects the page count
Line spacing decides how many lines fit on a page, and so how many pages the thesis has. With the same text:
- from 1.5 to double, the page count grows by about a third (100 pages become about 133);
- from 1.5 to single, it drops by about a third (100 become about 67), but the thesis becomes tiring to read and almost no university accepts it for body text.
The page count does not only change the thickness: printing is charged per side, and a longer thesis costs more. You can see the difference straight away with the thesis price calculator. If your regulations set a minimum or maximum number of pages, count them with the required spacing, not the one you use while writing.
The most common mistakes
Spacing that adds up
1.5 spacing plus 10-12 pt after every paragraph gives a text full of holes. With 1.5 spacing, 6 pt after is enough, or none.
Different spacing from chapter to chapter
It happens when you paste text from other documents. Paste as plain text, or select it and reapply the Normal style.
Empty returns instead of spacing
Blank lines used to separate paragraphs move with every edit and end up at the top of pages. Use the After spacing instead.
Exact spacing
It clips formulas, superscripts and accented capitals. In the body always use 1.5 lines.
Frequently asked questions
What line spacing is used for a thesis?
1.5 for the text and single for footnotes, long quotations, bibliography, tables and captions. Double only if your regulations require it.
1.5 spacing in Word: “1.5 lines” or “Multiple 1.5”?
They give the same result. “1.5 lines” is the clearer option and the one usually used.
Does the spacing apply to headings too?
Headings have their own styles (Heading 1, 2, 3): usually single spacing, with space before and after to set them apart from the text.
Can I reduce the spacing to fit the page limit?
If your regulations set 1.5, no: examiners notice. It is better to cut text or repetition.
◆ Keep reading