Folks. I've just merged all my PhD chapters into 1 actual thesis document!

Things I have learnt about creating a thesis in Word that will keep you SANE...(please comment & add more...keep the magic alive!)

#phdchat #AcademicChatter @AcademicChatter

1. Create Styles for your headings, paragraphs & captions. This will keep everything looking the same, & hidden paragraph tabs will be EXPOSED!

Set size, indentation, bold/italics, colour etc & life will be sweet AF.

2. Create a multi-level heading numbering template & assign it to your heading styles. Important! Moving sections around will now be seamless & your Table of Contents will be made in the click of a button. Nice.

3. Use section breaks around your figures and tables to keep them in place. Mega important when some are landscape & others are portrait. This town is called Organised Fun & you're the Mayor.

4. Use the Insert Caption tool for all figure & tables, then use the cross-reference tool to automatically insert links to them in the text. Any edits & they'll automatically renumber for you. Plus your List of figures & tables is now OWNED & everyone should call you Captain.

5. If you're like me & have decided to print your thesis double-sided, like some kind of freak, use the mirror margins tool to make sure the wider binding margin alternates pages. Same goes for page # positioning & section breaks to the next even numbered page, for niceness.

6. If you're even more organised than me, save all this as a Word template (.dotx) early on in your PhD & start each chapter using it! You're a pro!

That's my quick brainstorm of things I found useful. I hope they can be of use to someone else too

7. Addition...find a friendly postdoc or recently submitted PhD person from your institution who will share their electronic thesis structure or template with you. @cjw509 is my chosen one...he has quite probably saved my sanity