Page numbering is confusing. Use the table to number your pages.

Page numbering is complicated by old conventions that have been adopted through the ages. Some of these conventions are based on practical applications, such as numbering the front matter differently than the main body text. This is done because much of the main body text has to be done before the front matter can be completed.

Some of these old rules are based on appearance, such as leaving page numbers off title pages. And some of them are based on old typesetting conventions, such as putting the page number on top of the page, so that they would only have to pay for one extra line of typesetting.

Whatever the reason, page numbering today is quite complex. Important pages have to be placed on right hand pages. All pages count beginning with the first page of the front matter, but many of them will not have visible numbers. Remember the rule about not using headers on chapter title pages? That means that chapter title pages have to have their page numbers at the bottom of the page or left blank. It makes no sense to reference a page number in the table of contents and then not show it when you get to that page.

Since there is no longer any advantage to putting page numbers at the top of the page, I recommend that you put all page numbers at the bottom of the page and avoid some of these page numbering hassles. Other problems are not so easily solved, so we need a chart to see what pages have visible numbers and what pages do not.

Page Numbering and Left or Right Hand Pages

With so many book parts starting on right hand pages, there are bound to be some blank pages. These need to be totally blank, so we may have to put some of them in their own sections.

Inserting Simple Page Numbers

Click "Page Number" in the Header and Footer group on the Insert tab. Select "Bottom of the Page" from the drop down menu. You will get another drop down menu that is a gallery of page number designs and locations. Choose one of the plain numbers. You will need to be in Print Layout view to see your page numbers. Remember, page numbers are section properties.

Choosing the Number Format

Click "Page Number" in the Header and Footer group on the Insert tab. Choose "Format Page Numbers" from the drop down menu. Click on the "Number Format" drop down menu. You can choose from Arabic numerals, roman numerals, and letters of the alphabet. You will use this dialog box to select Roman numerals for the front matter and Arabic numerals for the remainder of the book.

Notice that you can also change the starting number in this dialog box. You will need to use this when you number the front matter as you will have a string of pages where the page numbers will not show. You will need to begin the first visible page number with the correct page number.

Creating Different Odd and Even Page Numbers (Footers)

Double click in the footer area of the first page of the section you want to begin page numbering. This brings up the Header and Footer Tools. Click on "Different Odd and Even Pages" in the Options group. Then click on the Insert tab. Click on "Page Number" in the Header and Footer group. Select "Bottom of the Page," and then select "Plain Number 3." Plain Number 3 has the page number on the right side or outside of the page.

Now double click in the footer area of page number 2. Once again, click on "Page Number" and "Bottom of the Page." This time select "Plain Number 1," which puts the page number on the left side or outside of the page.

Deleting Page Numbers

If you need to delete page numbers, click "Page Number" in the Header and Footer group on the Insert tab. Click on "Remove Page Numbers" on the bottom of the drop down menu. You can also double click in the footer, select the page number, and then press the Delete key.

Guidelines for Using Page Numbers

• Use Roman numerals for the front matter.
• Isolate blank pages in their own sections (Remove "Same as Previous").
• Use an Odd Page Break at the end of the front matter, and before all elements that have to begin on a right hand page.
• Use Arabic numerals for the main body text and back matter.
• Put page numbers in your footers to avoid losing page numbers or having to use drop folios on pages where headers are not allowed.

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