Dallas Theological Seminary Style Guide Formatting
The rules Dallas Theological Seminary sets for papers, theses, and dissertations, summarized from the official guide, plus a formatter that applies them to your Word file for you.
Try It Free on Your Paper →The Rules at a Glance
| Margins | 1 inch top, 1 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.5 inch left. Theses and dissertations: 1.5 in. left (binding); 1 in. top, bottom, right. Research papers 1 in. all. Chapter headings 2 in. from the top of the page. |
|---|---|
| Font | 12 pt body, 10 pt footnotes. Font face not specified. |
| Spacing | Double-spaced. Paragraphs and footnotes indented 3/4 in. (not 1/2 in.). Block quotes (5 lines or more) single-spaced, indented 1/2 in. (another 1/4 in. if the quote starts a paragraph in the original). One blank line before each footnote (sample page). |
| Title Page Number | Counted as i, no number shown |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Lowercase Roman, centered at bottom; all front matter pages numbered except the title page |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic, top right on non-chapter-opening pages |
| Chapter First Pages | Bottom center |
| Citation Style | Turabian 9th ed. notes-bibliography with footnotes (not endnotes), as amended by the DTS Supplement. Biblical and classical citations in parentheses. Superscript note numbers in the notes; footnotes restart at 1 each chapter; first reference in each new chapter is a full note. Use the author-title short note instead of 'the increasingly obsolete abbreviation ibid.' SBL Handbook 2nd ed. 8 journal/reference-work abbreviations allowed if listed in the Abbreviations list. |
| Abstract | 350 words maximum. Required for all theses and dissertations. Heading 'ABSTRACT', then the full title (caps), author name, and 'Readers: [full names without Dr.]'. |
| Contents Heading | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Chapter Headings | 2 in. from the top of the page; 'CHAPTER 1' on one line, 'CHAPTER TITLE' in caps on the next, centered (sample). |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Centered; horizontal rule lines are part of the design and separate the title, the presentation block, the degree block and the author/date block. Vertical spacing not specified.
Title capitalization: ALL CAPS.
Front Matter Order
- Title Page
- Acceptance Sheet
- Abstract
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
Programs
Th.M. / S.T.M. theses
- Described in the top-level fields (title page and approval sheet are the Th.M. samples).
Doctoral dissertations and projects (Ph.D., D.Min., D.Ed.Min.)
- Same Supplement rules (1.5 in. left margin, page numbering, front matter order, 350-word abstract).
- Additional degree-specific supplements from program offices amend the Supplement; not public.
- Doctoral acceptance pages come from the program office.
Research papers
- 1 in. margins on all sides.
- Abbreviations list not required.
- Bibliography not subdivided.
- Title page format not given in the Supplement (Word template not retrieved).
- Otherwise the same rules apply.
Rules Students Often Miss
- Front matter order overrides Turabian A.2.1: Acknowledgements and Preface come after the lists.
- Paragraph and footnote indent is 3/4 in.
- Bibliography: repeat the author's name for later works; do not use the 3-em dash (contrary to Turabian). Alphabetical by surname, then title. Research papers not subdivided; theses/dissertations may be subdivided with head notes (consult advisor). Classical and patristic works included.
- Ibid. discouraged in favor of author-title short notes.
- En dash for verse ranges and all numeric ranges (contrary to Turabian 23.2.4); SBL Scripture book abbreviations (Gen, Exod, Phlm).
- Abbreviations list required in theses and dissertations (Turabian fig. A.7 format), not in research papers.
- Final copy must be PDF/A.
- Contents sample: 'Chapter' label, then '1. TITLE OF CHAPTER 1' in caps with spaced dot leader and page number; subheadings indented without page numbers; 'BIBLIOGRAPHY' with page number. Parts not necessary.
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in Dallas Theological Seminary’s wording, order, and spacing.
- Sets the margins and puts page numbers where the guide asks, with roman numerals in the front matter when required.
- Builds the contents page with dot leaders and the real page numbers filled in.
- Styles every heading level, block quotation, footnote, and bibliography entry.
- Gives you a short list of what only you can fix, like signature pages.
- Formatting software only. It never writes or rewrites a word of your paper.
Format Your Paper in About a Minute
Pick your school, drop in your Word file or PDF, and see your own title page done to these rules before you pay. Your paper never leaves your computer.
Common Questions
What margins does Dallas Theological Seminary require?
1 inch top, 1 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.5 inch left. Theses and dissertations: 1.5 in. left (binding); 1 in. top, bottom, right. Research papers 1 in. all. Chapter headings 2 in. from the top of the page.
Where do page numbers go in a Dallas Theological Seminary dissertation?
Front matter: Lowercase Roman, centered at bottom; all front matter pages numbered except the title page. Main text: Arabic, top right on non-chapter-opening pages.
What citation style does Dallas Theological Seminary use?
Turabian 9th ed. notes-bibliography with footnotes (not endnotes), as amended by the DTS Supplement. Biblical and classical citations in parentheses. Superscript note numbers in the notes; footnotes restart at 1 each chapter; first reference in each new chapter is a full note. Use the author-title short note instead of 'the increasingly obsolete abbreviation ibid.' SBL Handbook 2nd ed. 8 journal/reference-work abbreviations allowed if listed in the Abbreviations list.
Can Style Guide Pro format my Dallas Theological Seminary dissertation?
Yes. Choose Dallas Theological Seminary when you upload your Word file or PDF. Style Guide Pro rebuilds it with the title page, margins, page numbers, contents, headings, footnotes, and bibliography laid out the way the guide asks, then lists anything only you can fix. You can preview your own title page free before you pay.
Sources
- Dallas Theological Seminary Supplement to Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 9th edition (revised 2025-01-15)
- DTS Writing Center page
Summarized from Dallas Theological Seminary’s official guide, which Turner Memorial Library / Writing Center (Th.M., S.T.M., D.Min., Ph.D., D.Ed.Min.) publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.