OmniDocHow to add Page X of Y page number to English contract
English contracts commonly use the Page X of Y format to indicate page numbers. This article explains how to determine the font and font size, use the page number field and total page number field to insert in the Word footer, and how to deal with common problems such as the cover not being numbered and the page number not updating after changing the page.
Key points of this article
- Page
- English contract page numbers are usually consistent with the main text font, and the common combination is Times New Roman or Arial. The font size is subject to the other party's template.
- When the cover is not numbered and the page count starts from the second page, you need to use the "different first page" setting and adjust the total number of pages simultaneously.
- Check with print preview and PDF export before delivery to confirm that the page numbers on each page are consecutive and the total number is correct.
When many people make an English contract for the first time, they manually type numbers like "1 of 10" in the footer. Once the document is changed, the number of pages changes, and the page numbers no longer match. A contract is a document that needs to be signed and checked page by page. Misaligned page numbers will cause trouble.
This article is written for people who need to format English contracts themselves, including clerks who work on business contracts, individuals who prepare bilingual agreements, and translators who want to translate Chinese contracts into English. After reading, you will be able to create a footer in the Page
How to write the contract page number in English? One sentence conclusion
First use the page number field and the total number of pages field to automatically generate page numbers. Do not enter numbers manually. The font and size should be given priority to the contract template or the format requirements provided by the other party; if there are no requirements, they should be consistent with the main text.
| your situation | Recommended practices | reason |
|---|---|---|
| The other party or company template has clear format requirements | Strictly set according to the font, font size and page number position of the template | The contract format shall be based on the template. Changes will increase the review cost. |
| No format requirements, draft it yourself | The footer font is the same as the main text, and the font size is slightly smaller than the main text. | Visual unity, the footer does not steal the main text |
| No page numbers are required on the cover | Set the homepage to be different, leave the cover blank, and start page numbers from the second page | Comply with the numbering convention of most contracts |
| Attached to the back of the contract are attachments with separate pages. | Number according to the section of the attachment, or mark it separately in the attachment. | Avoid confusion between main contract and attachment page numbers |
| Need to send PDF to the other party for signature | Finalize page numbers in Word first, then export to PDF | After exporting, the page numbers will be fixed for easy checking. |
Before you start: Confirm these points first
Judging a few things before taking action can save you a lot of rework.
Confirm the source of font and size. There is no uniform international mandatory standard for English contracts. The common practice is Times New Roman or Arial, and the main text is 11 to 12 points more common. However, different institutions have different requirements, and some law firms or bidding documents will specify the font. First ask if the other party has a template, and if so, follow it.
Confirm which page the page number starts from. Some contract covers and catalogs do not include page numbers, and the main text is numbered starting from the first page. If the page numbers start from the cover, the page numbers of the table of contents and the main text will be staggered, and the page number that the reader turns to will not match the reference in the contract.
Confirm whether the contract will be changed. If the contract is still being modified by multiple people, do not schedule the final page number yet. Every time the page number changes, recheck the footer.
Confirm final form of document. If you want to sign in PDF form, all modifications should be done in Word before exporting to PDF. If you send the original Word document to the other party, remind the other party not to change the footer at will.
Confirm if translation is involved. If the English contract is translated from the original Chinese text, the machine-translated text needs to be manually checked, especially the clause number, amount, date and name of the parties. No matter how well the page layout is done, content errors will still bring risks.
Steps to set Page X of Y page number in Word
- Open the Word file of the contract, double-click the bottom of the page to enter the footer editing state, or find the header and footer option in the insert function.
- Enter the English word Page in the footer, followed by a space to reserve space for the page number.
- Insert the "Page Number" field after Page, select the page number format of the current position, and the footer will display the number of the current page.
- Enter another space and the English word of, and then add a space.
- Insert the "Total Number of Pages" field, and the footer will display the number of pages in the entire document, resulting in a Page 1 of 10 effect.
- Select the entire footer text and set the font and size to the format required by the contract, which is usually consistent with the main text font.
- If the cover page is not numbered, check "First page is different" in the header and footer settings, and clear the footer of the cover page.
- Exit the footer editing state, switch to page view and check whether the page number of each page is correct.
Check each item after completion
After typesetting is completed, do not send it out directly, but check it item by item.
| Check items | How to see | What to do if there is a problem |
|---|---|---|
| Are the page numbers consecutive? | From the first page to the last page, do the numbers increase sequentially? | Check whether there are section breaks or whether "different home page" is set incorrectly, and adjust the section settings uniformly. |
| Is the total number of pages correct? | Is the number after the of on the last page equal to the actual number of pages? | After selecting all files, press the function key to update the field, and then check whether the cover is included in the total number. |
| Is the font and font size uniform? | Whether the footer is consistent with the body or template requirements | Select the footer text and re-apply the font and size specified in the contract |
| Is the footer in the right position? | Whether the footer is obscured by the body during print preview and whether it is too far from the margin | Adjust the distance between the footer and the margin to ensure that it does not press to the body |
| Whether it is consistent after export | After exporting PDF, open it page by page and check the page number and total. | If it is inconsistent, go back to Word and re-export it. Do not change PDF directly. |
| Is the attachment page number independent? | Does the attachment have its own number or label? | Insert a section break before the attachment, or indicate the range of page numbers in the title of the attachment |
After completing the check, it is recommended to save the final version as a new file name and keep a modified version to facilitate later review.
# frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Why did the page number change the number of pages, but the total number of pages did not change?
The page number and total number of pages in Word are automatic fields, but sometimes they are not refreshed immediately. You can press the function key to update the field after selecting all files, or view the results in print preview. If it is still wrong, check to see if there are sections, and the page number setting for each section may be different.
2. There is no page number for the cover, but should the total number of Page X of Y be subtracted from the cover?
It depends on the request of the other party. The common practice is that the cover does not count the page number, and the total number of pages is calculated according to the actual number of pages, but there are also contracts that stipulate that the cover should be included. When in doubt, ask the other party directly or refer to the template.
3. Do I have to use Times New Roman in the English contract?
Not necessarily. Both Times New Roman and Arial are common, but there are no uniform regulations. If the other party or organization has a template, the template shall prevail; if there is no requirement, choose a font that is clear and easy to read and unify the whole article.
4. Why is the Word page numbered wrong when the file is opened on another computer?
It is usually caused by missing fonts or different paging. Embedding fonts into files, or exporting PDF and sending them again, can reduce such problems. The signed version is sent in PDF form as much as possible.
5. Can you put the contract number and page number in the footer at the same time?
Sure. Put the contract number on the left side of the footer and Page X of Y on the right, separated by a space in the middle. The two parts of the font should be the same, and the font size should not exceed the text.
# Summary
The key to the Page X of Y page number of an English contract is to automatically generate the page code field and the total page number field, and then put the font, font size and home page settings in place. After following the above steps and checking item by item, you can get the contract document with clear page number and uniform format.
