Essential Tips for ABNT Thesis Formatting

By linda Last updated Apr 25, 2026

Writing a thesis is a monumental achievement, a culmination of years of rigorous research, late-night reading, and relentless writing. However, the academic journey does not end with merely putting words on a page. To ensure your work is recognized, respected, and accepted by Brazilian universities and international institutions adhering to Brazilian guidelines, you must format thesis according to ABNT standards. Learn the best info about formatar tcc abnt.

ABNT, or the Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards), provides the definitive framework for academic writing in Brazil. Navigating these rules can often feel like learning a completely new language. If you are struggling with abnt thesis formatting, you are not alone. From setting the correct margins to mastering the intricate details of reference lists, the sheer volume of rules can be overwhelming.

This comprehensive guide is designed to demystify the process. Whether you are an undergraduate finishing your final paper, a master’s student, or a doctoral candidate, we will break down every technicality. By the end of this article, you will know exactly how to structure your document, cite your sources flawlessly, and navigate the most complex formatting requirements with ease.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Understanding the Foundation of ABNT

Before diving into the specifics of font sizes and citation indents, it is crucial to understand the foundational documents that govern ABNT standards. ABNT rules are not just arbitrary choices; they are standardized codes known as NBRs (Normas Brasileiras).

When you look up the regras nbr 14724 para trabalhos acadêmicos (the overarching rules for academic papers), you are looking at the master blueprint. NBR 14724 dictates the overall structure of monographs, dissertations, and theses. It divides your document into three distinct parts: Pre-textual elements, Textual elements, and Post-textual elements.

Alongside NBR 14724, you will frequently interact with:

NBR 10520: Guidelines for citations in documents.
NBR 6023: Guidelines for elaborating references.
NBR 6027: Guidelines for summaries and tables of contents.
NBR 6028: Guidelines for abstracts.

By understanding that these codes work together to create a unified, professional document, you can approach the formatting process logically rather than with frustration.

Part 2: The Anatomy of an ABNT Thesis

A properly formatted ABNT thesis is a highly structured document. You cannot simply start writing your introduction on page one. Let’s explore the mandatory and optional elements that make up the anatomy of your thesis.

2.1 The Pre-Textual Elements

The pre-textual elements set the stage for your research. They provide essential metadata, acknowledgments, and navigation tools for the reader. It is vital to know the elementos pré-textuais obrigatórios em teses (mandatory pre-textual elements for theses), as missing one can lead to points being deducted by your examination board.

Here is the sequential order of pre-textual elements according to ABNT:

Cover (Capa) – Mandatory
Spine (Lombada) – Optional/Mandatory for printed bound copies
Title Page (Folha de Rosto) – Mandatory
Errata – Optional
Approval Sheet (Folha de Aprovação) – Mandatory
Dedication (Dedicatória) – Optional
Acknowledgments (Agradecimentos) – Optional
Epigraph (Epígrafe) – Optional
Abstract in the Vernacular Language (Resumo) – Mandatory
Abstract in a Foreign Language (Abstract) – Mandatory
List of Illustrations – Optional (but recommended if you have many)
List of Tables – Optional
List of Abbreviations and Acronyms – Optional
List of Symbols – Optional
Table of Contents (Sumário) – Mandatory

Designing the Cover and Title Page

Creating a proper modelo de capa e folha de rosto abnt (ABNT cover and title page template) is your first step.

The Cover (Capa):

Institution Name: Top of the page, centered, usually in uppercase.
Author’s Name: Centered, below the institution.
Title of the Work: Centered, middle of the page, bold and uppercase.
Subtitle (if any): Separated from the title by a colon, not bolded.
City: Centered, bottom of the page.
Year: Centered, directly below the city.

The Title Page (Folha de Rosto):

Author’s Name: Top of the page, centered.
Title: Centered, middle of the page.
Nature of the Work (Explanatory Note): This is a specific block of text aligned to the middle-right of the page (usually indented about 7cm to 8cm from the left margin). It should state the purpose of the thesis, the degree sought, the institution, and the advisor’s name. Example: “Thesis presented to the Post-Graduate Program in [Field] at [University] as a partial requirement for obtaining the degree of Doctor in [Field]. Advisor: Prof. Dr. [Name].”
City and Year: Centered at the bottom.

Writing the Abstract and Resumo

The abstract is arguably the most read section of your thesis. The normas para escrita de resumo e abstract (rules for writing the abstract) are strictly defined by NBR 6028.

Length: For theses and dissertations, the abstract must be between 150 and 500 words.
Format: It must be written in a single, continuous paragraph without indents. Use the active voice and the third person singular.
Keywords: Directly below the abstract paragraph, you must list keywords. They should be preceded by the word “Keywords:” (or “Palavras-chave:”), separated from each other by semicolons, and end with a period.

2.2 The Textual Elements

This is the core of your thesis, divided into three main phases:

Introduction: Where you present the theme, the research problem, objectives, and justification.
Development (Body): The longest part of the thesis. It contains your theoretical framework, methodology, results, and discussion. You will divide this into logical chapters and subchapters.
Conclusion (or Final Considerations): Where you answer the research problem and summarize your findings.

2.3 The Post-Textual Elements

These elements provide the supporting data and sources that validate your textual elements.

References (Referências) – Mandatory
Glossary – Optional
Appendices (Apêndices) – Optional (Documents or texts created by the author of the thesis to support the argument).
Annexes (Anexos) – Optional (Documents or texts not created by the author, used for illustration or proof, such as a copy of a law or a map).
Index – Optional

Part 3: Essential Page Setup and Formatting Rules

Before you type your first paragraph, you must configure your word processor. Getting the configuração de margens e espaçamento entre linhas (configuration of margins and line spacing) right from the start will save you hours of formatting headaches later.

3.1 Paper Size and Margins

ABNT requires standard A4 paper size (21 cm x 29.7 cm). The margins are specifically designed to allow for binding on the left side and reading ease.

Top Margin: 3.0 cm
Left Margin: 3.0 cm
Bottom Margin: 2.0 cm
Right Margin: 2.0 cm

Pro Tip for Microsoft Word: Go to the “Layout” tab, click “Margins,” then “Custom Margins,” and input these exact measurements. Ensure it applies to the “Whole document.”

3.2 Font Styles, Sizes, and Paragraph Indents

Consistency in typography is key. The tamanho da fonte e recuo de parágrafo tese (font size and paragraph indent for a thesis) are clearly defined:

Font Choice: You must use either Arial or Times New Roman throughout the entire document. Do not mix them.
Standard Font Size: Size 12 for the general text, including titles and subtitles.
Smaller Font Size: Size 10 is reserved for specific elements: long direct citations (more than three lines), footnotes, legends of illustrations and tables, and the source credits of those visuals.
Line Spacing: The general text must use 1.5 line spacing.
Exceptions to Line Spacing: Single spacing (1.0) must be used for long direct citations, footnotes, references at the end of the document, the explanatory note on the title page, and legends/sources of illustrations.
Paragraph Alignment: Justified (aligned evenly to both the left and right margins).
Paragraph Indentation: The first line of every standard paragraph should be indented by 1.25 cm (or 1.5 cm, depending on specific institutional preference, but 1.25 cm is standard in MS Word). Do not use the spacebar; use the “First line” indentation setting in the Paragraph menu.

3.3 The Pagination Puzzle: Numbering Pages Correctly

One of the most common questions students ask is como numerar páginas a partir da introdução (how to number pages starting from the introduction). ABNT pagination rules are peculiar:

Counting: All pages starting from the Title Page (Folha de Rosto) are counted sequentially. (The Cover is neither counted nor numbered).
Numbering: Even though the pre-textual elements are counted, the actual page numbers (the physical digits 1, 2, 3…) must only appear starting on the first page of the Textual Elements (usually the Introduction).
Placement: Page numbers should be placed in the top-right corner of the page, 2 cm from the top and 2 cm from the right edge, using Arabic numerals (font size 10).

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Number Pages from the Introduction in Word

To achieve this, you need to master “Section Breaks” in Microsoft Word:

Scroll to the very last page of your pre-textual elements (usually the Table of Contents).
Place your cursor at the very end of the text on that page.
Go to the Layout tab > Breaks > select Next Page (under Section Breaks). This splits your document into Section 1 (Pre-textual) and Section 2 (Textual).
Double-click the header area of your Introduction page (the start of Section 2).
In the Header & Footer menu, you will see a button highlighted called “Link to Previous”. Click it to deselect it. This breaks the connection between the two sections.
Now, stay in the header of the Introduction, go to Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3 (aligns to the right).
The number will appear. If it starts at “1” instead of the correct counted number, go to Page Number > Format Page Numbers… and select “Continue from previous section.”
Finally, scroll up to your Table of Contents (Section 1), double-click the header, and delete any page numbers that might be there. Because you unlinked the sections, deleting them here will not delete them from the Introduction onwards.

Part 4: Mastering the ABNT Citation Style (NBR 10520)

Academic writing requires you to stand on the shoulders of giants. However, you must properly credit those giants. The ABNT citation style governs how you mention other authors’ ideas within your text. Doing this incorrectly not only damages your grade but can also result in accusations of plagiarism.

It is crucial to understand the diferença entre citação direta e indireta (difference between direct and indirect citation) before you begin.

4.1 Indirect Citations (Paraphrasing)

An indirect citation occurs when you express another author’s idea using your own words. Because you are paraphrasing, you do not use quotation marks, and providing the page number is optional (though highly recommended).

How to format it: You must include the author’s last name and the publication year.

Author incorporated in the text: According to Silva (2021), the formatting of academic papers is essential for scientific communication.
Author at the end of the sentence: The formatting of academic papers is essential for scientific communication (SILVA, 2021). (Note: When inside parentheses, the author’s last name must be in ALL CAPS).

4.2 Direct Citations (Quoting)

A direct citation is a word-for-word copy of an excerpt from an original source. The formatting changes drastically depending on the length of the quote. Short Direct Citations (Up to 3 lines)

If the quote takes up three lines or fewer in your document, it remains embedded within your standard paragraph.

It must be enclosed in double quotation marks (” “).
You must include the author’s last name, the year, and the exact page number.

Example: As emphasized by the researcher, “the precision in formatting reflects the rigor of the research itself” (SOUZA, 2019, p. 45).Long Direct Citations (More than 3 lines)

This is a formatting rule that trips up many writers. Knowing how to fazer citação direta longa abnt (how to make a long direct citation in ABNT) is vital. If your quote exceeds three lines, it must be set off from the main text as a distinct block.

The Rules for Long Direct Citations:

Quotation Marks: Do NOT use quotation marks.
Indentation: The entire block of text must be indented exactly 4.0 cm from the left margin.
Font Size: It must be reduced to size 10 (assuming your main text is 12).
Line Spacing: Must be single-spaced (1.0).
Spacing Before/After: Leave a 1.5 blank space before and after the citation block to separate it from your main text.
Attribution: Just like short quotes, you must include the author, year, and page number.

Visual Example of a Long Citation:

Main paragraph text main paragraph text main paragraph text main paragraph text main paragraph text main paragraph text main paragraph text. (1.5 line space)

(Indent 4cm, Font 10, Single Space) This is where the long direct citation goes. Because it is longer than three lines, it is formatted as a separate block of text. Notice that there are no quotation marks surrounding this text. The attribution is usually placed at the end of the block (SILVA, 2020, p. 112).

(1.5 line space) Main paragraph text continues here main paragraph text main paragraph text.

4.3 Footnotes

Footnotes are used for explanatory remarks that would disrupt the flow of the main text, or for referencing translated terms and specific non-standard sources. The formatting of footnotes and citations requires precision.

Footnotes must be placed at the bottom of the page where the reference occurs.
They are separated from the main text by a solid black line (about 5 cm long, starting from the left margin).
The font size must be smaller than the regular text (Size 10).
The line spacing within the footnote must be single (1.0).
To insert one in Word: Go to the “References” tab > “Insert Footnote.” Word automatically handles the separator line and superscript numbering.

Part 5: Handling Visual Elements – Tables, Figures, and Charts

A high-quality thesis often relies on data visualization to make complex information digestible. You must follow a specific guia de ilustrações e tabelas normas abnt (guide for illustrations and tables according to ABNT norms). ABNT classifies visual elements into two main categories: Tables (Tabelas) and Illustrations (which includes charts, graphs, photographs, drawings, maps, etc., often universally labeled as Figures or Figuras).

The Golden Rules for All Visual Elements

Regardless of whether it is a table or a photograph, it must have three things:

Identification (Top): Above the visual, you must provide its type, sequential number, an en-dash, and a brief, descriptive title. (e.g., Figure 1 – Population growth in Brazil from 2010 to 2020). This text should be size 12, standard font.
The Visual Itself: Centered on the page.
Source (Bottom): Immediately below the visual, you must indicate its origin, even if you created it yourself. Use the word “Source:” followed by the citation. The font size here must be 10, and line spacing must be single (1.0). (e.g., Source: Compiled by the author (2023). OR Source: IBGE (2021).)

The Difference Between Tables and Charts (Quadros)

In ABNT, there is a strict, often misunderstood difference between a Table (Tabela) and a Chart/Frame (Quadro):

Tables (Tabelas): Used to present quantitative, statistical data. By rule, tables should never have vertical lines on the left or right borders. They are meant to look open on the sides.
Charts (Quadros): Used to present qualitative data, text, concepts, or categorizations. Charts have all their borders closed (a complete grid with both horizontal and vertical lines).

Part 6: Automating Your Workflow in Word

Before we tackle the massive topic of references, let’s address a technical hurdle that costs students countless hours: the Table of Contents. Manually typing chapter names, adding a hundred dots, and trying to align page numbers on the right side is a recipe for disaster. The moment you edit a single paragraph, your entire manual index breaks.

Instead, you need a tutorial sumário automático word (tutorial for automatic Table of Contents in Word).

Step-by-step: Creating an Automatic ABNT Table of Contents

The secret to an automatic Table of Contents lies in Word’s “Styles” feature.

Step 1: Set up your Heading Styles

On the “Home” tab, look at the “Styles” gallery. You will see “Heading 1”, “Heading 2”, “Heading 3”, etc.
Right-click “Heading 1” and select “Modify”.
Format it according to ABNT for a primary chapter title: Font Arial/Times New Roman, Size 12, Bold, ALL CAPS, Color Automatic (Black). Click OK.
Right-click “Heading 2” and modify it for subchapters: Font 12, Bold, Title Case (only first letters capitalized), Color Black. Click OK.
Repeat for Heading 3, Heading 4, etc., following your institution’s specific typographic hierarchy (e.g., italics, non-bold, etc.).

Step 2: Apply the Styles to your text

Go through your thesis. Highlight a primary chapter title (e.g., 1 INTRODUCTION). Click “Heading 1” in the Styles gallery.
Highlight a subchapter (e.g., 1.1 Research Objectives). Click “Heading 2”.
Do this for every single title and subtitle in your entire document.

Step 3: Generate the Table of Contents

Go to the blank page designated for your Table of Contents (Sumário).
Go to the “References” tab > “Table of Contents” > “Custom Table of Contents”.
Ensure “Show page numbers” and “Right align page numbers” are checked. The “Tab leader” should be set to the dotted line (…..).
Click OK.

Word will instantly generate a perfectly aligned Table of Contents. If you add text or move chapters later, simply right-click the generated table and select “Update Field” > “Update entire table,” and all your page numbers will fix themselves instantly!

Part 7: Building the Reference List (NBR 6023)

The reference list is the ultimate test of a researcher’s attention to detail. The elaboração de referências bibliográficas nbr 6023 (elaboration of bibliographic references NBR 6023) outlines exactly how to list the sources you cited in your text.

General Formatting Rules for the Reference Page

The title “REFERENCES” must be centered and bold at the top of a new page.
The list must be organized in alphabetical order by the authors’ last names.
The text of the references must be aligned to the left margin (not justified).
The line spacing within a single reference must be single (1.0).
Leave a single blank line (1.0 spacing) between references to clearly separate them.
The main title of the work must be highlighted (you can choose bold, italics, or underline, but you must be consistent. Bold is the most common and recommended).

Constructing References by Source Type

Because different sources provide different types of metadata, the structure of the reference changes depending on what you are citing. Here are the most common formulas:1. Books (Livros)

Formula: LAST NAME, First Name. Title of the book in bold: subtitle not in bold. Edition number. City of publication: Publisher, Year of publication.

Example: LAKATOS, Eva Maria; MARCONI, Marina de Andrade. Fundamentos de metodologia científica. 8. ed. São Paulo: Atlas, 2017.

2. Book Chapters (Capítulos de Livro)

When you cite a specific chapter written by one author in a book organized by another author. Formula: CHAPTER AUTHOR’S LAST NAME, First Name. Chapter title. In: BOOK ORGANIZER’S LAST NAME, First Name (Org.). Book title in bold. City: Publisher, Year. initial page-final page of the chapter.

Example: SILVA, João. A evolução da inteligência artificial. In: SOUZA, Maria (Org.). Tecnologias do Futuro. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Tech, 2021. p. 45-60.

3. Academic Journal Articles (Artigos de Periódicos)

Formula: AUTHOR’S LAST NAME, First Name. Title of the article. Title of the Journal in bold, City of publication, volume, number/issue, initial page-final page, month/season. Year.

Example: PEREIRA, Lucas. O impacto do desmatamento na biodiversidade amazônica. Revista Brasileira de Ecologia, São Paulo, v. 15, n. 3, p. 112-130, jul./set. 2022.

4. Legislation (Leis e Decretos)

Formula: JURISDICTION. Title of the document (Law number, date). Ementa (brief description). Publication title in bold, City, volume, number, page, date of publication.

Example: BRASIL. Lei nº 13.709, de 14 de agosto de 2018. Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais (LGPD). Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, DF, 15 ago. 2018.

5. Websites and Online Articles

In the digital age, citing web content is mandatory. Formula: AUTHOR’S LAST NAME, First Name. Title of the text/article. Name of the Website in bold, Year. Available at: URL. Accessed on: day month. year.

Example: FERREIRA, Ana. Como a energia solar está mudando o mundo. Portal Sustentabilidade, 2023. Available at: https://www.portalsustentabilidade.com/energia. Accessed on: 15 out. 2023.

The Tricky Case: Citing Websites Without an Author

Often, students pull data from institutional websites or news portals where a specific human author is not credited. Knowing como citar site sem autor nas normas abnt (how to cite a website without an author in ABNT norms) is essential to avoid getting stuck.

When there is no author, the reference begins directly with the title of the article or page. The first word of the title must be in ALL CAPS to take the place of the author’s last name for alphabetical sorting purposes.

Formula: FIRST WORD IN CAPS, rest of the title. Name of the Website in bold, Year. Available at: URL. Accessed on: day month. year.

Example: INFLAÇÃO atinge menor nível em cinco anos. Economia Agora, 2023. Available at: https://www.economiaagora.com.br/inflacao. Accessed on: 20 nov. 2023.
In-text citation for this source: (INFLAÇÃO, 2023).

Part 8: Leveraging Technology – ABNT Reference Generators

Memorizing the punctuation of NBR 6023 is not strictly necessary anymore, thanks to modern tools. To save time and eliminate human error, you should highly consider using a gerador de referências bibliográficas automático (automatic bibliographic reference generator).

These are tools where you simply input the book’s ISBN, the article’s DOI, or the website’s URL, and the software automatically spits out the perfectly formatted ABNT reference.

Top Tools for ABNT Automation:

MORE (Mecanismo Online para Referências) Is Developed by the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and is arguably the most reliable and widely used free tool for ABNT in Brazil. You select the type of document (book, article, homepage), fill in a form with the data you have, and it generates the reference and the in-text citation instantly.
Mendeley: A powerful reference manager by Elsevier. While it requires a bit of setup, you can install the ABNT citation plugin. As you read PDFs, Mendeley extracts the metadata. With a Word plugin, it allows you to insert citations and automatically generate the bibliography at the end of your document.
Zotero: Similar to Mendeley, Zotero is an open-source tool that lives in your browser. With a single click, it saves research sources and can output them in ABNT formatting directly into Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

A word of caution: While generators are incredible time-savers, they are only as good as the metadata they pull from the internet. Always double-check the generated reference against the basic NBR 6023 rules to ensure no weird capitalization or missing publisher data slipped through.

Part 9: Final Review Checklist

Before you hit “print” or submit your thesis as a PDF to your university’s repository, run through this final ABNT checklist:

[ ] Margins: Are they definitely 3cm (Top/Left) and 2cm (Bottom/Right)?
[ ] Font: Is the entire document Arial or Times New Roman? Are you sure you didn’t mix them?
[ ] Spacing: Is the general text 1.5 spaced, and are long citations/footnotes single-spaced?
[ ] Paragraphs: Are all standard paragraphs indented by 1.25 cm? Are they Justified?
[ ] Pagination: Do the physical page numbers only start appearing on the Introduction page? Are they in the top right corner?
[ ] Pre-textual Elements: Do you have the Cover, Title Page, Abstract, Resumo, and Table of Contents formatted correctly?
[ ] Long Quotes: Are all quotes over 3 lines indented 4cm, size 10 font, with no quotation marks?
[ ] Visuals: Do all tables and figures have a title at the top and a source at the bottom?
[ ] References: Is the list alphabetical? Left-aligned? Single-spaced with a blank line between each entry?
[ ] Consistency: Does every single author cited in the text appear in the Reference list, and vice versa?

Conclusion

To format thesis according to ABNT standards is undoubtedly a meticulous and sometimes tedious process. It requires patience, a keen eye for detail, and a deep understanding of structural norms. However, viewing abnt thesis formatting not as a punishment, but as a universal language of scientific rigor, changes the perspective entirely.

These standards exist to ensure that your hard-earned research is accessible, readable, and verifiable by anyone in the academic community. By mastering the pre-textual elements, understanding the crucial differences in citations, expertly handling your page layout in Word, and utilizing automated reference generators, you transform a chaotic manuscript into a polished, professional piece of academia.

Do not leave formatting to the week before your defense. Integrate these rules into your writing process from day one. Apply the Word Styles as you type the chapter titles. Enter the references into your generator the moment you read the book. By staying organized, you ensure that when the time comes to finally submit your thesis, your only focus will be on celebrating your incredible academic milestone.

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