Rules for Outlines
1. Title of the outline should indicate what the subject is.
a. Write it at the top center of the first page of the outline.
b. Capitalize very word- like a title of a book.
2. Topics: use Roman Numerals
a. There must be 3 or more Roman Numerals used (I. II. III.)
b. Do not indent them
c. The name of the topic should be the “main idea” for that section
d. Capitalize every word
3. Subtopics: use Capital letters
a. There must be at least 2 under each topic (A. B.)
b. Indent the capital letter so that is under the 1st letter of the 1st word written in the topic
c. Each subtopic is like a ‘supporting detail’ to the topic and should be something about the
topic it is under
d. Capitalize only the first word of the subtopic
4. Details: use Arabic Numbers
a. If a details is used there must be 2 or more (1. 2.)
Special note: if there is only one detail – put it with the subtopic by placing a hyphen (-)
between the subtopic and the detail
b. Indent the Arabic Number so this it is under the 1st letter of the 1st word of the subtopic it is
under
c. Each detail is like a “mini-supporting detail” and should be something very specific about the
subtopic it is under
d. Capitalize only the first word of the detail
5. Sub-details: use lower case letters
a. There does not need to be any . If used, there should be 2 or more (a. b.)
b. Indent so that the lower case letters are under the 1st word of the 1st detail it is under
c. The sub-detail is like a “tiny supporting detail” and should be something very specific about
the detail it is under
d. Capitalize the first word of the sub-detail
6. Mirco-details: use lower case Roman Numerals
a. There does not need to be any, but if used there should be two or more (i. ii.)
Special note: if there is only one micro-detail – put it with the sub-detail by placing a hyphen
(-) between the sub-detail and the micro-detail
b. Indent the lower case Roman Numeral under the 1st letter of the 1st word of the sub-detail it
is under
c. Capitalize the first letter of the sub-details
General Rules that apply to all sections of an outline:
Use periods only after the Roman Numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals, lower case
letters and lower case Roman Numerals
Use words and phrases not sentences
Original wording is not required unless you are using a quote for your paper
No abbreviations
Here is an outline skeleton. Note indentations and capitalization. It gives examples of how all the
parts are used. Use this skeleton when you create your outline.
Name of the Subject
I. First Topic
A. First subtopic of I
B. Second subtopic of I
1. First detail of subtopic B
2. Second detail of subtopic B
a. First sub-detail of subtopic B2
b. Second sub-detail of subtopic B2
II. Second Topic
A. First subtopic of topic II
B. Second subtopic of topic II
C. Third subtopic of topic II
III. Third Topic
A. First subtopic of topic III- one detail for subtopic A
B. Second subtopic of topic III
1. First detail of subtopic B
a. First sub-detail of subtopic B
b. Second sub-detail of subtopic B
i. First micro-detail of subtopic B1b
ii. Second micro-detail of subtopic B1b
2. Second detail of subtopic B- one sub-detail for detail B2