APA Running Head Made Simple: Format and Examples

An APA running head is a shortened version of a paper’s title placed in the page header. Under APA 7th edition, it is required for professional papers but not for most student papers. When required, it appears in capital letters at the top left of every page, while the page number appears at the top right.

The most common running-head errors come from following outdated APA 6 instructions. APA 7 removed the label “Running head:” and simplified the header for student assignments. Before formatting your paper, identify whether you need the student or professional version.

Do You Need an APA Running Head?

APA 7 uses different header requirements for student and professional papers. A student paper normally has only a page number, unless the instructor or institution specifically requests a running head. A professional manuscript prepared for publication includes both a running head and page number.

APA Running Head Formatting Rules

A professional APA running head follows five core rules:

• Use a shortened form of the paper’s title.
• Limit it to 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
• Write it in all capital letters.
• Align it with the left margin in the header.
• Repeat the same running head on every page.

Place the page number on the same line, aligned with the right margin. Do not bold, italicize, underline, or place quotation marks around the running head. The header sits within the top margin rather than in the main writing area.

APA running head example

Suppose the full paper title is The Effects of Evening Screen Use on Sleep Quality in College Students. A concise running head could preserve the main concepts without repeating every word.

This example shows the title on the left and the page number on the right. In an actual document, use the word processor’s alignment tools rather than adding spaces manually. Automatic alignment prevents the header from shifting when the font, margin, or page number changes.

How to shorten a long title

Keep the words that identify the paper’s central topic and remove details that readers do not need in the header. The short title does not have to use the original wording in exactly the same order, but it should accurately represent the full title. Avoid abbreviations that readers may not immediately understand.

Do not shorten the title so aggressively that its meaning changes. A vague header such as STUDENT RESEARCH would not help identify a paper about social support and academic stress. When the complete title is already 50 characters or fewer, you may use it without shortening it.

APA Running Head Font Size

The APA running head uses the same font and font size as the rest of the paper. APA 7 permits several readable combinations rather than requiring Times New Roman for every document. Common choices include 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Arial, 11-point Calibri, 11-point Georgia, 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, and 10-point Computer Modern.

Use one font consistently throughout the paper unless a special element requires otherwise. For example, do not use 12-point Times New Roman in the body and switch to 10-point Arial in the header. The running head’s capital letters provide enough visual distinction without bold formatting or a larger size.

Does the Running Head Go on the Title Page in APA?

Yes, a professional paper’s running head appears on the title page and every page that follows. Use exactly the same short title and formatting throughout the document. Do not add a special label or create a different first-page header.

A standard student paper does not have a running head on its title page because it does not have one anywhere else. However, the APA title page still displays page number 1 in the upper-right corner. Turning on a word processor’s “Different First Page” option can accidentally hide the header, so leave that setting off unless another requirement makes it necessary.

“Running Head:” or Just the Short Title?

In APA 7, use only the shortened title. Do not type “Running head:” before it on the title page or subsequent pages. That label belonged to APA 6 and is one reason older templates often produce incorrect headers.

Check the edition whenever a template, library guide, or sample paper includes the old label. A document described only as “APA style” may have been created before the seventh edition. Publication instructions from a particular journal may also override general APA requirements.

How to Add a Running Head in Word or Google Docs

Open the header area rather than typing the shortened title at the top of the page body. Enter the capitalized running head on the left, create a right-aligned tab stop, and insert an automatic page-number field on the right. Confirm that the title page shows page 1 and that the same header continues onto later pages.

In Microsoft Word, open Insert, select Header, and choose or create a blank header. In Google Docs, use Insert, Headers and footers, and Header. In either program, avoid typing page numbers manually because edits to the paper can make them inaccurate.

How the Running Head Fits With Other APA Elements

The running head is only one part of APA format and should be checked alongside margins, line spacing, headings, citations, and the reference list. Your page numbers belong in the same header, but they remain right-aligned and continue consecutively from the title page. The full paper title still appears in its required position on the title page and at the beginning of the text; the running head does not replace it.

An APA Citation Generator can help organize citations and reference entries while you check the paper-level elements separately. When reviewing an APA running head, confirm the paper type, short-title wording, character count, capitalization, and page numbering. Citation tools can reduce repetitive formatting work, but they cannot determine whether an instructor expects a student or professional header.

Quick Running Head Checklist

Before submitting the paper, confirm that:

• The paper actually requires a running head.
• The short title accurately represents the full title.
• The running head contains no more than 50 characters.
• Every letter is capitalized.
• The title is aligned left and the page number is aligned right.
• The same header appears on every page, including the title page.
• The label “Running head:” does not appear.
• The header uses the same font and size as the paper.