what is running head of a research paper

How to Write a Running Head: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Academic papers adhere to specific formatting guidelines before submitting to a journal. One such formatting element is including a running head. So, let’s explore what a running head is and its significance in journal submissions.

What is a Running Head?

A running head is a concise version of the title of your paper appearing at the top of each page of the article. The use of a running head allows the reader to identify the article. It ensures the reader’s focus remains on the content. It is generally positioned flush left at the top of the page, with the page number flush right.

What is Running Head in Journal?

In a journal article, the running head includes a shorter version of the paper’s full title. The running head fulfills the abovementioned purpose and provides information about the article. This shortened version maintains consistency and avoids overcrowding the header section.

What is a Running Head on Title Page? With Example.

The title page is the first page of your paper. It includes essential information like the title, author names, affiliations, and abstract. The running head on the title page is an abbreviated form of the title, written in uppercase letters. It usually has a limit of 50 characters with spaces and punctuation marks.

If your article’s title is “The Impact of Social Media on Youth: A Comprehensive Study,” a suitable running head might be “Social Media’s Impact on Youth.”

Running Head Example for a Research Paper

Let’s see an example of an effective running head for a research paper to better understand.

For instance, if the paper title is “The Effects of Exercise on Mental Health in College Students.” The running head could be “Exercise’s Impact on Mental Health in College Students.”

A sample example of the running head is written just above the main heading.

Source: Shetty A, Rosario R, Hyder S. The impact of social media on youth. International Journal of Innovative Research in Computer and Communication Engineering. 2015;3(7):379-83.

Tips for Writing a Running Head

• Be concise: The running head should be brief yet convey the essence of your paper.
• Use title case: Capitalize the first letter of each significant word in the running head.
• Maintain consistency: It should be consistent throughout the document.
• Check the journal guidelines: Different journals may have specific requirements for running heads. So, before finalizing your running head, review the submission guidelines.
• Proofread: Double-check the running head for spelling or grammatical errors, maintaining professionalism.

Thus, a running head is a short but informative title in a journal article that appears at the top of every page. It helps readers identify the article and maintain their focus throughout the content. When writing a running head, remember to keep it concise, use upper case, and maintain consistency throughout the document. Following these guidelines, ensure your article meets the journal’s formatting requirements. It presents your research clearly and professionally.

Remember, the running head is one aspect of a well-written paper. Pay attention to other formatting guidelines to increase your chances of publication success. Good luck with your journal submissions!

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How to Write a Running Head

Some journals or style guides require papers to have a running head. But, what is a running head? A running head is a short version of the paper title that is printed as a heading at the top of each page. If your document includes page numbers at the top, the running head can precede the page number or appear on the opposite edge of the page. In APA style, the running head is placed in the upper left.

The publisher often requests running heads for practical reasons. It is desirable to have every page clearly labeled as being part of the paper. If your paper is printed as a hard copy and the various pages fall to the floor or are mixed up, having a running head and page number on each page helps the reader to put all the pages back in the correct order. Even readers who are viewing an electronic version of the paper may appreciate the clear labels, especially if they are sorting through many documents simultaneously.

Table of Contents

Guidelines for Writing Running Head in APA Style

The specific requirements for running heads vary.

• In general, running heads should be brief. APA guidelines require that running heads be a maximum of 50 characters (spaces count as characters).
• The running head is usually written in all capital letters . (For style purposes, the examples in this article use regular title case.)
• It is placed in a header at the top of the page . Check the journal or style guidelines for any specifics on margins, spacing, or font.

Related: Ready with your running head and looking forward to manuscript submission ? Check these journal selection guidelines now!

• In APA, the running head is introduced on the first page by the phrase “Running head” and a colon, i.e., in the following format: “Running head: SHORT VERSION OF TITLE.” Subsequent pages have only the running head itself. In other formatting styles, the running head may be introduced in this way as part of the information that appears on the title page.

Here is an example of a running head:

Original Title: “The Impact of Climate Change on Coral Reefs in the Pacific Ocean”

Running Head: “Climate Change and Pacific Coral Reefs”

In this running head example, the full title of the article is “The Impact of Climate Change on Coral Reefs in the Pacific Ocean.” The running head condenses this title down to a shorter version that still conveys the main topic of the article.

Remember, depending on the specific requirements of the journal or publication you are submitting to, the running head format may vary. Always check the guidelines provided by the publication for any specific requirements regarding running heads.

How do you create a running head?

If your paper title is already within the character limit, simply use the full title as the running head—no special changes are needed. However, if your paper title is over the limit, then you need to create a distinct running head that fits within the style guidelines.

First, identify the main part of your title. For example, if the paper is called “The Effects of Running on Heart Health in Elderly Patients,” consider using only the first part, “Effects of Running on Heart Health,” or the second part, “Heart Health in Elderly Patients.” Make the choice based on which ideas and concepts are most prominent in the paper.

If it does not make sense to take part of the title to serve as the running head, try making a few tweaks or even paraphrasing the title entirely. For instance, with the title mentioned above, the running head could be “Running and Heart Health in Elderly Patients.”

Second, eliminate articles such as the words “the” and “a.” The title “Re-examining the Literary Traditions in Ancient China” can be shortened to “Re-examining Literary Traditions in Ancient China.” In this case, simply removing the word “the” from the title creates a running head that fits within the APA’s 50-character limit.

Practical tips for writing running heads in Microsoft Word

1. how to get a character count.

If you are typing your paper in Microsoft Word, use the “Word Count” function to count characters: To do this, highlight the running head and then go to the Review menu and click on “Word Count.” The results box will show the number of “Characters (no spaces)” and “Characters (with spaces).” Read the journal or style guidelines carefully to know which number you should look at. In APA, it is the second option that is relevant, as spaces are counted as characters.

2. How to add the running head as a header on each page?

Create a header by going to Insert and selecting “Header” under “Header & Footer.” A header will be created at the top of each page. Modifying the header on any page changes it on every page. If you wish to have the phrase “Running head” appear on only the first page, as required in APA style, check the option “Different first page” that appears under the Design menu when the header is inserted or edited. Checking this option allows you to edit the header on the first page independently while maintaining the headers on the second, third, and all other pages as the same.

Hume-Pratuch, Jeff. May 10, 2012. “Mysteries of the Running Head Explained.” American Psychological Association website. http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/running-heads/ (access March 13, 2017)

Lee, Chelsea. Nov. 11, 2010. “Running Head Format for APA Style Papers.” American Psychological Association website. http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2010/11/running-head-format-for-apa-style-papers-.html (access March 13, 2017)

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APA Title Page and Running Head

A separate title page is required for all APA Styled papers.  Students should first check with their instructors regarding what is required  for their title page, but typically it is: title of the paper, name of the author, course name and number, instructor name, assignment due date and page number in the top right-hand corner.  

The title should summarize the main idea of your paper.  

Some instructors also require students to do something called a Running Head.  A Running Head is a shorted/abbreviated title that goes at the top left-hand side on all pages of the rest of your paper.  If you are required to do a Running Head, you can watch this video shows you how to make one in Microsoft Word.  

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APA Running Head – Guide to the 7th Edition

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The APA style is a popular style that contains several rules, including a “running head.” Understanding the rules and updates about the APA running head is crucial for students and researchers alike, as it helps ensure that their papers meet the established standards of academic writing . Proper formatting is crucial for clear, consistent, and professional academic and scientific writing. So, let’s delve into the APA running head, which is explained in the APA 7th edition manual.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 In a nutshell: APA running head
• 2 Definition: APA running head
• 3 APA running head example: Title page
• 4 APA running head example: Subsequent pages
• 5 APA formatting checklist
• 6 APA running head in Word and Google Docs
• 7 Abbreviating long titles for the running head

In a nutshell: APA running head

• The APA running head is a condensed form of the title of your paper that appears at the top of every page.
• According to the 7th edition of the APA style guide, it is mandatory to include a running head only in professional papers and not in student papers.
• Please ensure that the running head is positioned in the page header, aligned to the left, and written entirely in capital letters.
• If the title of the paper is longer than 50 characters, including spaces, the running head should be abbreviated.
• To properly format the running head in both Word and Google Docs, utilize the header function and double-check that alignment is correct.

Definition: APA running head

The APA running head is a shortened version of your paper’s title that appears at the top of each page. Its purpose is to aid readers in identifying the pages of your work in case they become misplaced, and to provide a quick reference to your paper’s title. In the 7th edition of the APA style guide, the running head is mandatory only for professional papers intended for publication, not for student papers.

APA running head example: Title page

The title page of a professional APA formatted paper should feature the running head, flush left, starting with the label “Running head:”, followed by a shortened version of your title in all capital letters.

APA running head example: Subsequent pages

On subsequent pages, the running head appears without the “Running head:” label, still in all capital letters and flush left. Below you can see an example.

APA formatting checklist

• Does your running head appear in the header, flush left, and in all caps?
• Does your running head include the label “Running head:” on the title page, and is this label absent from subsequent pages?
• If your paper’s title is over 50 characters, have you appropriately abbreviated it in your running head?
• Does the running head appear on every page of your paper?

APA running head in Word and Google Docs

Microsoft Word step-by-step

• “Insert” tab
• Select “Header”
• Choose “Edit Header”
• Type your running head, ensuring its flush left and in all caps.

Google Docs step-by-step

• Go to “Insert”
• Click “Header & Page Number”
• Select “Header” to begin formatting your running head

Abbreviating long titles for the running head

If your paper’s title exceeds 50 characters (including spaces), you’ll need to create an abbreviated version for your running head. This version should still capture the main idea of your paper, but do so in fewer characters.

The paper is titled:

• “Investigating the Potential Impacts of Prolonged Drought Conditions on Midwestern Agriculture”

It could be abbreviated in the APA running head to:

• “DROUGHT IMPACTS ON MIDWESTERN AGRICULTURE”

Is the APA running head still required in the 7th edition?

In the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual, the running head is only required for professional papers, not for student papers.

How can I format the APA running head in Word or Google Docs?

• Navigate to the “Insert” tab
• Then “Edit Header”
• Type your running head, ensuring it’s flush left and in all caps.

In Google Docs:

• Select “Insert”
• Then “Header & Page Number”
• Choose “Header”

How should I abbreviate a long title for the running head?

If your title exceeds 50 characters (including spaces), create an abbreviated version that still conveys the main idea of your paper.

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APA running head (6th edition) | How to format and insert in Word

Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk .

The apa running head (i.e. page header) consists of the title of your paper (maximum 50 characters, left-aligned, all capitals) and the page number (right-aligned). On the title page, your paper title is preceded by the words “Running head:”.

Table of contents

Running head example – title page, running head example – subsequent pages, apa formatting checklist, running head in word and google docs.

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The APA style has guidelines on how to format the running head. We made a checklist so you can easily meet the criteria. The running head examples above show the required formatting for the title page and subsequent pages.

• 12-pt Times New Roman font
• Only include “Running head:” on the first page
• Running head is left-aligned
• Title is all capitalized
• Maximum 50 characters including spaces (without the words “running head”)
• Page number is aligned to the right

Adding the running head to your Word or Google Docs file is easy — simply follow the steps below.

Important:  The words ‘Running head’ should only be shown on the first page. Therefore, you should tick the ‘different first page’ box as shown in the GIF.

• Google Docs

Inserting the running head in Word:

• Double click at the top of the page to edit the header area.
• Check “Different First Page” to only show the words “running head:” on the first page.
• Type “Running head:” followed by your research title in capital letters
• Insert the page number and align it to the right.
• Now go to page 2 and paste only your research title without “Running head:.”
• Also insert the page number on page two.
• Everything is set! You can now close the header area.

Inserting the running head in Google Docs:

• Click at the top of the page to edit the header area.
• Check “Different First Page” to only show “running head:” on the first page.
• Type “Running head:” followed by your title in capital letters.
• Insert the page number by clicking on “insert,” “Header and page number.”
• Use the ‘tab’ button to right-align the page number.
• Go to page 2 and only type your research title without “Running head:.”
• Use the ‘tab’ button to right-align the page number

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2020, November 06). APA running head (6th edition) | How to format and insert in Word. Scribbr. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/6th-edition/archived-running-head/

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APA Title Page and Running Head

A separate title page is required for all APA Styled papers.  Students should first check with their instructors regarding what is required  for their title page, but typically it is: title of the paper, name of the author, course name and number, instructor name, assignment due date and page number in the top right-hand corner.  

The title should summarize the main idea of your paper.  

Some instructors also require students to do something called a Running Head.  A Running Head is a shorted/abbreviated title that goes at the top left-hand side on all pages of the rest of your paper.  If you are required to do a Running Head, you can watch this video shows you how to make one in Microsoft Word.  

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• Next: APA Abstracts and Other Format Best Practices >>

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• A Running head is only required on papers being submitted for publication, and is not required for student papers unless requested by an instructor
• The running head is a shortened version the paper's full title
• Contains 50 characters max (including spaces, letters, punctuation)
• Located on every page in the header
• UPPERCASE letters
• Example: ABBREVIATED TITLE
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Q. What is a running head in APA Style?

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Answered By: Jonathan Faerber (he/him/his) Last Updated: Jun 07, 2022     Views: 8973

APA Style (7th ed.)

Manuscripts submitted for publication contain a running head with an abbreviated version of the paper title at the top left corner of every page. Student papers only require a running head when specifically requested by instructors; otherwise, papers submitted for grading do not use a running head (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020, p. 37).

If you need to include a running head in your text, the running head should appear directly across from the page number and will be identical on every page, including the title page (APA, 2020, p. 37). The running head includes the title of the paper in all-capital letters up to a maximum of 50 characters, counting letters, punctuation, and spaces between words, for instance: TITLE OF DOCUMENT IN 50 CHARACTERS (APA, 2020, p. 37). When the title of the paper is over 50 characters, abbreviate the title in a shortened form using the most important words from the original title. For an example of how the running head appears in article manuscripts submitted for publication, please see the APA’s Annotated Professional Sample Paper .

American Psychological Association. (2020).  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed.).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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How to Do a Running Head: APA Style 7th Edition With Examples

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The APA running head is a shortened version of your paper's title and it appears at the top of each page of your paper. It's included in the page header, aligned to the left margin, and is used to help readers identify the pages of your paper in case they get separated.

As of the 7th edition of the APA manual, the running head is required only for professional papers submitted for publication, not for student papers unless specifically requested by the instructor.

Read our article to discover what APA running head includes and how you can easily make it work!

What Is a Running Head in APA Style?

APA style paper is used to design works related to Social Studies. This paper style requires a running head. Basically, it’s a short version of an article’s title that appears at the top of each page. And usually this top line contains just two things:

• Page number
• Shorten title name.

These small sections are mainly used in professional manuscripts. However, a student version may go without it, unless required.

What Does APA Headers Format Require?

Specific requirements to APA format running heads may vary. In general, you should keep them concise and to the point. Note that this referencing style is one of the most common formats in Psychology, Sociology, Business, etc. It may be pretty challenging to grasp all APA requirements right away, but with our tips below, you can easily prepare your running head!

1. APA Running Head Font and Size

American Psychological Association (APA)  recommends that font for your running head should preferably be Times New Roman, 12 pt. size. But any well-readable font can be used in this section. Don't forget that all APA documents should be typed with double spacing, starting with a title page and ending with a list of sources used.  

2. "Running Head:" Is Only on the First Page

APA format needs a caption on every page. Note that you should write "Running head" before your title on the first page. But after the APA title page , these two words do not need to be written. You should only add the abbreviated title of your work. Place it on the front sheet using this format:

Just like any other section of your paper, including section headings and table of contents APA , your header should be concise. Only a shortened version of your title should appear on the consecutive pages just like in this example below.  

3. Left and Right Tops in APA Headers Format

If your document has page numbers, this is a perfect place to put them in. Insert the page number in the right top corner. Your running head should be left-aligned. Just in case, an expert  APA paper writer might be of use to you. How? Click on the link to find out! Promise, you won't regret it!

4. APA Running Head: Capitalized

APA running heads are written in all capital letters on every page of your document. "NAME OF DOCUMENT" is printed without indentation at the left side in capital letters. This rule covers both all-important context words of four letters or more, and minor words of three letters or fewer. Convert case easily using our simple tool. 

5. Don't Make APA Running Head Too Long

A top of each page should be placed with a shortened version of your document title. Pay attention that it cannot exceed 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. If your article's title exceeds this limit, you need to create a separate phrase that follows the exact style specified below. First, define the body of your title. Here is an APA running head example, if your document is titled.  

Consider using only the first or second part:

Make your choice based on which ideas and concepts are most relevant to your article. If it doesn't make sense to use part of your title, try to make a few changes or even rephrasing the whole name. Second, exclude words such as "the" or "a". Here are incorrect and correct APA running head examples:  

In this case, simply removing "the" from your title creates a perfect fit within limits of 50 characters.

Practical Tips for APA Headers in Microsoft Word and Google Docs

How should you add an APA running head to every page? Below you will find useful tips on how to format these small sections in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. In Microsoft Word  

• Choose “Insert” and click “Header or Footer”.
• Select “Different First Page”.
• Type "Running head", followed by your article’s title.
• Now go to page 2 and print your title without "Running head:."
• Then go to “Insert”, click “Page Number” and align it to the right.
• Now it's ready! To exit, close “Header and Footer”.

In Google Docs

• Select "Different First Page".
• Insert page number by clicking on "Header and Page Number."
• Use “ Tab ” to align “Page Number” to the right.
• Now go to page 2 and print your title without "Running head:"
• Repeat step 5.
• Now it's ready! You can exit “Header and Footer”.

Bottom Line

APA running heads are requested for practical reasons. Each page should be clearly marked as part of your article. If your piece is printed on paper and different pages fall to the floor they will be messed up. But a top line on each sheet will help any reader get all pages back in the right order. Even readers viewing an electronic version of an article can appreciate clear labelings, especially if they are sorting many documents simultaneously. The APA style is considered one of the most popular when writing works on social and psychological topics. Therefore, mistakes made in this referencing style will immediately attract attention.  

Let us know your issue and we will find the  best essay writer  who will quickly and efficiently write your work according to the latest guidelines!  

Emma Flores knows all about formatting standards. She shares with StudyCrumb readers tips on creating academic papers that will meet high-quality standards.

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How do I format my paper so that the phrase Running head appears on only the first page?

Go to 7th edition guidelines

Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Word 2010:

• On the View tab, select the Print Layout document view.
• Double click the header area of the document.
• On the Header & Footer Tools Design tab, in the Options group, select the check box for  Different First Page .
• In the First Page Header box at the top of page 1, type Running head: and then your abbreviated title.
• Go to page 2 of your document and delete the phrase Running head .
• On page 1, Running head will remain in your first page header, and only your abbreviated title will appear on subsequent pages.

Microsoft Word 2003:

• On the View menu, click on Header and Footer .
• In the toolbar that appears, choose the Page setup image and then the tab Layout .
• In the menu, under Headers and footers , click the box that says Different first page .

APA Style Contacts