Running Head in APA Format:
What It Is, When You Need It, and How to Write It

If you've ever stared at an APA formatted document wondering whether you need a running head and where it even goes, you're not alone. The APA running head is one of the most misunderstood formatting requirements in academic writing, partly because the rules changed significantly with the 7th edition of the Publication Manual. This guide explains exactly what a running head is, when you need one, and how to format it correctly so your paper meets submission standards.

What Is a Running Head in APA Format?

A running head is a shortened version of your paper's title that appears in the header at the top of every page of a manuscript. It runs across the top of the page, hence the name, and serves as a navigational marker that helps editors, reviewers, and readers identify which paper a page belongs to if it becomes separated from the rest of the document.

In APA style, the running head appears flush left in the page header, in all capital letters, alongside a page number flush right. It is not a label like "Running head:" followed by your title. It is the title itself, shortened if necessary, in uppercase.

Running Head APA 7th Edition vs. 6th Edition: What Changed?

The APA 7th edition, published in 2019, made a meaningful change to running head requirements that many writers and students still aren't aware of. Understanding the difference saves you from applying an outdated rule.

• APA 6th edition. All papers, including student papers, were required to include a running head on every page. The first page also required the label "Running head:" (with a capital R and lowercase h) before the abbreviated title. For example: Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT ANXIETY. This label appeared only on the title page; subsequent pages showed the abbreviated title alone.
• APA 7th edition. The running head is no longer required for student papers. It is only required for manuscripts being submitted for publication in a journal. The "Running head:" label has been removed entirely from all papers. If a running head is required, only the abbreviated title in all capitals appears in the header, with no introductory label.

The practical result is that most students writing course papers, theses, or assignments under APA 7th edition guidelines do not need a running head at all unless their instructor specifically requires one.

When Do You Need a Running Head in APA Style?

Whether you need a running head depends on the type of document you're submitting and which edition of APA style applies.

• Journal manuscript submissions. If you are submitting a paper to a peer reviewed journal for publication, you need a running head. Journals use it for blind review and page identification during the editorial process. Check the journal's author guidelines to confirm their specific formatting requirements.
• Student papers under APA 7th edition. You do not need a running head unless your instructor or institution explicitly requires one. Many courses and universities have adopted the 7th edition guidelines that removed this requirement for student work.
• Student papers under APA 6th edition. If your instructor or program still requires 6th edition formatting, you need a running head with the "Running head:" label on the title page and the abbreviated title alone on all subsequent pages.
• Dissertations and theses. Requirements vary by institution. Some graduate programs follow APA 7th edition and waive the running head; others maintain their own style requirements that include it. Always check your institution's formatting guide before finalising your document.

When in doubt, ask your instructor or check the submission guidelines. A quick clarification email is far less trouble than reformatting a completed document.

How to Format a Running Head in APA Style

If your paper does require a running head, here is how to format it correctly under current APA 7th edition guidelines.

Step 1: Shorten the title if necessary

The running head must be no more than 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. If your full title fits within that limit, you can use it exactly. If it doesn't, shorten it to capture the core meaning of the paper. Remove articles, prepositions, and any subtitle after a colon if one exists. For example, a title like "The Effects of Social Media Use on Self Esteem and Body Image in Adolescent Girls Aged 13 to 17" could become SOCIAL MEDIA SELF ESTEEM AND ADOLESCENT GIRLS, which is meaningful and within the character limit.

Step 2: Convert the title to all capitals

The running head appears in all uppercase letters regardless of how the title is formatted on the title page. This applies to every word in the running head, including short words like "and," "the," and "of."

Step 3: Place it in the page header, flush left

The running head goes in the document header, not in the body of the text. In most word processing programs you access this by double clicking the header area or using the Insert Header function. The abbreviated title appears flush left, and the page number appears flush right, both on the same line at the top of every page.

Step 4: Apply it to every page

The running head appears on every page of the manuscript, including the title page. Under APA 7th edition, the header looks the same on every page. There is no "Running head:" label on the title page and no variation between the first page and the rest of the document.

Step 5: Use the same font as the rest of the paper

APA style requires consistent font use throughout. The running head should match the font and size used in the body of the paper. APA 7th edition recommends fonts such as 12 point Times New Roman, 11 point Calibri, 11 point Arial, or 10 point Lucida Sans Unicode.

Running Head Format: A Practical Example

Here is what a correctly formatted APA 7th edition header looks like for a manuscript submission:

Under APA 6th edition, the title page header would read: Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT ANXIETY, with the label present only on the first page.

Common Running Head Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced writers make errors with running heads. These are the most frequent problems and how to fix them.

• Using the "Running head:" label in APA 7th edition papers. This label was removed in the 7th edition. If your paper follows current APA guidelines, the header should contain only the abbreviated title in capitals. Including the label is a formatting error under the current edition.
• Exceeding 50 characters. Count characters including spaces before you finalise your running head. A common mistake is counting words rather than characters, which can produce a running head that technically sounds short but runs over the limit.
• Using title case instead of all capitals. The running head must be in all uppercase letters. Writing it as "Social Media and Adolescent Anxiety" rather than "SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT ANXIETY" is incorrect regardless of which edition applies.
• Forgetting the running head on interior pages. Some writers add the header to the title page and forget to carry it through the rest of the document. In Microsoft Word, make sure "Different First Page" is not selected unless you intend for the first page header to differ from the rest, and check that the header is linked across all sections.
• Placing the running head in the body of the text. The running head lives in the header area, above the margin, not as the first line of body text on each page.
• Confusing the running head with the paper title. The running head is an abbreviated identifier, not a repetition of the full title. It may be identical to the title if the title is short enough, but it is a separate formatting element with its own purpose and placement.

Running Head vs. Page Header: Understanding the Difference

The terms "running head" and "page header" are sometimes used interchangeably, but they refer to slightly different things. The running head is the abbreviated title text itself. The page header is the entire header area at the top of the page, which contains the running head on the left and the page number on the right. Knowing this distinction helps when you read submission guidelines that refer to one or both of these elements.

Does a Student Paper Need a Running Head?

Under APA 7th edition, no. Student papers do not require a running head. The APA Publication Manual explicitly states that running heads are required only for manuscripts submitted for publication. A standard student paper needs only a page number in the upper right corner of the header.

If your instructor asks for a running head on a student paper, that is an additional requirement beyond the APA default. Follow your instructor's guidance and format it according to the edition of APA they specify.

How to Add a Running Head in Microsoft Word

Adding a running head in Microsoft Word takes only a few steps once you know where to look.

• Open the header area. Double click at the top of any page, or go to Insert and select Header, then choose Blank or Edit Header.
• Type the running head. Type your abbreviated title in all capitals in the header area. Align it to the left using the left tab stop that Word places in the header by default.
• Add the page number flush right. Press Tab once to move to the center tab, then Tab again to reach the right tab stop. Go to Insert, then Page Number, then Current Position, and select the plain number format.
• Apply to all pages. By default Word links all page headers. Make sure "Different First Page" is unchecked in the Header and Footer Design tab if you want the same header throughout. If you do check it for a different first page layout, you will need to manually add the header to the first page separately.
• Close the header. Double click in the body of the document or click Close Header and Footer in the ribbon.

Google Docs follows a similar process: go to Insert, then Headers and Footers, then Header. Type your running head, use right aligned tabs for the page number, and confirm it appears across all pages.

Frequently Asked Questions About APA Running Heads

Is a running head required in APA 7th edition?

No, a running head is not required in APA 7th edition for student papers. It is only required for manuscripts being submitted for publication in a peer reviewed journal. Student papers under the 7th edition need only a page number in the header unless an instructor specifies otherwise.

What is the maximum length of a running head in APA format?

Yes, there is a strict limit: the running head must be no more than 50 characters, including letters, spaces, and punctuation. If your title exceeds this limit, you need to create a shortened version that captures the essential meaning of the paper.

Does the running head have to be in capital letters?

Yes. APA style requires the running head to appear in all uppercase letters. This applies under both the 6th and 7th editions. Writing the running head in title case or sentence case is a formatting error.

Where does the running head go on the page?

The running head appears in the header area at the top of every page, flush with the left margin. The page number appears flush right in the same header. The running head is not placed in the body of the document.

Do you still write "Running head:" before the title in APA 7th edition?

No. The "Running head:" label was eliminated in the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual. Under current guidelines, the header contains only the abbreviated title in all capitals. The label is still required under APA 6th edition on the title page, so check which edition applies to your paper before formatting.

Can the running head be the same as the paper title?

Yes, if your full title is 50 characters or fewer, including spaces, you can use it exactly as your running head after converting it to all capitals. If the title is longer, you must create a shortened version. The running head does not have to be different from the title; it simply must fit within the character limit.

What if my title is already short enough for the running head?

Yes, you can use it as is. If your full title converted to all capitals fits within 50 characters, no shortening is necessary. Simply type it in uppercase in the header with the page number flush right and you're done.

Do I need a running head for a dissertation or thesis?

It depends on your institution. Some graduate programs follow APA 7th edition and do not require a running head for theses and dissertations. Others have their own style requirements that may still include it. Always consult your institution's thesis and dissertation formatting guide or ask your advisor before assuming either way.

Does the running head appear on every page including the title page?

Yes. When a running head is required, it appears on every page of the manuscript including the title page. Under APA 7th edition, the header looks the same on every page with no variation between the title page and the body pages.

Get Expert Help with APA Formatting

APA formatting rules have a way of catching writers off guard, especially when edition changes mean that advice you found online may no longer apply. If you want to be sure your paper meets the correct standards, Editor World's academic editing service includes a formatting review by experienced editors who work with APA style every day.

You can also read our full guide to the APA style title page and learn more about what is a running head in APA style and how it fits into the broader structure of a correctly formatted manuscript.