What Is a Running Head in APA Style?

If you've ever stared at an APA-formatted paper wondering what that line of text at the very top of the page is, you're not alone. The running head is one of the more misunderstood elements of APA Style — and getting it right matters, especially if you're submitting work for professional publication.

What Is APA Style?

APA Style is a standardized system for formatting academic papers and citing sources, developed by the American Psychological Association. It's widely used in the social sciences, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and education, though many other disciplines have adopted it as well.

The guidelines cover a broad range of formatting decisions: how to structure in-text citations, how to format a reference page, and physical layout requirements like standard 8.5" x 11" paper with 1" margins. One of those layout elements is the running head, which appears at the top of every page.

What Is a Running Head?

A running head is an abbreviated version of your paper's title, or the full title if it's short enough, and appears in the header at the top of each page. Its main purpose is to help journal editors and peer reviewers identify which manuscript they're reading when handling multiple papers at once.

Not every paper requires one. Under the current APA guidelines (7th edition), whether you need a running head depends on the type of paper you're writing.

Running Head in Student Papers

For student papers written for a class, a running head is generally not required. Unless your instructor specifically asks for one, you only need to include a page number in the header. The page number should be placed at the top-right of every page, including the title page, unless your professor instructs otherwise.

This is a common point of confusion, so when in doubt, check your course syllabus or ask your instructor directly.

Running Head in Professional Papers

For professional papers — such as manuscripts submitted to an academic journal for peer review — a running head is required. Here's how to format it correctly:

• Type the running head in all capital letters (e.g., TITLE OF YOUR PAPER)
• Keep it to 50 characters or fewer, including spaces and punctuation
• Left-align the running head and right-align the page number
• Use the same format on every page, including page 1
• Do not write "Running Head:" before the title — that practice was retired in APA 7th edition
• Avoid abbreviations where possible, though you may substitute "&" for "and"

Getting these details exactly right is the kind of thing that's easy to overlook when you're focused on the content of your paper. A professional proofreading service like Editor World can be a helpful final check. Our editors are experienced with academic formatting and can catch formatting inconsistencies alongside any grammar or clarity issues before you submit.

Student vs. Professional Papers: A Quick Comparison

Final Thoughts

The running head is a small but meaningful part of APA formatting, and the rules differ depending on whether you're writing as a student or a professional. For most students, the only header element you need to worry about is a right-aligned page number. For those preparing work for publication, the running head requires a bit more care — but once you know the rules, it's straightforward to apply.

If you want peace of mind that your paper meets all APA Style requirements before it goes out, it's worth having a second set of expert eyes on it. Services like Editor World specialize in academic editing and can help ensure your formatting, citations, and writing are all in order.