The running head is the short text that appears at the top of every page of an APA paper. It serves a practical purpose: if pages get separated during printing or review, the running head identifies which paper they belong to.
But here's the thing most students don't realize — you probably don't need one. APA 7th edition changed the rules, and running heads are now optional for student papers. Let's sort out who needs one, who doesn't, and how to format it correctly if you do.
What Is a Running Head?
A running head is an abbreviated version of your paper title that appears in the page header — the top margin of every page. It sits on the left side of the header, with the page number on the right.
Think of it as a label. In a stack of printed manuscripts at a journal office, the running head tells reviewers which paper they're reading without having to flip back to the title page.
Do You Need One?
This is the single most important question — and the answer depends on what type of paper you're writing:
| Paper Type | Running Head Required? |
|---|---|
| Student paper | No — unless your instructor specifically requires it |
| Professional paper (journal submission) | Yes — required on every page |
This is a 7th edition change. In the 6th edition, running heads were required for all papers, including student papers. The 7th edition removed this requirement for student papers because running heads serve a purpose in publishing that doesn't apply to classroom assignments.
Always check with your instructor.Some professors still require running heads for student papers, especially if they learned APA under the 6th edition. If your assignment guidelines mention a running head, include it. If they don't, you can safely leave it out.
Formatting Rules
If you do need a running head, here are the rules:
The Basics
- Content: A shortened version of your paper title, in ALL CAPS
- Maximum length: 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation
- Position: Flush left in the page header
- Page number: Flush right in the same header line
- Every page: The running head appears on all pages — title page through references
Creating the Shortened Title
If your full title is short enough (50 characters or fewer), use the entire title in all caps:
Full title: Sleep Quality and Academic Performance
Running head: SLEEP QUALITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE ✓ (39 characters)
If your title exceeds 50 characters, abbreviate it while keeping it meaningful:
Full title: The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Anxiety Symptoms in College Students With Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Running head: MINDFULNESS AND ANXIETY IN COLLEGE STUDENTS ✓ (44 characters)
Tips for abbreviating:
- Keep the most important content words
- Remove articles ("the," "a," "an") and prepositional phrases when possible
- Make sure the shortened version still conveys the topic
- Don't use an ellipsis (…) to indicate truncation
Title Page Header vs. Subsequent Pages
Here's where APA 7th edition simplified things:
7th edition (current): The running head looks the same on every page — just the shortened title in all caps, flush left, with the page number flush right. Done.
SLEEP QUALITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 1
6th edition (old): The title page header was different — it included the label "Running head:" before the text:
Running head: SLEEP QUALITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 1
Then subsequent pages dropped the "Running head:" label:
SLEEP QUALITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 2
The 7th edition eliminated the "Running head:" label entirely. If your paper still has "Running head:" on the title page, you're following the outdated 6th edition format.
How to Set It Up
Setting up a running head requires using your word processor's header feature — you can't just type it at the top of the page.
Microsoft Word
- Double-click the top margin of any page to open the header
- In the Header & Footer tab, check Different First Page only if you're using APA 6th edition (7th edition uses the same header on all pages)
- Type your shortened title in ALL CAPS
- Press Tab twice (or set a right-aligned tab stop) to move the cursor to the right margin
- Insert a page number: Insert → Page Number → Current Position → Plain Number
- Close the header
Google Docs
- Go to Insert → Headers & Footers → Header
- Type your shortened title in ALL CAPS
- Press Tab to move to the right side
- Go to Insert → Page Numbers and choose the top-right option
- Uncheck Different first page (for 7th edition, all pages look the same)
LaTeX
If you're using LaTeX with a standard APA template, the running head is typically set in the document preamble:
\shorttitle{SLEEP QUALITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE}
Most APA LaTeX templates (like apa7 class) handle the header formatting automatically once you define the short title.
Overleaf
If you're using Overleaf with an APA template, look for the \shorttitle{} command in the preamble. The template handles placement and formatting.
7th Edition Change — Students No Longer Need It
This is worth emphasizing because it's one of the most visible changes in APA 7th edition:
Before (6th edition):
- All papers needed a running head
- The title page had "Running head:" before the text
- Students spent time getting the formatting exactly right
Now (7th edition):
- Only professional papers need a running head
- The "Running head:" label is gone entirely
- Student papers just need a page number in the header — no running head text
The APA made this change because running heads exist to help journal editors and reviewers identify manuscripts during the publication process. Student papers aren't entering that process, so the running head adds complexity without serving a purpose.
What student papers need instead:
For a student paper, your header should contain only the page number, flush right, on every page. No running head text, no labels — just the number.
3
That's it. The simplification is the point.
Common Mistakes
These are the running head errors we see most frequently:
Including "Running head:" in a 7th edition paper. The label "Running head:" was only used in the 6th edition, and only on the title page. If you see "Running head:" anywhere in your paper, you're following outdated formatting.
Exceeding 50 characters. Count your characters carefully — spaces and punctuation count. If you're at 55, find a way to shorten it.
Using different running heads on different pages. The running head text should be exactly the same on every page of the paper, from the title page through the reference list.
Including a running head in a student paper when not required. Adding a running head when your instructor didn't ask for one won't hurt you, but it's unnecessary. If you're unsure, ask.
Typing the running head as regular text. The running head belongs in the page header (the top margin), not in the body of the document. It should be inserted through your word processor's header feature.
Not capitalizing all letters. The running head is always in ALL CAPS. Mixed case or title case is incorrect.
What's Next
Now that you understand running heads, explore these related topics:
- APA Title Page Format — formatting the page where the running head first appears
- APA 6th vs. 7th Edition — all the changes between editions, including this one
- APA General Format — margins, fonts, spacing, and overall page layout
Archivero takes care of the tedious formatting details — including whether your paper needs a running head and how to set it up — so you can focus on the research itself.
