How To Format A Running Head In APA Style: 7th Edition Step-by-Step Guide

The APA running head is an abbreviated version of a paper's title, formatted in all-capital letters, left-aligned in the header, and capped at 50 characters including spaces. Under APA 7th edition guidelines, a running head is only required for professional manuscripts, while student papers omit it unless specifically requested by an instructor. To ensure compliance, the page number must be simultaneously right-aligned on the same line using precise tab stops in your word processor.

Pre-Formatting Guidelines and APA Standards

Before setting up your document, you must determine your target audience and the publication status of your paper. The American Psychological Association (APA) updated its formatting standards with the release of the 7th Edition Publication Manual. The most significant change regarding the running head is the distinction between student and professional papers.

Student papers do not require a running head unless an instructor or department guidelines explicitly request one. Professional papers—defined as manuscripts submitted for publication in academic journals—must include a running head on every single page, including the title page.

Additionally, the rules for formatting the first page have changed. In the older APA 6th Edition, the running head on the title page was preceded by the literal phrase "Running head:". In the current APA 7th Edition, this phrase has been retired. The header on the first page now looks identical to the headers on all subsequent pages.

Header Specifications Checklist

• Primary Tool: Microsoft Word (Desktop/Office 365) or Google Docs.
• Target Alignment: Left margin for the running head text; right margin for the page number.
• Character Budget: Maximum of 50 characters, including letters, punctuation marks, and spaces.
• Font Compatibility: Must match your document's body font (e.g., 12 pt Times New Roman, 11 pt Calibri, 11 pt Arial, or 11 pt Georgia).
• Margin Standards: Standard 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins on all sides of the page.
• Required Prep Time: 5 to 10 minutes.

Step-by-Step Header Setup in Word and Google Docs

Because formatting tools differ, execution steps depend on your word-processing software. Follow these exact procedures to align your text and page numbers on the same horizontal line.

Step 1: Check Your Character Count

Before typing your running head, write out your paper's full title and determine if it exceeds the 50-character limit. If your title is "The Neurological Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Retention in Young Adults," it is 87 characters long. You must condense this into a logical, high-impact abbreviation that fits within the 50-character limit.

For example, a compliant running head would be: "SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND COGNITIVE RETENTION".

Count every letter, space, and punctuation mark in your proposed abbreviated title. In this example:

• "SLEEP" (5) + space (1) = 6
• "DEPRIVATION" (11) + space (1) = 12
• "AND" (3) + space (1) = 4
• "COGNITIVE" (9) + space (1) = 10
• "RETENTION" (9) = 9
• Total character count: 41 characters. This is well within the 50-character limit.

Step 2: Configure Microsoft Word for APA 7th Edition

For professional papers or student papers requiring a running head, use the following procedure in the desktop version of Microsoft Word.

1. Open the Header Area: Double-click near the very top edge of your document's first page, or navigate to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon, click "Header," and select "Blank" (the first option).
2. Verify First Page Settings: Once the header is active, the "Header & Footer" tab will appear in the ribbon. If you are writing a professional paper, ensure that "Different First Page" is unchecked so that your running head appears identically on the title page and subsequent pages. If your instructor requires a running head only on later pages (a rare variation), check "Different First Page."
3. Insert the Page Number: Do not type the number "1" manually. Instead, while inside the header area, go to the "Header & Footer" tab, click "Page Number," hover over "Current Position," and select "Simple Number." This inserts a dynamic field that updates automatically on every page.
4. Set the Tab Stop for Alignment: To place the running head on the left and the page number on the right, you must configure a tab stop.
   
   
   • Highlight the page number you just inserted.
   • Look at the horizontal ruler at the top of your workspace. With standard 1-inch margins, your printable area is 6.5 inches wide.
   • Double-click the ruler at the 6.5-inch mark (or 16.51 cm if using metric). This opens the "Tabs" dialog box.
   • In the "Tab stop position" field, verify it reads "6.5" (or "16.51").
   • Under "Alignment," select the "Right" radio button.
   • Under "Leader," select "None" (option 1).
   • Click "Set" and then click "OK."
5. Type the Running Head Text: Place your blinking cursor directly to the left of the page number. Type your abbreviated title in ALL CAPS.
6. Execute the Tab Alignment: Once your running head is typed, press the "Tab" key on your keyboard once. The cursor and the page number will immediately snap to the right margin, perfectly aligned with the left-aligned text on the same line.
7. Match the Document Font: Highlight all text inside the header (both your running head and the page number). Change the font style and size to match the exact font used in the body of your paper.

Step 3: Configure Google Docs for APA 7th Edition

If you are using Google Docs, the menu structure requires a slightly different approach to achieve the same precise layout.

1. Access the Header: Double-click the top margin of your document, or click "Insert" in the top menu, hover over "Headers & footers," and select "Header."
2. Adjust Option Settings: In the header options box that appears at the bottom of the header area, ensure that "Different first page" is unchecked for a standard professional paper.
3. Insert the Page Number Field: Click "Insert" in the main menu, hover over "Page numbers," and select the icon showing page numbers in the top right corner of every page.
4. Insert a Right-Tab Stop:
   
   
   • Place your cursor to the left of the newly inserted page number.
   • Go to the horizontal ruler at the top of the Google Docs interface.
   • Click on the light-blue ruler bar at the right margin line (exactly at the 6.5-inch mark for a standard document).
   • A small pop-up menu will appear. Select "Add right tab-stop."
5. Input and Align the Header Text:
   
   
   • Ensure your cursor is still to the left of the page number.
   • Type your abbreviated title in ALL CAPS.
   • Press the "Tab" key on your keyboard once. The page number will slide over to align perfectly with the right margin, while your text remains flush left.
6. Unify the Fonts: Highlight the running head text and page number, then apply your chosen APA-compliant font family and size.

Technical Specifications and Guidelines

To ensure your document meets professional academic standards, conform strictly to the technical dimensions outlined in the table below.

Troubleshooting Header Layout Failures

When setting up academic headers, minor setting conflicts can disrupt your document's alignment. Use these corrective strategies to resolve common layout failures.

The Page Number Displaces to a Second Line

• Root Cause: This occurs when your abbreviated title exceeds the 50-character limit, or if you used spacebar strokes instead of a proper tab stop to separate the text and the number. It can also happen if your right margin setting is too narrow.
• Actionable Fix: First, highlight your running head text and check the character count to ensure it is under 50 characters. Next, delete all manual spaces between the text and the page number. Re-insert a single tab stop set precisely at 6.5 inches (or 16.51 cm) with right-side alignment, and press the "Tab" key once.

The Word "Running head:" Appears in APA 7th Edition

• Root Cause: Academic templates found online are often outdated and still configured for the APA 6th edition guidelines, which mandate the explanatory prefix "Running head:" on the title page.
• Actionable Fix: Click into the header of your first page. Manually highlight and delete the words "Running head:" and the colon that follows them. Leave only your abbreviated title in ALL CAPS. Ensure that the "Different First Page" setting is unchecked if you want this change to apply globally across your entire document.

Header Font Reverts to Default Settings

• Root Cause: Microsoft Word and Google Docs treat headers as a separate style class. When you change your body text font (e.g., from Calibri to Times New Roman), the word processor's default template settings often preserve the default Calibri style in the header.
• Actionable Fix: Double-click into the header area to activate it. Drag your cursor to select both your running head text and the page number. Navigate to your font dropdown menu, manually select your body font family, and select the corresponding size.

The Header is Missing on Page One but Exists on Page Two

• Root Cause: The "Different First Page" option is enabled in your header design settings. This isolates the page one header from the rest of the document, leaving it blank while subsequent pages compile your header content.
• Actionable Fix: Double-click into the header on page one. Navigate to the "Header & Footer" options menu in your ribbon or toolbar and uncheck "Different First Page." If you are writing a professional paper, this action instantly copies the running head and page numbering to page one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do student papers ever require a running head in APA 7th edition?

Under official APA 7th edition guidelines, student papers do not require a running head. However, instructors retain academic freedom and may request one. Always consult your syllabus or course rubric before formatting your final submission.

How do I accurately check the character count of my running head?

To calculate this in Microsoft Word, highlight only the abbreviated title inside your header. Go to the "Review" tab and click "Word Count," then look at the "Characters (with spaces)" metric. In Google Docs, highlight the text, go to "Tools," select "Word Count," and check the character count.

What should I do if my main title is already under 50 characters?

If your paper's full title is already under 50 characters (including spaces), you do not need to shorten it. Simply type your full title in ALL CAPS as the running head.

Is the page number part of the 50-character running head limit?

No, the page number is not included in the 50-character limit. The limit applies solely to the letters, spaces, and punctuation marks within your abbreviated title text.

Can I use symbols or special characters in my running head?

You should avoid using abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols in your running head unless they are widely recognized or appear in your main title. Stick strictly to standard letters, spaces, and basic punctuation, such as hyphens, if they are part of the original title.

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