What Is a Running Head in APA Format

A running head in APA (American Psychological Association) format serves as a condensed, identifying title that appears at the top of every page of a manuscript. Historically, it was a ubiquitous requirement for all APA papers. However, with the release of the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual in 2019, the rules surrounding the running head underwent a significant simplification, especially for student papers. Understanding these updated guidelines is crucial for anyone writing in APA style, whether for academic coursework or professional publication.

The Purpose of a Running Head

The primary purpose of a running head is to provide a concise identification for a manuscript, particularly when it's being submitted for publication. It helps editors and reviewers keep track of pages and identify the paper quickly, especially if pages get separated or mixed up during the review process. Think of it as a brief header that consistently reminds the reader what paper they are looking at.

APA 7th Edition: The Modern Standard

The most significant change regarding the running head in APA 7th edition is its application.

For Student Papers:

• No running head is required. This is a major departure from APA 6th edition. Most student assignments, essays, and research papers no longer need a running head.
• Your instructor may, however, have specific requirements that differ from the general APA guidelines. Always check your assignment rubric or ask your professor if in doubt.

For Professional Papers:

• **A running head is required.** This applies to manuscripts submitted for publication in journals, dissertations, theses, and other professional documents.
• The format itself has also been simplified compared to APA 6th edition.

Running Head for Professional Papers in APA 7th Edition

If you are writing a professional paper that requires a running head, here are the specific formatting guidelines:

• Location: The running head appears in the page header, flush left.
• Content: It consists of an abbreviated version of your paper's title.
• Capitalization: The abbreviated title must be in all capital letters.
• Length: It should be no more than 50 characters long, including spaces and punctuation.
• Page Number: The page number appears flush right on the same line as the running head.
• Consistency: The running head, including the abbreviated title and page number, must appear on every page of the manuscript, starting from the title page.

Example:

Let's say your full paper title is: "The Impact of Social Media Usage on Adolescent Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study."

A suitable running head would be: SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH (46 characters)

On your paper, it would appear in the header like this:

SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH 1

The key is that the phrase "Running head:" is no longer included anywhere in the header in APA 7th edition. This was a requirement in APA 6th edition for the title page only, but it has been completely removed.

Understanding the Shift: APA 6th vs. APA 7th

To truly grasp the current rules, it helps to understand what came before.

APA 6th Edition Running Head Rules:

• Title Page: The title page included the words "Running head:" followed by the abbreviated title in all caps, flush left. The page number (1) was flush right.

Example (APA 6th Title Page):* Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH 1

• Subsequent Pages: On all pages after the title page, the "Running head:" label was omitted. Only the abbreviated title in all caps (flush left) and the page number (flush right) were present.

Example (APA 6th Subsequent Pages):* SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH 2

The APA 7th edition effectively streamlined this, removing the "Running head:" label entirely and making the format consistent across all pages of professional papers. For student papers, the requirement was removed altogether, simplifying the process for the vast majority of academic writing.

Crafting an Effective Abbreviated Title

The 50-character limit for the running head means you often need to condense your full title significantly. Here are some tips for creating an effective abbreviated title:

• Identify Keywords: Extract the most important keywords or phrases from your full title.
• Focus on the Core Subject: What is the absolute essence of your paper?
• Omit Unnecessary Words: Remove articles (a, an, the), prepositions (of, in, on), and conjunctions (and, but, or) if they don't impede clarity.
• Avoid Acronyms (Unless Well-Known): If your full title uses an acronym, only use it in the running head if it's widely recognized in your field and doesn't make the running head obscure.
• Test for Clarity: Read your abbreviated title aloud. Does it still convey the main idea of your paper?
• Examples:

Full Title: "An Examination of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Among Young Adults" Good Abbreviated Title: COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR GAD (40 characters) * Less Effective Abbreviated Title: CBT FOR GAD IN YOUNG ADULTS (29 characters, but "CBT" might not be universally understood by all readers without context, though acceptable in a specific psychological context)

Step-by-Step Guide: Inserting a Running Head in Microsoft Word (for Professional Papers)

Creating a running head in Microsoft Word is straightforward once you know the steps.

1. Open the Header: Double-click in the very top margin of any page in your document. This will activate the "Header & Footer Tools" tab in the ribbon.
2. Insert Page Number:

Click on "Page Number" in the Header & Footer Tools tab. Select "Top of Page." * Choose "Plain Number 3" (this places the page number on the right).

1. Type Abbreviated Title:

With your cursor still in the header, type your abbreviated paper title in all capital letters. Make sure it is flush left. You might need to use the Tab key or adjust alignment settings to ensure the page number remains flush right. * Ensure there is enough space between your running head and the page number. Word often automatically positions them correctly.

1. Important Setting Check:

* In the "Header & Footer Tools" tab, ensure that the "Different First Page" box is NOT checked. This ensures the running head appears identically on all pages, including the title page. If you mistakenly check this, your title page header will be different from subsequent pages, which is incorrect for APA 7th edition professional papers.

1. Close Header: Double-click anywhere outside the header area or click "Close Header and Footer" in the ribbon.

Your running head should now appear consistently on every page of your document.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with simplified rules, some common errors still occur:

• Including "Running head:" Label: This is the most frequent mistake. Remember, APA 7th edition never uses this phrase.
• Not Using All Capital Letters: The abbreviated title must be in all caps.
• Exceeding 50 Characters: Count your characters carefully, including spaces and punctuation.
• Using a Running Head for Student Papers: Unless specifically instructed by your professor, a running head is not needed for most student assignments.
• Inconsistent Formatting: Ensure the running head appears identically on every page, with the correct capitalization and character limit.
• Incorrect Page Numbering: The page number should always be flush right.

When to Use It (and When Not To)

Use a running head when:

• You are submitting a manuscript for publication in a scholarly journal.
• You are writing a dissertation or thesis (always check your institution's specific guidelines, as they may have unique requirements that supersede general APA rules).
• You are explicitly instructed to do so by an instructor for a specific assignment, even if it's a student paper.

Do NOT use a running head when:

• You are writing a standard student essay, research paper, lab report, or other academic assignment, unless your instructor specifically requires it.

For many students, the good news is that the running head is one less thing to worry about in APA 7th edition. However, for those pursuing professional publication or advanced academic degrees, mastering its correct application remains vital. If you find yourself needing assistance with complex APA formatting or ensuring your academic writing meets all guidelines, services like EssayMatrix can provide expert professional writing and editing support to ensure your papers are perfectly presented.

Conclusion

The running head in APA 7th edition is a streamlined feature primarily reserved for professional manuscripts. It is an all-caps, abbreviated title (max 50 characters) that appears flush left in the header on every page, accompanied by the page number flush right. Student papers generally do not require a running head. By understanding these clear guidelines and avoiding common pitfalls, you can ensure your APA papers are formatted correctly and professionally.