How To Do Running Head APA Format On Microsoft Word

When it comes to formatting your APA paper in Microsoft Word, one essential element is the running head. The running head is a shortened version of your paper's title that appears at the top of each page. But how exactly do you create this running head in APA format? Let's dive in and explore the simple steps you need to follow in order to properly format the running head in your Microsoft Word document.

To create a running head in APA format on Microsoft Word, you first need to access the header section. Double-click on the top margin of your document, and the header section will open on the top of the page. Then, select the "Different First Page" option to ensure that the running head appears only on the subsequent pages. Next, type in the header section your paper's title, align it to the left, and add the words "Running head:" before the title. Remember to keep the running head under 50 characters and exclude any abbreviations or unnecessary words. Once you have created the running head, close the header section by selecting the close button or by double-clicking outside the header area.

Understanding the Importance of Running Head APA Format in Microsoft Word

Running head is an essential component of an APA-formatted paper. It serves as a concise and informative title of your research paper or academic document. Microsoft Word offers a user-friendly platform to create and format your running head according to APA guidelines. This article will guide you through the process of how to do running head APA format on Microsoft Word, ensuring that your document adheres to the specific formatting standards required in academic writing.

Step 1: Set Up the Document and Margins

Before adding a running head, it is essential to set up your document correctly. Open Microsoft Word and create a new document or open the existing one where you want to insert the running head. Make sure your document is formatted with one-inch margins on all sides.

To adjust the margins, go to the "Layout" tab, click on "Margins," and select "Normal." This will ensure that your document has the standard APA formatting. Alternatively, you can set the margins manually by clicking on "Custom Margins" and entering the values.

Remember, maintaining proper margins is crucial for APA formatting as it allows sufficient space for reviewers, editors, and readers to make comments or notes on the document's sides.

Default Margins:

Top:	1 inch
Bottom:	1 inch
Left:	1 inch
Right:	1 inch

Step 2: Inserting the Running Head

To insert the running head in your APA-formatted document, you need to access the header section. The header section appears at the top of each page in your document, while the main content occupies the body section. The running head is placed in the header and appears slightly different on the first page compared to subsequent pages.

To access the header section, go to the "Insert" tab and click on "Header." Select the desired header style from the drop-down menu. APA recommends using the "Blank" header style as it offers flexibility and control over the running head.

Once you select the header style, you will notice a horizontal line appearing at the top of each page, indicating that you are in the header section. You can now proceed to add the running head.

Different Running Head on the First Page:

On the first page of your APA-formatted document, the running head should include the words "Running head:" followed by a shortened version of your title in uppercase letters. The term "Running head:" should be aligned left, and the shortened title should be aligned right.

To achieve this formatting in Microsoft Word, go to the "Header & Footer Tools" tab that appears automatically when you access the header section. In the "Design" tab, check the box for "Different First Page" to ensure that the first page has a unique running head compared to subsequent pages.

Type "Running head:" followed by a colon and then enter your shortened title in uppercase letters aligned to the right. To align the text, use the "Align Right" button from the "Paragraph" section in the "Home" tab.

Uniform Running Head on Subsequent Pages:

On all the subsequent pages of your APA-formatted document, the running head should be aligned left and include a shortened version of your title in uppercase letters. To create a uniform running head, leave the "Different First Page" option unchecked.

In the header section of the subsequent pages, type your shortened title aligned left. To adjust the alignment, use the "Align Left" button from the "Paragraph" section in the "Home" tab. Ensure that the text is typed in uppercase letters.

Step 3: Adding Page Numbers

In APA format, it is essential to include page numbers in the header section, aligned right. The page number should appear on every page of your document, starting from the title page. Microsoft Word makes it easy to add page numbers to your running head.

To insert the page numbers, go to the "Header & Footer Tools" tab that appears when you access the header section. Click on the "Page Number" button, and select the desired page number option from the drop-down menu. APA recommends using the "Plain Number" option for page numbering.

Starting Page Number:

In most APA-formatted documents, the page numbering starts from the title page. However, the title page itself should not display the page number. To start the page numbering from the second page, place your cursor on the second page and select the "Different First Page" option in the "Header & Footer Tools" tab. This ensures that the first page remains free of the page number.

Step 4: Formatting the Running Head

Formatting the running head according to APA guidelines is crucial. The running head should use Title Case and mirror the title of your paper. It should be concise (no more than 50 characters), informative, and relevant to the content of your document.

Microsoft Word offers various tools to format the running head. Select the running head text in the header section and use the font and size formatting options from the "Home" tab to apply the appropriate style. Ensure that the font size is between 10 and 12 points.

The running head should not exceed 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. If your original title is too long, choose a shorter and concise version that reflects the main idea of your paper.

Step 5: Check for Consistency and Accuracy

Once you have inserted and formatted the running head, it is crucial to check for consistency and accuracy throughout your document. Review each page to ensure that the running head on the first page differs from the subsequent pages and that the page numbers are correctly aligned.

Pay attention to any variations in the running head, such as capitalization, spacing, or spelling errors. Consistency in formatting portrays professionalism and adherence to APA guidelines.

Finally, proofread your entire document to ensure that the running head accurately reflects the content of your paper and follows APA guidelines. Making these small adjustments will enhance the overall presentation of your academic document.

Exploring Different Aspect of Running Head APA Format in Microsoft Word

In addition to setting up the document, inserting the running head, and ensuring consistency, there are a few more aspects to consider when working with APA format in Microsoft Word. These additional functionalities will help you comply with APA guidelines and create a professional and well-formatted document.

Step 6: Adding Running Head to the Title Page

The title page of an APA-formatted document requires a running head, but it is different from the subsequent pages. On the title page, the running head is prefixed with the term "Running head:" followed by a colon. However, unlike other pages, the title itself is written in full, not shortened.

To add the running head to the title page, repeat the steps mentioned earlier for inserting the running head. However, instead of inserting the shortened title, type the complete title of your paper aligned right after "Running head:".

Example:

Running head: Full Title of Your Paper

Make sure the title is written in Title Case, adhering to APA guidelines. Use sentence case for subtitle, if any, in your paper. Align the title and the subtitle on the right side of the header section.

Step 7: Removing the Running Head on Blank Pages

In APA format, blank pages in your document should not display the running head or page numbers. There are a few approaches to remove the running head on blank pages, depending on your specific needs.

Removing the Running Head Manually:

If you want to remove the running head on a specific page, such as a blank page between chapters or sections, you can remove it manually. Simply access the header section on that page, select the running head text, and delete it.

Suppressing the Running Head on Blank Pages:

If you have multiple blank pages in your document, it might be tedious to remove the running head manually from every page. In such cases, you can use the "Suppress for Current Section" feature to hide the running head on all the blank pages within a specific section.

To suppress the running head for blank pages within a section, navigate to the page before the first blank page and access the header section. In the "Header & Footer Tools" tab, click on "Link to Previous" to unlink the current section from the previous one.

Once the current section is unlinked, go to the blank page and remove the running head manually. The suppression will apply to all subsequent blank pages in that section.

Step 8: Checking for APA Style Updates

American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines are regularly updated. It is essential to keep track of any changes or modifications in APA style to ensure your running head, citations, references, and other elements adhere to the latest requirements.

Visit the official APA website or consult the latest edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for any updates or changes in APA style. Following the most current version of APA guidelines will display your commitment to accuracy and professionalism in academic writing.

In addition to the running head, pay attention to other formatting elements such as in-text citations, references, headings, and subheadings to ensure your document is correctly formatted according to the latest APA guidelines.

In Conclusion

Creating an APA-formatted document in Microsoft Word with an accurate and well-formatted running head is crucial for academic writing. Following the step-by-step guidelines provided in this article will ensure that your document adheres to the specific requirements of running head APA format in Microsoft Word.

Guide to Running Head APA Format on Microsoft Word

Running head is a vital component of APA (American Psychological Association) format. It appears at the top of every page and contains a shortened version of your paper's title. To create a running head in APA format using Microsoft Word, follow these simple steps:

1. Double-click on the header area of your document to access the header section.

2. Type "Running head:" followed by a shortened version of your title in all capital letters. The running head should be no more than 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation.

3. On the first page, include the words "Running head" before the shortened title. On subsequent pages, only the shortened title is required.

4. Go to the "Insert" tab and click on "Page Number." Choose "Top of Page" and select the desired position for the page number.

5. To ensure that the running head is aligned correctly, go to the "Design" tab, click on "Different First Page," and deselect "Link to Previous."

By following these steps, you can effortlessly create a running head in APA format using Microsoft Word. Remember to check the guidelines provided by your instructor or publication, as they may have specific requirements for running head format.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we will answer some frequently asked questions about how to do a running head in APA format on Microsoft Word.

1. How do I insert a running head in APA format on Microsoft Word?

To insert a running head in APA format on Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Word and navigate to the "Insert" tab on the top menu.

2. Click on "Header" in the "Header & Footer" section.

3. Choose the option to insert a "Blank" header.

4. Type your running head text. It should be a shortened version of your paper's title, up to 50 characters in length.

5. Select the running head text and click on the "Font" tab in the top menu. Set the font style to "Times New Roman" and the font size to 12.

6. Close the header section by clicking on the "Close Header and Footer" button.

7. The running head should now appear on all pages of your document, aligned to the top right corner.

2. Can I have different running heads for the first page and subsequent pages?

No, according to APA format, the running head should be the same on all pages of the document. It should be a shortened version of your paper's title, up to 50 characters in length.

3. How do I adjust the position of the running head in APA format?

To adjust the position of the running head in APA format, follow these steps:

1. Double-click in the header section to open the header area.

2. Use the "Tab" key on your keyboard to move the running head to the desired position (e.g., left-aligned, centered, or right-aligned).

3. Close the header section by clicking on the "Close Header and Footer" button.

4. How do I remove the running head from the first page in APA format?

To remove the running head from the first page in APA format, follow these steps:

1. Double-click in the header section of the first page to open the header area.

2. Select the running head text and press the "Backspace" or "Delete" key on your keyboard.

3. Close the header section by clicking on the "Close Header and Footer" button.

5. Can I use a different font or font size for the running head in APA format?

No, according to APA format guidelines, the running head should be in "Times New Roman" font with a font size of 12. It should be consistent throughout the document.

To summarize, implementing running head APA format in Microsoft Word is a simple process that can enhance the professionalism and accuracy of your academic or professional documents. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily create a running head that includes the title of your paper and the page number. This not only adheres to the APA formatting guidelines but also ensures consistency and clarity throughout your document. To create a running head, start by accessing the header section of your Word document and inserting a page number. Then, add the title of your paper in all capital letters, align it to the left, and insert a tab space before the page number. Finally, adjust the header settings to apply the running head to all pages except the title page. With these straightforward steps, you can confidently apply an APA format running head to your Microsoft Word documents and maintain the integrity of your academic or professional work. In conclusion, mastering the running head APA format in Microsoft Word is an essential skill for anyone writing academic papers or professional documents. By correctly implementing a running head, you can improve the organization and readability of your work, while also demonstrating your adherence to APA guidelines. Remember to keep your running head concise and to the point, including the title of your paper and the page number. With this knowledge, you can confidently create professional and well-formatted documents that meet the standards of the APA format.