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Formatting an APA title page

The title page is a requirement for all APA papers. The primary role of the title page is to present just that: the title. But that’s only the beginning of what is actually required for a properly formatted APA title page. This is the first chance a writer has to truly engage with the reader.

For students, the title page also lets people know which class, professor, and institution the text was written for. For professional authors, the title page is an opportunity to share any affiliations or conflicts of interest that might be present.

APA Style recognizes two different ways to format a title page. One is for student papers and the other is for professional papers. This guide will examine the difference and provide real-life examples of both.

The information provided below comes from the 7 th edition of the APA’s Publication Manual . You can read more about title page elements in Sections 2.1 – 2.8.

Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:

The difference between a professional title page and a student title page in APA

Elements of an apa style title page, apa formatting title page example, conclusion: formatting a title page in apa 7.

Both student and professional title pages require a title, author, and an affiliation. Both types of title page also require the same basic formatting, including 1-inch indentations on all sides and a page number in the top right corner.

The primary difference is that professional title pages also require an author note and a running head. However, some professors do ask that you provide some of these elements in student papers. It’s a good idea to know how to format them just in case.

Student title page APA

An APA title page for any paper being submitted for a class, degree, or thesis is all about the basics. Here are the elements that should be included in a student title page :

  • Title of your paper
  • Byline (author or authors)
  • Affiliation (department and university)
  • Course name and course number
  • Instructor name

Page number

Your professor or institution might have their own formatting requirements. When writing a paper for a class, the first rule is to always pay attention to the instructions.

Professional title page APA

A professional title page skips the class info and due date, but it includes:

  • Affiliation (division and/or organization)
  • Author note
  • Running head

The author note and running head are generally only required for professional papers. However, some professors might ask that you include one or both of them. Be sure to check the assignment instructions before submitting.

The title of your paper is really important. This is where the author needs to simultaneously inform and engage the reader without being overly wordy.

An effective title will:

  • Engage the reader
  • Concisely explain the main topic of research
  • Concisely explain any relevant variables or theoretical issues

The paper title should be placed three or four lines down from the top margin of the page. It should be presented in bold, title case, and centered on the page.

Author/Byline

The correct way to display the author’s name is first name, middle initial, and last name. The most important thing is to prevent the possibility of mistaken identity. After all, there are a lot of papers published every year, and it’s possible that someone else has the same name as you do.

For all author bylines in APA, all licenses and degrees are omitted (e.g., Dr., Professor, PhD, RN, etc.).

If your paper has multiple authors, then they should all be listed in the same way, in order of their contributions. All authors should be on the same line, unless more lines are required.

Here’s an example of a properly formatted byline for a paper with two authors:

Cassandra M. Berkman and Wilhelm K. Jackson

Affiliation

The affiliation element is where you identify the place where the work was conducted or who it was conducted for. This is almost always a university or institution. In some cases, there are multiple affiliations for one author, or multiple authors with different affiliations.

Academic affiliations

Academic affiliations include schools, universities, and teaching hospitals. The affiliation line should include the specific department followed by the name of the institution. There is no need to include a location for academic affiliations.

Here is an example of what a basic academic affiliation line should look like:

Department of Psychology, Colorado State University

Non-academic affiliations

Non-academic affiliations are anything that isn’t a school or university, which could be a hospital, laboratory, or just about any type of organization. The affiliation line for a non-academic organization should include the department or division, followed by the name and location of the organization. All elements should be separated by commas.

Here’s how it looks when put to use:

Vidant Health, Greenville, NC, United States

Course number and name (Student only)

Use the course number and course name as they appear on official university materials. Examples:

  • ENG 204: Modern English Literature
  • PSYC 2301: Research Methodology

Instructor name (Student papers only)

It’s important that you display your instructor’s name in their preferred way. With academics who have multiple degrees and positions, this isn’t something that you should guess at.

It is generally safe to use the course syllabus to see how they prefer to be listed. For example, some use the word “Professor” as their prefix, and many will have PhD, RN, or other type of professional designation.

Due date (Student papers only)

The due date should be presented in the day, month, and year format that is standard to your country.

The page number goes at the top right-hand side of the paper. This is one of the only elements that appears on every single page.

You can add running page numbers to your paper by double-clicking the header portion of the document or clicking the “Insert” tab. It will automatically insert page numbers into the rest of the document.

Author note (Professional papers only)

The author note is usually only required for professional papers. This is where additional data, disclaimers, conflicts of interest, and statements about funding are placed. In some cases, the author statement can be several pages long.

The author note is generally split into four paragraphs, including:

  • ORCID iD (a scientific/academic author ID)
  • Changes of Affiliation
  • Disclosures and Acknowledgments
  • Contact Information

Section 2.7 of the Publication Manual has even more information on how to structure these elements for a professional paper.

Running Head (Professional papers only)

While some student papers might require a running head, this is something that is typically only for papers being submitted for publication. This is an abbreviated version of your title that appears at the top of every page to help readers identify it. The running title is particularly useful especially in print versions of journals and publications.

The running head does not have to use the same words as they appear in your title. Instead, try to re-work your paper’s main idea into a shortened form.

For example, if your paper’s title is:

“A Mystery of Style: Exploring the Formatting Mechanics of the Running Head According  to APA Style 7th Edition”

Then your abbreviated title can be something like:

“RUNNING HEAD IN APA 7”

“FORMATTING THE RUNNING HEAD”

The idea is to convey only the most important aspects of your title. The running head should be entered in the page header, flush left against the margin, and presented in all-capital letters.

The APA suggests a maximum length of 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for a running head. If your title is already 50 characters and under, then you can use the whole thing as the running head.

Next, let’s have a look at an example of what a real APA title page looks like when it’s all put together.

Student title page formatting example

APA style student title page example

Professional title page formatting example

APA-format-professional-title-page

All papers written according to APA Style should have a properly formatted title page. Making sure that the title page elements are accurate and informative will help people access your work. It is also the first opportunity that you have as the author to establish credibility and engage the reader.

For more information on the basic elements of an APA paper, check out Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual or our guide on APA format .

Published October 28, 2020.

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An APA title page provides the details of the paper, such as the title of the paper, author name, and author affiliation. APA title pages have two formats—one for professional papers and one for student papers.

The elements to be added on the title page of a professional paper (in order of appearance) are:

  • Page number and running head: These elements appear in the header section. The page number appears at the top-right corner, whereas the running head appears at the top-left corner. If the title is too long, the running head is shortened to less than 50 characters.
  • Title of the paper: It provides information about the paper. It is aligned center and set in bold.
  • Names of the authors: It gives the names of the contributors to the paper and is aligned center.
  • Affiliations of the authors: It gives the department and university details of the authors.
  • Author note: It gives extra information about the authors.

In a student paper, the following details are included on the title page:

  • Page number: This appears in the top-right corner of the header section.
  • Title of the paper: It gives the reader an idea of the information in the paper. It appears in title case and bold. It is center-aligned.
  • Names of the authors: The names of the contributors are added here. This field is also called the by-line.
  • Affiliations of the authors: It includes the names of the authors’ departments and universities.
  • Name of the course: The name of the course for which the paper is written is included in this field.
  • Name of the instructor: Unlike the professional paper, the instructor’s name is included in a student paper.
  • Due date of the assignment: The due date of the assignment is added here. The format is “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 22, 2017).

The title page information for APA is different for a professional paper and a student paper. As a student, you need to include the following details in the same order on the title page of your student paper.

  • Page number: This appears in the header section. Set the page number in the top-right corner of the header.
  • Title of the paper: Set it in title case and bold. Align it to the center.
  • Names of the authors: Provide the names of the contributors. This field is also called the by-line.
  • Affiliations of the authors: Include your department and university name.
  • Name of the course: Provide the name of the course and course number for which the paper is written.
  • Name of the instructor: Add the instructor’s name. There is no rigid rule on how to set the instructor’s name. You can set it according to the instructor’s preference.
  • Due date of the assignment: Add the due date of the assignment. The format should be “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 23, 2021).

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Student Paper Example

  • Student Paper Example This is a student paper example from the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

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  • Professional Paper Example This is a professional paper example from the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Student Title Page Elements

The title page includes the following elements: Page number, Paper title, Author, Author Affiliation, Course, Instructor, and Due Date .  Remember, your instructor can include other requirements for your assignment.  Refer to their instructions carefully.

Your title page and paper is double-spaced. Use 1-inch margins. 

Acceptable Fonts:

  • 11-point Calibri 
  • 11-point Arial
  • 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode 
  • 12-point Times New Roman
  • 11-point Georgia
  • 10-point Computer Modern 1 
  • Should summarize the main idea in a succinct way .
  • Include strong keywords so that readers can find your work in a database or by using a search engine.
  • Avoid using abbreviations in a title.
  • The title should be provided in title case .  This means that all major words are capitalized. 
  • Be bolded, centered, and begin 3-4 lines down from the top margin of the paper.
  • Put a double-spaced blank line between the title and the byline.
  • The paper title also appears at the top of the first page of your paper.

Author Name(s) (Byline)

  • Beneath the title, type the  author's or authors' full name(s) .
  • Do not use titles or degrees.
  • ​Order the names of authors based on their contributions.
  • Write all of the names on the same line.
  • Center the names in a standard font.
  • Smith and Doe
  • Smith, Doe, and Jones

Author Affiliation

  • Identify where you worked or studied when the body of work was completed.
  • Include no more than two affiliations for each author.
  • Example:  College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington
  • Include the department or division.
  • Include the name of the institution.
  • Include the location of the institution.
  • Example:  Hematology/Oncology, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
  • Include the location.

Locations should include the city, state, province, and country.

Course Name

  • Put the course number and name below the Author Affiliation.
  • Check with your instructor on the preferred name.
  • Place the month, date, and year after the Instructor(s) name(s).

See the example title page below:

Student Title Page Example

All content on this guide comes from the 7th edition of the  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association and from the APA Style Blog.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association ( 7th ed.).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000  

American Psychological Association. (2020, October). Blog .  https://apastyle.apa.org/blog

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Basic Format

The title page of the document is the first page in your paper, and it needs to contain the following items, in order:

  • Title of the Paper
  • Author’s Name (that’s you!)
  • Institutional Affiliation (i.e., American National University or National College)

The title page should also include a page header and page numbers .

  • The page header on your title page should read, "Running Head: TITLE OF YOUR PAPER"
  • The running head should be in the upper left-hand corner of the paper, and the page numbers should be in the upper right-hand corner.

Basic Format:

  • Title, author's name, and institutional affiliation should be centered in the top half of the page .
  • Text should be double spaced .
  • Title: no more than 12 words long.
  • Author: Include your first name, middle initial, and last name.
  • For students at ANU campuses located in Tennessee, the institutional affiliation will read “National College.”
  • For all other ANU students, the institutional affiliation will read “American National University.”
  • How to Format Your Header A brief guide to formatting your page headers in Microsoft Word according to the APA style requirements.
  • Sample APA Title Page

Sample Title Page

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Title Page Template

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Learn how to set up the title page of an APA Style student paper and professional paper, including the page header, title, author name and affiliation, course information, and author note.

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© 2023 American Psychological Association.

Students should use the student version of the title page unless their instructor has requested they use the professional version.  The student title page no longer requires a running head. 

title page for apa style paper

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APA Basic Formatting Rules for Student Papers

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the  APA Publication Manual  7th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

  • clearly legible, regular-sized font
  • recommendations: 12pt Times New Roman, 11pt Arial, 11pt Calibri, 10pt Lucida Sans Unicode, 11pt Georgia
  • double spaced throughout all parts of the paper including title, headings, and footnotes
  • 1-inch margins on all sides
  • Indent the first line of each paragraph by 1/2-inch (tab)
  • left-justified for the body of the paper

Running Head & Page Numbers:

  • not required to include shortened version of the title for student papers- unless requested by your instructor
  • include the page number in the top right corner of all pages

APA Title Page for Student Papers

Page number:.

  • include the page number in the top right margin. (It will be 1 for the Title Page. Continue numbering throughout the paper and References page.)

Heading about a 1/3 of the way down the page:

  • Paper Title : bold, centered
  • Author : your name
  • Institutional Affiliation : Lone Star College- Online
  • Course : your course number and the name of the course (ex. PSYC 2301: General Psychology)
  • Instructor : your instructor's name (ex- Prof. Jane Smith)
  • Due Date:  Month day, year format (ex- January 1, 2024)

APA Headings within the Body of the Paper

Paper title:.

  • include on the first line of the first page of the body of your paper
  • bold and centered

Headings and Sub-headings (use when needed)

  • APA uses a hierarchy of five levels for headings within the paper
  • short paper may not need headings at all

References Page Formatting

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the APA Publication Manual  7th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

  • needs to start on a new page following the end of your paper
  • include the title References centered on the first line of the page
  • everything after the title is left-justified
  • listed in alphabetical order by the first part of the citation (usually the author)
  • double spaced throughout all parts
  • Each citation should have a hanging indent- or it should start at the left margin and then have all lines after it indented by 1/2-inch

Click on the information circles for tips on how to use Microsoft Word to format your paper in APA Style.

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title page for apa style paper

What is an APA Title Page?

An APA Title Page refers to

  • a Title Page for a longer document that is formatted according to the conventions prescribed by the American Psychological Association’s Publication Manual .

The title page is comprised of four elements and two optional elements:

Related Concepts: Archive; Scholarly Conversation; Organization

The Title Page appears at the top of the first page of an APA-styled paper.

Like the rest of the paper, the title page should be double-spaced and typed in Times New Roman, 12 pt. The margins are set at 1” on all sides.

Summary of Required & Optional Elements

  • Page number
  • Full title of paper
  • Author byline (aka bio)
  • Affiliated Institution(s) or Organization(s)
  • Running head: The running head became optional in the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual.
  • Author note

Required Components

  • The full title of the paper is centered in the upper half of the page, and the first letter of each major word is capitalized. The paper’s title should be a maximum of 12 words and fill one or two lines; avoid using abbreviations and unnecessary words. Do not format the title with bold, italics, underlining, or quotation marks. The title should be centered in the upper portion of the page, centered, and written in boldface. Make sure to capitalize the major words of the title, such as The Silence of the Lambs . Keep your title as concise as possible! You’ll have plenty of time to be detailed in the body text.
  • The author byline is comprised of the author(s)’ first name(s), middle initial(s), and last name(s); this line follows after the full title of the research paper. Note that two authors are separated by the word and, but more than two authors’ names are separated by commas. Do not include titles, degrees, or honorifics (Mr., Mrs., Mx., etc.).
  • List the institutional affiliation of the author(s) involved with the research paper. Include the name of the college or university you attend, or the name of the organization(s) that provided support for your research.

Optional Components

  • Running head (or shortened title) and label – Optional In accordance with APA 7th Edition updates, student papers typically no longer include a running head. If you are unsure about the need for a running head, be sure to consult with your professor. The running head and label is flush with the upper left-hand corner of the title page, while the page number is flush with the upper right-hand corner of the page. The label “Running head” should only appear on the title page; on all other pages, simply include the shortened title of the paper. All letters of the running head should be capitalized and should not exceed 50 characters, including punctuation, letters, and spaces. Example: EFFECTS OF NUTRITION ON MEMORY
  • If you are a student, check to see whether your professor asked you to add any additional information in the Author note slot. Some professors require further information, including the date of submission, course number or title, or name of the professor. If your instructor requires you to include an author’s note, position it in the lower half of the title page. Follow your instructor’s directives regarding additional lines on the title page.

Example: APA Title Page of a Student Work

When creating the Title Page , professional and student papers have slightly different rules for APA. We’ll cover the rules that apply to both types first.

You’ll need to include the course number and name, the name of the professor, and the date your assignment is due. All of this should be done line by line beneath the name of your school.

title page for apa style paper

Image courtesy of the APA style guide

Example: APA Title Page of a Professional Work

You’ll need to include an author’s note underneath your institution on the bottom half of the page. There will be a couple of brief paragraphs to write for this note.

  • The first paragraph should have the author’s name and symbol and URL for the ORCID iD. The ORCID iD can be excluded if you don’t have one.
  • The second paragraph should include any changes in the institution or deaths of the authors.
  • The third paragraph should include any disclosures, acknowledgments, or relevant information related to either.
  • The fourth/final paragraph is where you’ll include the contact information for the author.

If any of these paragraphs are irrelevant, there is no need to include them. Simply skip to the next relevant one.

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APA Formatting for Word 2016

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Use the following directions to format your Microsoft Word document in APA format. You can also check out our APA sample paper for more guidance.

In the 7th edition of APA, they have separate format for "student papers" that doesn't require a full header. Instead, it only requires the page number to appear in the top-right corner of each page.

A common characteristic of APA style papers is to include a title page. Check with your instructor to confirm if you should include a title page for your assignment.

  • On the "Home" tab, select your font and size from the dropdown menu. Acceptable fonts for your title page include size 12 Times New Roman or size 11 Calibri.

Image of Microsoft Word's home" tab with "Times New Roman" selected

  • On the "Home" tab, click the arrow that expands "Paragraph Settings." Under "Line Spacing," choose "Double" and make sure "Before" and "After" are set to 0 pt.

Image of Microsoft Word's "Home" tab and an arrow that expands "Paragraph Settings"

  • On the "Page Layout" tab, click "Margins," and select "Normal" (1" on all sides). This is usually the standard setting in Microsoft Word.

Image of Microsoft Word's "page layout" tab with "margins" selected and "Normal" (1" on all sides).

  • Click on the "Insert" tab, then click on "Page Number." Choose "Top of Page," then "Plain Number 3."

Image of Microsoft Word's "Insert" tab

  • Highlight the page number to adjust the font to match the font of your paper. Click out of your header to move your cursor back to the main body of your paper.
  • Under the "Home" tab, click the "Justify Center" icon to center your cursor. 

Arrow pointing to the justify center icon in Microsoft Word

  • Hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard 3-4 times.  
  • Type in the title of your paper. Your title should have all the major words capitalized and should be in bold. 
  • Hit "Enter" twice on your keyboard to start a new line and to give space between your title and the next line. Turn off bold. Type in your name.
  • Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Type in the name of the department you are in and the name of your college.
  • Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Type in the name of the course you are taking. Include both the course code and the full name of the course (example: NUR 120: Basic Nursing Concepts).
  • Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Type in your instructor's name and their academic credentials (if you know them).
  • Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Type in the due date of your assignment.

Sample title page in APA format.

Body of Paper

  • After completing your title page, click the "Insert" tab and choose "Blank Page" to add a new page to your document. Your header with your page number should appear in the top right corner of your page.

Inserting a new page into Microsoft Word by clicking "Insert" then "Blank Page."

  • Type the title of your paper at the top of your page. Your title should be justified center (like your title page) and bolded.
  • Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line.
  • Change the text alignment over to left.

Align text left icon in Microsoft Word.

  • Hit "Tab" your keyboard to start a new paragraph.
  • If you have multiple section titles, each section title should be centered and bolded.

To learn about formatting a References Page, check out the library's Formatting Your Reference Page in Word guide .

Use the following directions to format your Word Online document in APA format. You can also check out our APA sample paper for more guidance.

  • On the "Home" tab, select your font and size from the dropdown menu. Acceptable fonts for your title page include size 12 Times New Roman or size 11 Calibri.

Microsoft Word Online homepage with Home and font Times New Roman, size 12 outlined in red boxes.

  • On the "Home" tab, click on the three dots (found next to "Designer") to expand the menu. Select "Paragraph Options." 

Microsoft Word Online Version homepage with three dots outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to them.

  • Under "Paragraph," look under "Spacing" and change the "Line Spacing" to "Double." 

Microsoft Word online version with Line Spacing outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it; Line Spacing 2 outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it; and Remove Space After Paragraph outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it.

  • Under "Layout," click "Margins" and confirm that "Normal" (1"  margins on all sides) is selected. This should be the default option in Word Online.

Microsoft Word online version with "Layout" tab outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it. The "Margins" option is also outlines with a red box and has a red arrow pointing to it.

  • Click on the "Insert" tab, then click on "Page Numbers." Choose the option that has the page number in the top right corner of your page.

Microsoft Word online version with the "Insert" tab outlined in a red box and a red arrow pointing to it. The "Page Numbers" option is also outlined with a red box and has a red arrow pointing to it.

  • Note: Once you click out of the header with your page numbers, it will disappear from your page. Click the "Header" tab at the top of the page to see your page numbers again or to edit your header.

Microsoft Word online version with the page numbers inserted in a red outlined box with a red arrow pointing to it.

  • Under the "Home" tab, click the "Text Alignment" icon. On the dropdown menu, click "Align Center" to center your cursor.

Microsoft Word online version with alignment icon outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it; Align Center is also outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it.

  • Hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard 3-4 times.
  • Type in the title of your paper. Your title should have all the major words capitalized and should be in bold.
  • Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Type in your instructor's name.

Sample Title Page in APA format in Word Online

  • Note:  When using "Page Break" Word Online will seemingly remove all of the blank space on the previous page and start the next page. If you print out or upload your document to D2L, the blank space will remain on the page as normal. Word Online is trying to save space for your view by removing the blank space.

Adding a new page in Word online by going to the Insert tab, then clicking Page Break.

  • Under "Home," click "Text Alignment" and change to "Align Left."

 Microsoft Word online version; alignment icon outlined in red with a red arrow pointing to it and "Align Left" outlined with a red box around it.

  • Hit "Tab" on your keyboard to start a new paragraph.
  • If you have multiple section titles, each section should be centered and bolded.

To learn about formatting a references page, check out the library's Formatting Your Reference Page in Word Online guide .

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APA 7th Edition Citation Guide

  • APA 7th Edition Home

Formatting the Paper Itself

  • When and What to Cite
  • In-Text: Multiple Authors
  • In-Text: First and Subsequent Citations
  • In-Text: Authors and Dates Matching
  • In-Text: Direct Quotations
  • In-Text: Secondary Sources
  • Reference Examples: Print
  • Reference Examples: Electronic
  • Reference Examples: Audiovisual Media
  • Step 1: Author (Names)
  • Step 2: Date
  • Step 3: Titles
  • Step 4: Source
  • Help and Training
  • Related Guides

APA Style Checklist

This citation guide is based on The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed., 2020). The contents are accurate to the best of our knowledge.

Content in this guide was copied with permission from Bethel University (TN) Library .

title page for apa style paper

The following formatting rules for the paper are strongly recommended:

  • Text should be double-spaced.
  • Margins should be 1" on all sides (top, bottom, left, right).
  • Recommended fonts and font sizes are: Times New Roman 11, Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Georgia 11, Computer Modern 10, and similar.
  • One (1) space should be used after the period at the end of a sentence.
  • Use double quotation marks to introduce a new, specialized, or novel term the first time it is used.
  • Abstract (may not be required on academic papers)

From the APA Style Blog

Paper Format

Elements of the Title Page

  • Title of the paper
  • Author's name
  • Institutional affiliation
  • Course number and name
  • Instructor name

Click here to see the APA Style Sample Annotated Student Paper .

Click here to see the APA Style Sample Annotated Professional Paper.

For more information, also visit the APA sample paper in Purdue Writing Lab.

Why Time is the Biggest Reason Things Don't Get Done

Grayson P. Finkleton

UT Southwestern Medical Center

COR 101: Course Name

Dr. Professor C. Name

September 9, 2020

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Generate accurate APA citations for free

  • Knowledge Base
  • APA Style 6th edition
  • APA title page (6th edition)

APA Title Page (6th edition) | Guidelines, Example, Template

Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk .

An APA title page must include:

  • A running head (including page number)
  • The title of your paper (one or two lines long)
  • The full name of the author(s)
  • Your university or institution

Additional information, such as a course number or an author’s note, should be placed on a separate line below the institution.

APA title page template

Table of contents

Apa title page example, general formatting guidelines, running head, paper title, author name(s), setting up the title page.

APA title page

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

The APA cover page adheres to the  general APA formatting guidelines :

  • 12 pt Times New Roman
  • Double line spacing
  • 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins

The formatting requirements for each element on the APA title page are listed below.

Write “Running head:” followed by a (shortened) version of your paper’s title. It must be:

  • Left aligned
  • Capitalized
  • Maximum 50 characters (not including the words “running head:”)

Read more on how to  insert and format a running head .

Use an informative, striking title that summarizes the main idea of your paper.

  • Apply title case ( capitalize the first letter of each word, except small words such as articles and short prepositions )
  • Keep it shorter than 12 words
  • Don’t use abbreviations or contractions
  • Place the title in the center of the page

The names of the authors are written in full (first name, initial of middle name(s), last name). Include the names of all authors in order of contribution. Don’t include titles (Dr., Prof.) or degrees (PhD, MSc).

APA title page with multiple authors

There are specific guidelines for multiple authors. The formatting guidelines depend on whether the authors have the same affiliation.

This video will demonstrate how to set up the title page in Google Docs.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2020, November 06). APA Title Page (6th edition) | Guidelines, Example, Template. Scribbr. Retrieved February 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/6th-edition/archived-title-page/

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title page for apa style paper

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

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In-Text Citations

Resources on using in-text citations in APA style

Reference List

Resources on writing an APA style reference list, including citation formats

Other APA Resources

IMAGES

  1. Essay Basics: Format a Paper in APA Style

    title page for apa style paper

  2. General Format

    title page for apa style paper

  3. Title page setup

    title page for apa style paper

  4. Apa Paper Format Headings 335972

    title page for apa style paper

  5. 2024 APA Title Page

    title page for apa style paper

  6. 🎉 Apa style cover page sample. Sample papers. 2022-10-16

    title page for apa style paper

VIDEO

  1. Basic APA Formatting for ACAP Assignments

  2. APA Style References

  3. Formatting Reports for APA and Accessibility

  4. APA Style Reference List How to Reference eBooks

  5. APA Cover Page HD

  6. Creating a Reference Page in APA

COMMENTS

  1. Title page setup

    The student title page includes the paper title, author names (the byline), author affiliation, course number and name for which the paper is being submitted, instructor name, assignment due date, and page number, as shown in this example. Learn more

  2. APA Title Page (7th edition)

    The student version of the APA title page should include the following information (double spaced and centered): Paper title Author name Department and university name Course number and name Instructor name Due date of the assignment

  3. PDF Student Paper Setup Guide, APA Style 7th Edition

    7th Edition Student Paper Setup Guide This guide will help you set up an APA Style student paper. The basic setup directions apply to the entire paper. Annotated diagrams illustrate how to set up the major sections of a student paper: the title page or cover page, the text, tables and figures, and the reference list. Basic Setup

  4. General Format

    Title Page Note: APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).

  5. APA format for academic papers and essays

    Knowledge Base APA Style 7th edition APA format for academic papers and essays APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on January 17, 2024. This article reflects the APA 7th edition guidelines. Click here for APA 6th edition guidelines.

  6. APA Sample Paper

    Purdue OWL Research and Citation APA Style (7th Edition) APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) APA Sample Paper APA Sample Paper Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style can be found here.

  7. Formatting an APA title page

    The title page is a requirement for all APA papers. The primary role of the title page is to present just that: the title. But that's only the beginning of what is actually required for a properly formatted APA title page. This is the first chance a writer has to truly engage with the reader.

  8. PDF Student Title Page Guide, APA Style 7th Edition

    TITLE PAGE: The title page needs to provide information about the paper's topic and authors and the course to which it is being submitted. Title Page Content student title page includes the following elements: title of the paper author(s)

  9. How to Create a Title Page in APA Format, With Examples

    An APA format title page is the first page of a paper that gives the title, author's name, author's affiliations (school or institution), and other information helpful for organizing and introducing the paper. When you're writing papers in the APA format, a title page is required.

  10. Subject and Course Guides: APA Guide: 7th Edition : Title Page

    The title page includes the following elements: Page number, Paper title, Author, Author Affiliation, Course, Instructor, and Due Date. Remember, your instructor can include other requirements for your assignment. Refer to their instructions carefully. Your title page and paper is double-spaced. Use 1-inch margins.

  11. APA Style Guide: Title Page

    Basic Format The title page of the document is the first page in your paper, and it needs to contain the following items, in order: Title of the Paper Author's Name (that's you!) Institutional Affiliation (i.e., American National University or National College) The title page should also include a page header and page numbers.

  12. Title Page

    Learn how to set up the title page of an APA Style student paper and professional paper, including the page header, title, author name and affiliation, course information, and author note. Academic Writer © 2023 American Psychological Association.

  13. PDF SAMPLE TITLE PAGE IN APA STYLE (7 ed.)

    1. First, use the Insert Page Number button on the Insert Tab of a Microsoft Word document to insert a plain page number at the right margin of the header. 2. Next, 3 or 4 lines down from your paper's top margin, type your paper's title. The title's typeface should appear in boldface and title case. 3.

  14. Formatting a Paper in APA

    APA Headings within the Body of the Paper. The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the APA Publication Manual 7th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first. Paper Title: include on the first line of the first page of the body of your paper; bold and centered

  15. APA Title Page

    The paper's title should be a maximum of 12 words and fill one or two lines; avoid using abbreviations and unnecessary words. Do not format the title with bold, italics, underlining, or quotation marks. The title should be centered in the upper portion of the page, centered, and written in boldface.

  16. APA Title Page (Cover Page) Format, Example, & Templates

    Updated on November 10, 2023 Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc On This Page: Professional Paper Student Paper Formatting Rules In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include: A running head (professional papers only) and page number The title of the paper The name of the author (s) The institutional affiliation

  17. Formatting Your Title Page and Paper in Word

    A common characteristic of APA style papers is to include a title page. Check with your instructor to confirm if you should include a title page for your assignment. On the "Home" tab, select your font and size from the dropdown menu. Acceptable fonts for your title page include size 12 Times New Roman or size 11 Calibri.

  18. A step-by-step guide for creating and formatting APA Style student papers

    It then covers formatting for the major sections of a student paper: the title page, the text, tables and figures, and the reference list. Finally, it concludes by describing how to organize student papers and ways to improve their quality and presentation.

  19. Formatting the Paper Itself

    Formatting the Paper Itself. The following formatting rules for the paper are strongly recommended: Text should be double-spaced. Margins should be 1" on all sides (top, bottom, left, right). Recommended fonts and font sizes are: Times New Roman 11, Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Georgia 11, Computer Modern 10, and similar.

  20. How to Create an APA Title Page

    Here's how to create your APA format title as per the specified guidelines: Position your title 4-5 lines from the top of your page. Select your title to centrally align and bold it. Use the title case* while creating your heading. *Capitalize the first letter of each word apart from articles and prepositions. 4.

  21. Paper format

    To format a paper in APA Style, writers can typically use the default settings and automatic formatting tools of their word-processing program or make only minor adjustments. The guidelines for paper format apply to both student assignments and manuscripts being submitted for publication to a journal.

  22. APA Title Page (6th edition)

    This article reflects the APA 6th edition guidelines. Click here for APA 7th edition guidelines. An APA title page must include: A running head (including page number) The title of your paper (one or two lines long) The full name of the author (s) Your university or institution. Additional information, such as a course number or an author's ...

  23. APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

    Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the type of work (book, article, electronic resource, etc.) Articles in Periodicals Books Other Print Sources Electronic Sources Audiovisual Media Other Non-Print Sources Other APA Resources Legal References

  24. PDF ELEMENTS & FORMAT Sample Papers

    Sample Annotated Professional Paper in APA Style. Sample Professional Paper (continued) running. title, 2.4, Table 2.1. parenthetical. author, 8.17 citation a work with one. parenthetical citation of multiple works, 8.12. parenthetical. for same same.

  25. Page header

    The title page carries page number 1. Learn more Running head The running head is an abbreviated version of the title of your paper (or the full title if the title is already short). The running head is not required for student papers unless the instructor or institution requests it. Thus, typically only professional papers include a running head.

  26. White paper references

    Include the description "[White paper]" in square brackets after the title of the white paper. 2. White paper with individual authors. Furst, M., & DeMillo, R. A. (2006). ... which are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.4 and the Concise Guide Section 10.4. This guidance has been revised ...