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Formatting an Academic Paper in Microsoft Word: Creating a Running Header (aka Page Header)

Creating a Running Header for a Paper in MLA Format

  1. Click the Insert tab.
  2. In the "Header & Footer" section of the toolbar, click the "Page Number" menu.
  3. In the "Top of Page" submenu, click the third option ("Plain Number Three").
  4. If you're using the MLA style guide, click in front of the page number, type your last name, and press space.

Creating a Running Header for a Paper in APA Format

  1. Click the Insert tab.
  2. In the "Header & Footer" section of the toolbar, click the "Page Number" menu.
  3. In the "Top of Page" submenu, click the third option ("Plain Number Three").
  4. Click in front of the page number. Under "Header & Footer Tools" on the toolbar, click Design.
  5. Click the checkbox labeled "Different First Page"
  6. Type "Running Head:"  Then type a shortened version (no more than 50 characters) of your paper's title in all capital letters. For example, you might type "Running Head: GEOLOGY OF THE UPPER MOSES COULEE"
  7. Press the Tab key twice to move the cursor to the right side of the page.
  8. Type the number 1.
  9. Scroll down to the second page of your paper.
  10. Click in front of the page number in the header.
  11. Type the shortened version of your paper's title  in all capital letters. Press space.

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