How to Insert an APA Running Head
1. First, open a new document.
2. Once the document is open, you’ll want to open a header, and you can do that in one of two
ways.
a.) Place the mouse at the top of the first page and double left click; the header should
open instantly.
OR
b.) Click on the “Insert” tab, click on “Header,” then click on the first option (blank
header); the header should open instantly.
3. Now that the header is open, you should automatically be on the “Design” tab. If you are not
on the design tab, open it.
4. Click the box that says “Different First Page.” This step is ESSENTIAL for the correct
formatting.
© Alyssah Roth, 2015.
5. Now, still within the “Design” tab, click on “Page Number,” click on “Top of Page,” then
select the first option, “Plain Number 1.” The number 1 should now be in the top left corner of
the header.
6. Next, to the left of the number, type the phrase “Running head:” with the same capital “R,” the
same lower case letters, and the “:” (colon).
7. After the colon, you will write an abbreviated (shortened) version of your title in ALL
CAPITAL LETTERS, but it must be 50 characters or less, characters including letters, numbers,
spaces, and punctuation. So, for instance, if your title was “A How-To Guide for Students,” then
your header would look like this:
Running head: HOW TO GUIDE1
© Alyssah Roth, 2015.
8. Next, you’ll want to move the number to the right side of the header. The cursor should
already be on the left of the “1,” but if it’s not, place it there. Then hit “Tab” on your keyboard
until the number is as far right as possible and still on the same line as the title.
9. Now, highlight the running head, title, and page number. If you are still on the “Design” tab,
click the “Home” tab. Now change the font to Times New Roman, font size 12.
10. You have now inserted the first page header. To exit this header, double left click outside of
it, or, under the “Design” tab, click “Close Header and Footer.”
Now, you must insert a header on the remaining pages of your essay.
Directions continued below.
© Alyssah Roth, 2015.
1. If you do not already have a second page, you can either hit the “Enter” button on the
keyboard until you start a new page, or you can click on the “Insert” tab at the top of the screen,
then select “Page Break.” A new page will open automatically.
2. Once the new page is open, you’ll want to open a header, and you can do that in one of two
ways.
a.) Place the mouse at the top of the page and double left click; the header should
open instantly.
OR
b.) Click on the “Insert” tab, click on “Header,” then click on the first option (blank
header); the header should open instantly.
3. Now that the header is open, you should automatically be on the “Design” tab. If you are not
on the design tab, open it.
4. Still within the “Design” tab, click on “Page Number,” click on “Top of Page,” then select the
first option, “Plain Number 1.” The number 2 should now be in the top left corner of the header.
© Alyssah Roth, 2015.
5. Now, to the left of the number, type the abbreviated (shortened) version of your title, but DO
NOT include the words “Running head” or a colon. What you have should look like this:
HOW TO GUIDE2
6. Next, you’ll want to move the number to the right side of the header. The cursor should
already be on the left of the “2,” but if it’s not, place it there. Then hit “Tab” on your keyboard
until the number is as far right as possible and still on the same line as the title.
7. Now, highlight the running head, title, and page number. If you are still on the “Design” tab,
click the “Home” tab. Now change the font to Times New Roman, font size 12.
© Alyssah Roth, 2015.
8. You have now inserted the header for the rest of the essay. To exit this header, double left
click outside of it, or, under the “Design” tab, click “Close Header and Footer.”
9. To ensure that the header appears on the rest of your essay, either hit enter to open a new page,
or follow Step 1 above.
© Alyssah Roth, 2015.