An APA 7 title page uses a set order, spacing, and header rules so your paper starts clean and meets course or journal formatting.
A title page looks simple until you lose points for one line that sits in the wrong spot. APA’s rules aren’t hard, but they’re picky. The title needs a specific placement. Your name and affiliation go in a set order. Student papers often skip the running head, while professional papers usually keep it.
This walkthrough shows how to build a clean APA 7 title page for both student and professional work. You’ll get the exact elements to include, the spacing to use, and the header setup that trips people up.
One rule beats all the rest: follow your instructor or journal when they give a direct layout rule. APA is a standard, not a contract, and classes often tweak small items like the due date line format or which affiliation wording to use.
Not sure whether you’re writing a student or professional paper? A quick test helps. If the assignment asks for course number, instructor, and due date, it’s the student version. If the assignment mentions an author note, submission to a journal, or a running head requirement, it’s leaning professional.
When You Need A Title Page In APA Style
Most schools ask for a title page on essays, reports, and research papers. You’ll almost always need one when any of these apply:
- Your instructor says “APA 7” or “APA format” in the assignment brief.
- The paper will be submitted to a department that uses APA as its standard.
- You’re writing for publication, a thesis, or a formal research class.
If your prompt uses the exact phrase apa style apa format title page, treat it as a signal to follow APA’s page order and header rules instead of making a front page that looks nice but breaks the format.
APA Style APA Format Title Page Rules For 7th Edition
APA 7 uses two common setups: student papers and professional papers. The core layout is shared, then a few items change based on who the paper is for. The table below shows the pieces that differ, so you can pick the correct version in minutes.
| Title Page Element | Student Paper | Professional Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Page number | Required, top right | Required, top right |
| Running head | Usually not used | Usually used, left side |
| Paper title | Centered, bold | Centered, bold |
| Author name(s) | Centered | Centered |
| Affiliation | Department and school, centered | Department and school, centered |
| Course details | Course code and name, centered | Not listed |
| Instructor | Centered | Not listed |
| Due date | Centered | Not listed |
| Author note | Not listed | Often listed at bottom, left aligned |
Page Setup That Applies To Both Versions
Start with the basics, since they affect every line that follows.
Margins, Font, And Spacing
- Use 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Use a readable font your instructor accepts, then keep it consistent across the whole paper.
- Double-space the title page text unless your course uses a different rule.
Header And Page Number
On page 1, the page number sits in the header at the top right. In Word, insert a page number in the header and set it to start at 1. In Google Docs, use Insert → Page numbers and pick the option that places it in the header on the right.
APA’s own guidance is the safest reference when your class handout is vague. See the APA Style title page setup page for the official layout and element list.
Student Title Page Layout In APA Style
A student title page is centered and clean. It’s built from stacked lines, each on its own double-spaced line. Many classes want this exact order:
- Paper title
- Author name
- Department and school
- Course number and course name
- Instructor name
- Due date
Paper Title Placement And Style
Long Titles And Subtitles
If your title runs long, break it into two lines on the title page. Keep both lines centered and bold. Treat the second line as part of the title, not as a separate subtitle label. Avoid abbreviations in the title unless your course explicitly allows them.
Place the title about three to four lines down from the top margin. Center it and set it in bold. Write it in title case. Keep it concise, with words that match what the paper is about.
Author Name And Affiliation Lines
Use your full name on the next line. On the line after that, write the department or program, a comma, then the school name. If your course does not use departments, many instructors accept the school name alone.
Course, Instructor, And Due Date Lines
Put each item on its own line, centered, double spaced. Use the course code as your syllabus shows it. For the due date, use the date format your class uses, then stay consistent in the paper.
If you want a visual that mirrors APA’s student model, the official Student Title Page Guide PDF shows the spacing and line order with a marked-up sample.
Professional Title Page Layout For Journals And Formal Reports
A professional title page keeps the centered title block, but the header and the lower page area can change. Many professional papers include a running head, and some include an author note at the bottom of the page.
Running Head Rules In APA 7
If your paper uses a running head, place it in the header on the left in all caps. Do not type “Running head:” before it. Keep it short, with a limit of 50 characters, counting spaces. The page number stays on the right in the same header line.
Byline And Affiliations For Multiple Authors
List each author on the byline line, separated with commas. On the affiliation line, use the same order as the authors. If two authors share an affiliation, list it once, then align the author list to match the affiliations your journal requests.
Author Note Basics
When an author note is required, it sits near the bottom of the title page and is left aligned. It may include an ORCID iD, changes in affiliation, disclosures, acknowledgments, or contact details. Course papers rarely require this section, so only add it when your instructor or journal asks for it.
How To Build The Title Page Step By Step
These steps work in any editor. Follow them in order, and you won’t need to backtrack.
Step 1: Set Page Layout First
Set margins, line spacing, and your font before you type the title page. If you change spacing later, the title block can slide up or down and break the placement rule.
Step 2: Create The Header
Open the header area. Insert the page number at the top right. If you need a running head, type it on the left of the same header line. Close the header when the number and running head sit on one line.
Step 3: Add The Title Block
Click into the body area and press Enter until your cursor lands three to four lines below the top margin. Center align. Type the title in bold, then press Enter once for each new line. Turn off bold after the title line.
Step 4: Add The Byline And Details
Type your name, then the affiliation line. For a student paper, add course number and name, instructor name, and due date on separate lines. For a professional paper, stop after affiliations unless you have an author note requirement.
Step 5: Double-Check Alignment
Every line in the title block should be centered for student papers. Professional papers keep the centered block too, then shift to left alignment only if an author note is used.
Spacing And Capitalization Traps That Cost Points
Small formatting slips are easy to miss on screen. Here are the spots that cause the most trouble. Save a copy, then export PDF before upload.
Title Case Vs Sentence Case
Your paper title on the title page uses title case. Headings inside the paper may follow a different rule, so do not copy a heading style onto the title page title.
Extra Blank Lines
Stick to one double-spaced line between each item in the title block. Avoid adding blank lines to “make it look centered.” That can push the title too far down.
Bolding The Wrong Lines
In APA 7, the title line is bold. The lines under it are not. If your template bolds your name or the course line, remove that styling.
APA Title Page In Word And Google Docs
You can create an APA title page in two minutes once you know where the header tools live.
Word Header Moves
- Insert → Header, pick a plain header style.
- Insert → Page Number → Top of Page → Plain Number 3.
- Click left in the header and type the running head only if required.
Google Docs Header Moves
- Insert → Headers & footers → Header.
- Insert → Page numbers → pick the top-right header option.
- Type the running head on the left only if required, then close the header.
Quick Fix Table For Common Title Page Errors
Use this as a fast scan before you submit. Fixing these takes seconds and can save a grade hit.
| Slip | Fix | Result |
|---|---|---|
| No page number on page 1 | Add page number in header, top right | Header matches APA page order |
| Running head added on a student paper | Delete it unless your instructor asks for it | Cleaner student layout |
| “Running head:” label typed | Remove the label and keep the short title only | APA 7 header style |
| Title not bold | Bold the title line only | Title stands out without extra styling |
| Affiliation line missing comma | Use “Department, School” on one line | Standard affiliation format |
| Course info put on one line | Split course, instructor, and date into separate lines | Readable stacked layout |
| Title block pushed too low | Remove extra blank lines and re-center the block | Title sits in the expected area |
| Mix of fonts or sizes | Set one font and size for the whole paper | Consistent look |
Submission Checklist For A Clean Title Page
- Page number is in the header at the top right on page 1.
- Running head is used only when your course or journal asks for it.
- Title is centered, bold, and placed a few lines down from the top margin.
- Name and affiliation lines follow the title on separate double-spaced lines.
- Student papers list course, instructor, and due date on their own lines.
- Professional papers add an author note only when required.
- You ran one last read-through for spacing, bolding, and alignment.
If your assignment text repeats the phrase apa style apa format title page, match the order above and keep the page clean. Your reader should see a tidy first page and move straight into page 2 without format surprises.