How To Set Up A Title Page In APA | Student Vs. Pro Format

A title page is the first formatting check most instructors notice. It’s one page, yet it carries a lot of signals: you followed the rules, you read the rubric, and your paper is ready to grade without guesswork.

APA Style (7th edition) uses two main title-page layouts. One is for student papers turned in for credit. The other is for professional papers prepared for publication or formal review. The layouts overlap, but a few lines differ, and those lines are where students most often lose points.

This article walks you through each piece of the APA title page, shows where it goes, and gives setup steps for Word and Google Docs. You’ll finish with a clean title page you can submit with confidence.

What An APA Title Page Includes

Think of the title page as stacked text blocks, all kept neat by the same base settings: 1-inch margins, double spacing, and consistent font. Student and professional versions share a core set of items, then branch into their own extras.

Items Both Versions Share

• Page number in the header at the top right (page 1).
• Paper title centered, in bold, written in title case.
• Author name on the next line (first name, middle initial if you use it, last name).
• Author affiliation under the author name (your school or organization).

Student Paper Extra Items

Most class papers use the student title page. It adds course details so the instructor can place your paper without hunting through the file name.

• Course number and course name
• Instructor name
• Assignment due date (Month Day, Year)

Professional Paper Extra Items

Professional papers can add items used in publishing workflows. Your instructor or journal guidelines decide what’s required.

• Running head (a shortened title in all caps) in the header on the left, when required
• Author note (often placed on the title page, commonly near the bottom)

Document Setup Before You Type Anything

Set the base formatting first. That way, every line you add lands where you expect it to land.

Margins

Use 1-inch margins on all sides. In Word, go to Layout → Margins → Normal. In Google Docs, go to File → Page setup.

Line Spacing

Use double spacing on the title page. In Word, Home → Line and Paragraph Spacing → 2.0. In Google Docs, Format → Line & paragraph spacing → Double.

Paragraph Spacing

Double spacing is not the same as adding extra space before or after paragraphs. If your title page looks “gappy,” you may have paragraph spacing turned on. In Word, open the Paragraph settings and set Spacing Before and After to 0 pt.

Font

APA allows several readable fonts. Many classes still expect 12-point Times New Roman, so use it unless your course notes say otherwise. The main rule is consistency across the full paper.

How To Set Up A Title Page In APA For Student Papers

This section is the one most students need. The goal is a centered, double-spaced page with the right items in the right order.

Step 1: Insert The Page Number In The Header

Word: Insert → Page Number → Top of Page → Plain Number (right). Click “Close Header and Footer” when you’re done.

Google Docs: Insert → Page numbers → pick the option that places the number in the header on the right.

Do not type the number into the body. It belongs in the header area.

Step 2: Start The Title At The Right Height

On most APA student samples, the title begins about 3–4 lines below the top margin. A simple method is to place your cursor at the top of page 1 (in the body, not the header), then press Enter three or four times.

Now type the title. Keep it centered and bold. Use title case: capitalize major words, and keep short words like “a,” “an,” and “the” lowercase unless they start the title.

Step 3: Add The Byline And Affiliation

On the next double-spaced line, type your name. On the next line, type your affiliation. For many students, the affiliation is the department and the university. Some classes accept just the university name. Match your syllabus.

Step 4: Add Course, Instructor, And Due Date Lines

Keep everything centered and double-spaced. Put each item on its own line:

• Course Number: Course Name
• Instructor Name
• Month Day, Year

Step 5: Check What Not To Add

Many student papers do not use a running head. Some instructors still want one, so follow the assignment sheet. If the rubric says nothing about a running head, leave it out and keep the header as page number only.

Title Case, Names, And Affiliations That Don’t Get Marked Down

Small details on the title page can cause avoidable formatting comments. These quick rules keep your lines clean.

Writing The Paper Title

• Use clear wording that matches the paper’s topic.
• Keep the title in bold.
• Avoid end punctuation unless the title is a real question.
• If the title wraps to a second line, let it wrap naturally. Don’t force line breaks in odd places.

Formatting Author Names

• Use your name as your instructor expects it on assignments.
• Skip titles like Dr., Mr., Ms., or degree labels.
• If there are two authors, list both names on the byline, each on its own line when your class expects stacked names.

Choosing The Affiliation Line

For student papers, the affiliation is usually your school. For group work tied to an organization, it may be the organization name. If you are unsure which affiliation your instructor wants, use the course standard used in prior assignments in the same class.

Professional Title Page Setup Rules

Professional title pages start with the same base document setup: margins, double spacing, and consistent font. After that, the differences usually show up in the header and the author note area.

Header Options

Professional papers often use a running head. It appears on the left side of the header in all caps, while the page number stays on the right. A running head is a shortened form of your title, not a new phrase.

Not every journal uses the same header rule, so match the submission instructions you were given. When the journal rules conflict with a general APA sample, follow the journal.

Author Note Basics

An author note is common in professional manuscripts. It can include ORCID iDs, changes in affiliation, funding statements, disclosures, acknowledgments, and contact details for the corresponding author. If you are writing a class paper and no one asked for an author note, skip it and keep the page lean.

Multiple Authors And Multiple Affiliations

Professional papers may list multiple authors with different affiliations. Some formats assign markers that link each author to the right affiliation line. When your outlet provides a template, use it. When it doesn’t, follow APA’s published examples for multi-author bylines.

Word And Google Docs Steps That Keep The Layout Stable

Most title page issues come from manual spacing tricks that fall apart when you edit. These habits keep your page steady.

Use Alignment Buttons, Not The Spacebar

Center your title-page text with the alignment controls. Space-based centering shifts when fonts change and looks off on another device.

Set Your Normal Style First

In Word, adjust the Normal style to your font and double spacing before you type. In Google Docs, set line spacing and font first. This reduces “mystery spacing” later.

Keep The Header Separate From The Body

Type header items only in the header area. If you see the cursor drop into the body text, exit the header and continue in the document body.

APA Title Page Elements Side By Side

Use this table as a fast cross-check while you format. It’s broad so you can spot what belongs on your version and what to leave out.

Element	Student Paper	Professional Paper
Page number	Header, top right	Header, top right
Running head	Only when assigned	Often required by outlet
Paper title	Centered, bold, title case	Centered, bold, title case
Author name(s)	Centered under title	Centered under title
Affiliation	School or department line	Department and institution
Course number and name	Required for most classes	Not used
Instructor name	Required for most classes	Not used
Due date	Month Day, Year	Not used
Author note	Not used	Often used

When you want to confirm line order and the student title page list, use APA’s official page on Title Page Setup. If you want to compare a full paper layout, Purdue OWL’s General Format page explains how student and professional formats differ.

Common Title Page Errors And Clean Fixes

If your title page looks “almost right,” it’s often one of these issues. Fix the cause, not the symptom.

Header Problems

• Page number sits in the body: Delete it and insert the page number tool in the header.
• Running head is mixed case: Change it to all caps when a running head is required.
• Header spacing looks different from the body: Check the header font and size so it matches your paper.

Spacing Problems

• Uneven gaps between lines: Remove extra paragraph spacing (Before/After) so double spacing is the only spacing.
• Title is too high on the page: Add blank lines above it until it lands around 3–4 lines below the top margin.
• Title is too low: Delete extra blank lines above the title.

Content Problems

• Due date is numeric: Switch to Month Day, Year unless your class uses a different date style.
• Course line is missing: Add it for student papers when the rubric expects it.
• Extra items appear on a student title page: Remove author notes, abstracts, and keywords unless assigned.

Fix Table For Quick Troubleshooting

Issue	Likely Cause	Fix
Text won’t stay centered	Mixed alignment across lines	Select all title-page lines and apply center alignment
Spacing looks “double plus extra”	Paragraph spacing added	Set Before/After to 0 pt and keep double spacing
Title wraps in a weird spot	Manual line breaks	Remove forced breaks and let the editor wrap naturally
Page number is missing on page 1	Header not set for first page	Insert page number in header and confirm it shows on page 1
Running head appears on a student paper	Template used a professional header	Remove running head unless your assignment asks for it
Course line breaks awkwardly	Long course name	Let it wrap; avoid spacing tricks that shift alignment
Affiliation line feels unclear	Using a club name or nickname	Use the formal school or organization name used in your course materials

Copy Ready Title Page Templates

These templates help you place items in the right order. Keep the same font, double spacing, and centered alignment. Replace bracketed text with your details.

Student Paper Template

[Paper Title]

[Your Name]

[Department], [University]

[Course Number]: [Course Name]

[Instructor Name]

[Month Day, Year]

Professional Paper Template

[Paper Title]

[Author Name]

[Department], [Institution]

[Author Note Block If Required]

When Class Rules And APA Rules Don’t Match

Some instructors add extra requirements, like a running head on student work, a section number, or a separate cover sheet. Follow your assignment sheet first. Then keep the rest of the page consistent: same margins, same spacing, and clean alignment.

Last Scan Checklist Before You Submit

• Header shows page number at the top right on page 1.
• Title is centered, bold, and starts about 3–4 lines below the top margin.
• Name and affiliation lines are centered and double-spaced under the title.
• Student papers include course line, instructor line, and due date line.
• Professional papers add running head and author note only when required.
• No extra paragraph spacing is added before or after lines.