Cover Page For Research Paper APA | Clean APA 7 Title Page

A title page can feel like a small detail, yet it is the first thing a grader sees. A tidy APA title page signals care, makes your paper easy to file, and prevents avoidable point deductions.

This article walks you through the exact pieces that belong on an APA title page in 7th edition format, how to place them, and what changes between student and professional papers. You’ll also get quick checks and fixes for the most common formatting slips.

What The APA Title Page Must Do

An APA title page has one job: present core identification details in a consistent layout. When you match the standard layout, instructors can scan for the title, author, and course details without hunting.

APA Style uses two main title page layouts: one for student assignments and one for professional submissions. The student version includes course information. The professional version swaps course details for publication details like an author note and a running head.

Cover Page For Research Paper APA In Student Classes

If your paper is for a class, start with the student title page unless your instructor asks for the professional format. The student page uses a simple header and a centered block of lines in the middle of the page.

Student Title Page Elements

Place these items as separate, double-spaced lines, centered on the page:

• Paper title in bold, written in title case
• Author name (first name, middle initial if you use one, last name)
• Affiliation (department and school name)
• Course number and course name
• Instructor name
• Due date in the date style your school uses

Student Page Header

In APA 7, student papers use a page number only in the header. Put the number at the top right and start the title page as page 1. APA’s page header guidance spells out the difference between student and professional headers in plain terms.

Professional Title Page Rules For Publication-Style Papers

A professional title page is used for manuscripts sent to journals or other formal venues. It keeps the centered title block, then adds publication elements that help editors track author details.

Professional Title Page Elements

A professional page commonly includes:

• Paper title in bold, centered
• Author names
• Affiliations for each author
• Author note (funding, disclosures, contact details, or related notes when required)
• Running head in the header (a short form of the title)
• Page number in the top right

APA’s official title page setup page shows the elements and where they sit on the page, with examples for both paper types. See Title Page Setup for the current APA Style layout notes.

Formatting Rules That Apply To Both Title Page Types

Once you know which elements you need, the rest is pure formatting. These settings control whether your page looks like APA 7 at a glance.

Page Setup And Spacing

• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Line spacing: double-spaced for every line on the title page
• Paragraph indentation: none on the title page’s centered lines
• Alignment: centered for the title block; header items align to margins

Font Choices

APA 7 allows several readable fonts. Schools often set a default, so follow your course directions first. If no font rule is given, stick to a standard academic font and keep it consistent across the whole paper.

Title Capitalization

Write the title in title case. That means you capitalize the first word, the first word after a colon, and major words. Short articles, short prepositions, and short conjunctions stay lowercase unless they start the title.

Keep the title short enough to fit on one or two lines. If it runs longer, rework it so the main topic appears early and any extra detail becomes a subtitle after a colon.

Student Vs Professional Title Page At A Glance

The table below compresses the full layout into a quick checklist. Use it when you want a fast audit before you export to PDF.

Item	Student Paper	Professional Paper
Page header	Page number only, top right	Page number top right + running head left
Title styling	Bold, centered, title case	Bold, centered, title case
Author line	Your name only	All authors in byline order
Affiliation	Department + school	Department + school for each author
Course details	Course number and name included	Not included
Instructor	Instructor name included	Not included
Due date	Assignment due date included	Not included
Author note	Not used unless requested	Often required
Running head length	Only if requested	Short title, max 50 characters

How To Build An APA Title Page In Word

Word can produce an APA title page quickly if you set the header and spacing first. After that, it is just typing each line and pressing Enter once per line.

Step 1: Set The Page Layout

1. Open a blank document and set margins to 1 inch.
2. Set line spacing to double.
3. Pick one approved font and set the size your instructor expects.

Step 2: Add The Page Number In The Header

1. Insert a header.
2. Insert page number at the top right.
3. Confirm the title page shows “1”.

If you are creating a professional paper, add the running head text on the left side of the same header line. APA’s official page header page shows where the running head sits relative to the page number: Page Header.

Step 3: Type The Center Block

1. Press Enter a few times so the cursor lands near the middle of the page.
2. Center-align the paragraph setting.
3. Type the title in bold.
4. On the next lines, type name, affiliation, and the remaining student or professional items.

Step 4: Check The Small Details

• Confirm every line in the block is double-spaced with no extra spacing before or after paragraphs.
• Check spelling on names, course code, and date.
• Make sure the title uses title case and stays readable.

How To Make The Title Page In Google Docs

Google Docs works well for APA title pages, yet it hides a few settings in menus that can trip you up.

Header Setup In Docs

Use Insert → Headers & footers → Header. Then use Insert → Page numbers to place the number at the top right. Google Docs applies this to the full document, so you do not need to repeat it later.

Spacing Control In Docs

Open Format → Line & paragraph spacing and set double. Also check “Add space before paragraph” and “Add space after paragraph.” Turn those off so your title page lines stay evenly spaced.

Common APA Title Page Mistakes And Fast Fixes

Most title page errors come from one of three places: the header, spacing, or missing lines. Fixing them is usually a two-minute job once you know where to look.

Running Head Added To A Student Paper

If you see “Running head:” or an all-caps short title on a class assignment, remove it unless your instructor asked for it. Student papers in APA 7 do not require a running head.

Title Not Bold Or Not Centered

On APA 7 title pages, the title itself is bold. Keep the block centered. If you accidentally left the whole page left-aligned, select only the title page block and center-align it.

Extra Blank Lines From Spacing Settings

If your lines look too far apart, the issue is often “space after paragraph.” Set it back to zero and keep double spacing turned on.

Affiliation Written Like Street Details

Affiliation is the academic unit and school name, not street details like a mailing location. Use the department name, then the school name on the same line.

Title Page Quality Checklist Before You Submit

This checklist is built for last-minute scanning right before you upload. It keeps you from missing a single required line.

Check	What To Verify	Fix If Off
Header	Page number top right; running head only on professional papers	Edit the header line, then recheck page 1
Title block	Title is bold, centered, title case	Select title, apply bold and center alignment
Lines included	Name, affiliation, course, instructor, due date (student) or author note (professional)	Add missing line as its own double-spaced line
Spacing	Double spacing with no extra space before/after	Set paragraph spacing to 0 before/after
Margins	1 inch on all sides	Reset page setup margins
Font	One readable font used across the paper	Apply font style to whole document
Export	PDF preview matches the on-screen layout	Export again or print to PDF

Small Choices That Make The Page Look Polished

Once the required lines are in place, a few small choices make the page look clean and consistent.

Keep Names Consistent With The Rest Of The Paper

Use the same name format on the title page and in any author line elsewhere in the document. If you use a middle initial on the title page, use it everywhere you list your name in the paper.

Match The Due Date Format To Your Course

APA Style allows different date formats for student work based on local practice. Pick one format and use it consistently.

Use The Template When You Can

APA provides sample papers and templates that show the title page in context with the rest of the paper. When you start from a sample, you spend less time correcting layout later.

Printable Title Page Text You Can Copy

Use the layout below as a typing guide. Replace each bracketed label with your own details. Keep each line on its own double-spaced line and keep the whole block centered.

[Full Title of Your Paper]
[Your Name]
[Department, School Name]
[Course Number: Course Name]
[Instructor Name]
[Due Date]
  

After you fill it in, scan the checklist table again. If every row passes, your title page is ready to submit with confidence.