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How to Create a Running Head Header in APA Format

The running head refers to the shortened version of the full title of your research paper. The goal of the running head is to give the reader a quick snapshot of what your paper is about. It is also useful for a blind review of your work. The American Psychological Association (APA) has formatting standards for research papers in the behavioral science field, including the running head.

Instructions

- 1
  Select your running head based on the full title of your paper. Include important keywords that capture the overall theme of your work. The running head is restricted to 50 characters, including spaces. Some trial-and-error may be required to get your running head at or under 50 characters.
- 2
  Left justify your running head in the header section of your document. The page numbers are right-justified adjacent to the running head.
- 3
  Use all capital letters for your running head title. Sample running head would look like "EFFECTS OF A GOOD HEADER."
- 4
  Write "Running head" followed by a colon and your running head on the title page. For example, the running head on the title page would look like "Running head: EFFECTS OF A GOOD HEADER." All subsequent pages include the running head without the added words.

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