Paper Header Overview

Skills on how to head a paper in college come in handy when writing an essay, a research paper, and many other types of college assignments.

The header is an important feature in professional and academic papers. This is because it contains information such as:

1. Title or author of the work and

2. Page number

Note that different types of writing formats usually employ distinctive approaches towards paper headers.

In some cases, the header appearing on a cover page could be different from the header in the following pages of the same paper-for example, older versions of the APA format.

You therefore need to understand the respective formatting styles in details. For instance, when it comes to how to head a college paper APA format, the running head will be different from that in the MLA format.

It is therefore essential to adequately research the college paper format you intend to use.

That said, heading a college paper could be as discussed below.

 

How to Head a Paper in College APA Format

There are various distinctive features in the APA header. It is necessary to understand these features beforehand since APA is a very common college paper format.

Accordingly, skills on how to head a college paper APA format requires you to observe the below guidelines.

 

Page Header

The page header should be placed at the top margin of all paper pages.

Note that the header should contain:

1. Running head

2. Page number

 

Running Head

Running head encompasses the title of the paper and it should be placed on the left hand side of the margin. Rules on how to head a college paper APA format requires that:

1. The running head should be in capital letters

2. The running head should be aligned to the left margin

3. The label “Running head:” should not be placed before the running head

4. The running head should be uniform in all pages (the Title page included)

5. No abbreviations should be used in the running head

 

Page Numbers

This is another important feature of the running head. It entails page numbering. Guidelines on how to head a college paper APA format demands that:

1. Page numbers should be placed at the top right corner

2. The number one “1” should be inserted in the title page

3. You should insert the numbers using the page numbering function

 

How to Head a Paper in College MLA Format

The MLA is considered the most common college paper format in most learning institutions. For this reason, skills on how to head a college paper MLA format are essential among scholars at all levels.

That noted, some key features that distinguish MLA heading include:

1. Running head

2. Page number

 

Running head

This entails your surname (last name). You must be aware that surname is used in the MLA format instead of title like in the APA format.

For the running head, there are a few guidelines you need to observe when it comes to how to head a college paper MLA format.

They are:

1. The running head should be in capital and lower letters

2. The running head should be aligned to the right margin

3. The label “Running head:” should not be placed before the running head

4. The running head should be uniform in all pages (the Title page included)

5. No abbreviations should be used in the running head

 

Page number

The page number is also very important when it comes to how to head a paper in college in MLA.

Rules to follow when creating page numbers are:

1. Page numbers should be placed at the top right corner

2. You should put just a single space between the surname and the number

3. The number one “1” should be inserted in the title page

4. You should insert the numbers using the page numbering function

 

How to Head a Paper in College Harvard Format

Harvard is as well a more often used college paper format. For this reason, Harvard heading skills are very important among students.

That said, some key features of Harvard heading include:

1. Running head

2. Page number

 

Running head

The running head encompasses a shortened form of the title of the paper. Rules on the Harvard running head include:

1. The running head should be in capital and lower letters

2. A partial title should be used as the running head

3. The running head should be aligned to the right margin

4. The label “Running head:” should not be placed before the running head

5. The running head should be uniform in all pages (the Title page included)

6. No abbreviations should be used in the running head

 

Page Number

The page number also features as an integral part of the running head. Guidelines on how to head a paper in college using the Harvard format include:

1. Page numbers should be placed at the top right corner

2. You should put five spaces between the title and the page number

3. The number one “1” should be inserted in the title page

4. You should insert the numbers using the page numbering function

 

How to Head a Paper in College Chicago Format

Note that Chicago is another common college paper format. You therefore need to understand the key areas entailed when it comes to how to head a paper in college using the Chicago format.

Such areas include:

1. Running head

2. Page number

 

Running Head

The running head in Chicago format encompasses the last name (surname) of the author. Rules for the running head include:

1. The running head should be in capital and lower letters

2. The first page should not have a running head-it should start on the first page with text

3. The author’s last name (surname) should be used as the running head

4. The running head should be aligned to the right margin

5. The label “Running head:” should not be placed before the running head

6. The running head should be uniform in all pages

7. No abbreviations should be used in the running head

 

Page Number

The page number is also very important in heading using the Chicago format.  Guidelines on how to number pages in Chicago include:

1. Page numbers should be placed at the top right corner

2. You should put space between the running head (surname) and the page number

3. The number “1” should be inserted in the first page with text

4. You should insert the numbers using the page numbering function

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