Research Article

Running Head in APA: Do You Still Need It in 2026?

Learn when an APA running head is required, how to format it, and the difference between student and professional papers in APA 7.

In APA 7, student papers usually do not require a running head, while professional manuscripts do. A running head is a shortened version of the paper title placed in the header, aligned left, with the page number aligned right.

If you are confused about the APA running head, the short answer is: probably less often than you think.

APA 7 changed the rule, and many old templates still floating around the web are outdated.

A running head is a shortened form of your paper title that appears in the header.

Its job is simple: help identify the paper in multi-page manuscripts provide a compact title in professional formatting

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do student papers need a running head in APA 7?
Usually no. APA 7 removed the running-head requirement for most student papers unless an instructor specifically asks for it.
What is a running head?
A running head is a short version of the paper title placed in the page header.
Where does the running head go?
It goes in the header, aligned left, while the page number appears aligned right.
Should the words Running head appear in APA 7?
No. APA 7 professional papers use the short title itself, not the label 'Running head:'.

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