Okay, let's talk about something that trips up even experienced writers: the APA format title page. You'd think slapping a title on top of a paper would be simple, right? Wrong. I remember losing points on my first college research paper because I used the wrong font size in the running head. My professor circled it in red with "APA 7th edition?!" written beside it. Ouch.
Getting your APA title page correct isn't just about avoiding point deductions. Think about it – this is the very first thing your instructor or journal editor sees. A messy or incorrectly formatted APA cover page makes them wonder if the research inside is equally sloppy. That's why we're diving deep into every detail.
What Actually Belongs on an APA Style Title Page
The APA 7th edition (that's the current version, released in 2019) simplified things but also introduced changes that catch people off guard. Here's the complete checklist for what needs to appear:
- Title of Paper: Maximum 12 words. No abbreviations.
- Author Name(s): First name, middle initial(s), last name.
- Institutional Affiliation: Where the research was conducted (e.g., University of Michigan).
- Course Name and Number: For student papers only (e.g., PSYCH 101: Introduction to Psychology).
- Instructor Name: For student papers only.
- Due Date: Month Day, Year format (e.g., October 26, 2024).
- Page Number: Top right corner, starting with 1.
- Running Head: Only for professional manuscripts being submitted to journals.
Wait, did you notice something missing? If you're thinking "Where's the author note?" – good catch. That's now optional and typically appears on a separate page. One less thing to worry about for most undergrad papers.
APA Title Page Formatting: The Devil's in the Details
Honestly, this is where most mistakes happen. You can have all the right elements but still mess up an APA title page if spacing or alignment is off. Here's the exact blueprint:
| Element | Formatting Rules | Common Mistakes |
|---|---|---|
| Font | Times New Roman 12pt or Calibri 11pt or Arial 11pt | Using Comic Sans (yes, I've seen it!) or incorrect sizes |
| Margins | 1-inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right) | Assuming Word default is correct (often isn't) |
| Spacing | Double-spaced throughout entire page | Single-spacing the title or author lines |
| Alignment | Title: Bold and centered All other elements: Centered |
Left-aligning author names or dates |
| Running Head | ALL CAPS, left-aligned, max 50 characters | Including "Running head:" (only for 6th edition) |
| Page Number | Top right corner, 12pt font | Forgetting to start numbering on title page |
I recently helped a student who couldn't figure out why her APA format cover page looked "off." Turns out she'd set line spacing to "Multiple at 1.08" instead of true double spacing. Such a small thing, but it stood out.
Building Your APA Title Page Step-by-Step
Let's walk through creating one from scratch. I'll use a fictional education paper as an example:
- Set Up Document
- Open new document
- Set margins to 1 inch all sides
- Choose Times New Roman 12pt
- Enable double spacing
- Add Running Head (If Required)
- Double-click top margin to open header
- Type "RUNNING HEAD: YOUR SHORTENED TITLE" in all caps (for professional submissions)
- Press Tab twice to move cursor to right margin
- Insert page number (should show "1")
- Position Cursor in Main Body
- Press Enter 3-4 times to move down
- Center align text
- Type Paper Title
- The Impact of Technology Integration on Elementary Reading Comprehension (bold, centered)
- Press Enter Twice
- Maintain double spacing
- Add Author Name
- Alexandra M. Rodriguez
- Press Enter Twice
- Add Institutional Affiliation
- Department of Education, University of Chicago
- Press Enter Twice
- Add Course Information
- EDUC 540: Advanced Educational Research
- Press Enter Twice
- Add Instructor Name
- Dr. Benjamin Wu
- Press Enter Twice
- Add Due Date
- March 15, 2024
Pro Tip: Create an APA title page template in Word and save it for future papers. Saves you from rebuilding it every semester!
APA Title Page Examples: Student vs. Professional
This trips people up constantly. Student papers and manuscripts being submitted to journals have different requirements for the APA format title page:
| Feature | Student Paper | Professional Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Running Head | Not required | Required (ALL CAPS left-aligned) |
| Course Info | Required | Never included |
| Instructor Name | Required | Never included |
| Author Note | Rarely needed | Often required |
| Page Header | Page number only (top right) | Running head + page number |
A grad student once showed me a draft where he'd accidentally used the professional format for a class assignment. Looked impressive, but wasn't what the professor wanted. Know which version you're creating!
Top 5 APA Title Page Mistakes That Will Annoy Your Professor
Having graded hundreds of papers, here's what consistently irritates educators:
- Ignoring the 12-Word Title Limit: "An Analysis of Various Psychological Factors Influencing Adolescent Decision-Making Processes in Urban Environments" (16 words!)
- Misplacing Page Numbers: Putting them at the bottom instead of top right corner
- Forgetting to Bold the Title: Seems minor but violates APA standards
- Using University Logos or Images: APA title pages are text-only
- Inconsistent Fonts: Title in Arial, rest in Times New Roman
Warning: Many online APA title page generators use outdated 6th edition rules. Always double-check their output against official guidelines.
Special Case: Group Project Title Pages
Group papers require special handling. List all authors alphabetically by last name, but stack them like this:
Maria A. Chen Thomas K. Evans Jasmine L. Morales Department of Psychology, Stanford University PSY 302: Research Methods Dr. Elizabeth Peterson April 30, 2024
Don't use "and" between names or create multiple affiliation lines unless authors truly represent different institutions. That's overkill for classroom work.
APA 7 vs. APA 6 Title Pages: What Actually Changed
Still using old guides? Here's why that's problematic:
| Element | APA 6th Edition | APA 7th Edition (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Running Head Notation | "Running head: SHORTENED TITLE" | Just "SHORTENED TITLE" in all caps |
| Student Papers | Required running head | No running head required |
| Author Note Position | Bottom of title page | Separate page after references |
| Font Options | Only Times New Roman | Multiple options allowed |
| Location Elements | Required for student papers | Removed completely |
The location element change causes particular confusion. In APA 6, you'd include the city and state of your university. Not anymore! That space now holds the course information.
Essential APA Title Page Checklist
Before submitting any paper, run through this:
- ☑ Title is 12 words max and bolded?
- ☑ Entire page double-spaced?
- ☑ Font size consistent (12pt serif/11pt sans serif)?
- ☑ Margins set to 1 inch?
- ☑ Page number in top right (starting at 1)?
- ☑ No university logos or decorative elements?
- ☑ Running head either omitted (student) or formatted correctly (professional)?
- ☑ Course info included only for student papers?
- ☑ Date in Month Day, Year format?
Print this out and tape it to your monitor. Saved me from countless last-minute panics.
APA Title Page Templates You Can Actually Use
Stop recreating the wheel. Copy these templates directly into your document:
Student Paper Template
[Your Paper Title, Bolded and Centered] [Double Space] [Your Name] [Double Space] [Department, University Name] [Double Space] [Course Number: Course Name] [Double Space] [Instructor Name] [Double Space] [Due Date: Month Day, Year]
Professional Paper Template
RUNNING HEAD: SHORTENED TITLE (ALL CAPS, 50 CHAR MAX) [Double Space Down from Header] [Your Paper Title, Bolded and Centered] [Double Space] [Author Names] [Double Space] [Department, Institution] [Double Space] [Author Note: See separate page]
Your APA Title Page Questions Answered
Can I put an image/graphic on my APA format title page?
Nope. Plain text only unless it's a dissertation with specific university requirements. Even then, consult your guidelines.
What if I don't have an institutional affiliation?
For independent researchers, use your city and state (e.g., Tucson, Arizona). Students should always use their university.
Should the APA cover page count as page 1?
Yes! That tiny "1" in the corner matters. The title page is always page 1, references page is last.
Do I need a running head for online submissions?
Check submission guidelines. Many digital systems now omit this requirement even for professional papers.
How short can my running head be?
Maximum 50 characters including spaces. "EDUCATION TECH EFFECTS" (22 chars) works better than full title.
Can I use abbreviations in the title?
Generally avoid them unless they're universally recognized (like AIDS). Spell everything out.
What if my title is exactly 12 words?
That's perfect. The 12-word maximum allows exactly 12 words – no need to cut it to 11.
Final Thoughts: Why This Actually Matters
I get it – formatting feels tedious. When you're deep in research, arguing about margins seems ridiculous. But here's the thing: that APA format title page signals your attention to detail. One professor told me she can predict a paper's quality within seconds just by glancing at the cover.
A flawed APA title page creates immediate skepticism. Is the data analysis equally careless? Are the citations accurate? Don't give reviewers that excuse to scrutinize your work negatively. Invest the extra 15 minutes to get this right. Your grades (or publication chances) will thank you.
Got a weird title page situation I didn't cover? Email me your scenario. I've probably seen it before.
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