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What Is a Header in Writing? Full Guide & Examples
What Is a Header in Writing? Full Guide & Examples
Learn what a header in writing is, why it matters, and how to format an essay header correctly in APA or MLA styles with clear examples and easy tips.
Oct 8, 2025
Academic Writing
8 min read
How to write an essay title? Should you use right hand corner or left? Plain number, single spacing? It's very confusing at first. Learning how to write the header for essay in a correct way needs some studying. In this guide, we will provide all the necessary details to master this process. As well as how to do it correctly in APA or MLA.
To fasten this process, you can use your personal AI writing and learning assistant, such as StudyAgent, where you can get everything from formatting guidance to grammar and citation support, so you can streamline your writing and help you create a proper header for essay submissions.
What Is a Header in Writing an Essay? A Complete Guide
In academic writing, standards are designed to maintain high academic integrity. All the guidelines will start with the rules of how to use headings. So the main idea lies in placing at the top of each page a header for a paper which will include key identifying information, such as the author’s last name and page number.
As it was mentioned in academic writing, using an essay header ensures your work is well-organized and meets formatting standards. A well-formatted header includes consistent elements that help readers navigate your paper easily. Specific formatting guidelines will depend on the required style guide. For example, APA headings differ from MLA or Chicago formats.
How to Format an MLA Essay Heading Correctly
The ninth edition of the MLA Handbook, published in spring 2021, states the main rules of MLA style and builds on its unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements, such as facts common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date.
In general, the MLA formatting is most commonly used in the humanities, especially in subjects like English, literature, cultural studies, and philosophy. A proper header for essay written in MLA style must include the following four details in the top left corner:
- Student’s full name;
- Instructor’s name;
- Course name and number;
- Submission date (day, month, year).
Typically, all items should be left-aligned, double-spaced, and listed on separate lines without any extra spacing. The MLA guidance says that below these four lines, center the title of your paper. Note this: do not bold, italicize, or underline it. After that, begin the body of your essay on the next line, using a 0.5-inch indent. Additionally, a running header with your last name and page number should appear in the top right corner of every page, including the first (e.g., Doe 1).
How to Format an APA Essay Header Correctly
As a rule, APA format is most commonly used in disciplines such as social sciences, education, and psychology, and related fields. A correctly formatted essay header format in APA is designed to show clarity, professionalism, and consistency throughout academic writing.
The latest APA edition style, 7th, specifies a distinct approach to the title page and running headers for student papers. Instead of a running head, only the page number appears in the top-right corner of every page. The title page includes essential details, such as the paper title, the student’s name, course information, and the date, that has to be all centered and double-spaced.
APA Essay Header Format Includes:
- Use 1-inch margins on all sides;
- Font: 12-point Times New Roman (or Arial, Calibri, or Georgia);
- Line spacing: Double throughout, including the title page;
- Page number: Right-aligned in the header on every page;
- No running head required for student papers;
- Use flush-left alignment for body text.
The title page must contain:
- Title of the paper (bold, centered, 3–4 lines down from the top);
- Student’s full name;
- Institutional affiliation;
- Course number and name;
- Instructor’s name;
- Due date.
How to Write a Header for an Essay: A Student’s Formatting Guide
Using an appropriate title case or header on essay is a must for both academic and professional writings. Why? It helps to present your work clearly, whether you are working on an APA-style research paper or an MLA-style literature essay.
Now, let's check how to add different header formats using Microsoft Word. An AI writer tool could help us adjust these formatting fast and correctly.
APA Essay Header Format
- Open Microsoft Word.
- Go to the “Insert” tab.
- Click “Header”, then choose “Blank (Three Columns)”.
- On the right side, insert the page number.
- On the left, type your paper’s title in all caps (e.g., EFFECTS OF STRESS).
- Use 12-point Times New Roman, and ensure the spacing is set to double.
MLA Essay Header Format
- In the top-left corner of your first page, type your full name, instructor’s name, course name, and date (Day Month Year format).
- Center the title of your essay below your personal and course information.
- Add the MLA-style page number and last name header by inserting a blank header, aligning the text to the right, and typing your last name followed by the page number.
To Sum Up
Using the right header for a paper isn’t just about following rules, but it’s more about making your work easy to navigate and credible at a glance. Whether you’re formatting MLA or APA, a consistent essay header format helps readers instantly see key information and gives your paper a professional edge. Follow each guide’s requirements, choose a correct header example, and your submission will be successful.
Frequently asked questions
An appropriate essay header includes key identifying information, though the format depends on the required style guide (MLA, APA, or Chicago). In most cases, the essay header format appears on the first page and typically contains: your name, instructor’s name, course title, and date. An essay header example in MLA also includes a running page number with your last name in the top right. Always double-space and align according to the required formatting style.
To create a proper header on paper, follow the method required by the formatting style (MLA, APA, or Chicago). Most headers include your name, course, instructor, and date, placed at the top left or top right of the page. The paragraph text usually begins on the next line, double-spaced. Refer to your style guide for precise placement, font, and spacing guidelines.
The header for an essay typically appears in the top margin of each page and may include your last name, page number, or institutional details, depending on the style guide. The title, however, introduces the essay’s main topic and is centered at the top of the first page, above the paragraph text.
Sources:
- Modern Language Association. (2024, August 29). MLA Handbook, Ninth Edition | MLA Style Center. MLA Style Center. https://style.mla.org/mla-handbook-ninth-edition/
- SPARK at York University. (2013). Essay formatting: APA, Chicago, MLA. York University. https://spark.library.yorku.ca/wp-content/themes/glendonits-spark-20151125/resources/Essay%20Formatting.pdf
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. (2025, February 20). Writing headers. University Marketing | UMass Dartmouth. https://www.umassd.edu/marketing/web-writing/header-tags/writing-headers/
