How to Format an APA Title Page: Step-by-Step
APA Title Page Overview
Formatting an APA title page requires specific alignment, spacing, and font choices according to the 7th edition guidelines. To format it correctly, you must include a page number, a bolded title, your name, your university department, the course name, the instructor, and the due date. Follow these steps to ensure your cover page meets academic standards.
Step 1: Set margins and page numbers
Start by setting one-inch margins on all sides of the document. Use the header function to insert a page number in the top right corner. For a student paper, this should simply be the number "1" without any additional text or running head. Ensure the font of the page number matches the font used in the body of your essay. Common choices include 12-point Times New Roman or 11-point Calibri. This header must appear on every page of the document, including the title page.
Step 2: Position and bold the title
Move the cursor down three to four lines from the top of the page. Center the text horizontally. Type your paper title in bold using title case capitalization - this means you capitalize the first letter of all major words. Do not use all caps. If the title is long and requires two lines, double-space between them. The title should be descriptive and concise, capturing the main idea of your research without using unnecessary filler words like "A Study of" or "An Analysis of."
Step 3: List author and affiliation
Place one double-spaced blank line after the title. Type your full name (First, Middle Initial, and Last Name) on the next line. Center this text. On the line immediately following your name, list your institutional affiliation. For students, this includes the name of the department followed by the name of the university, separated by a comma. For example, "Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin." Do not bold the author name or the affiliation line.
Step 4: Provide course and instructor details
Continue double-spacing for the remaining elements. Below the affiliation, write the course number and name exactly as it appears on your syllabus (e.g., PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology). On the next line, provide the instructor's name, including their preferred title (e.g., Dr. Jane Smith). Finally, on the last line of the title block, write the assignment due date spelled out in full, such as "October 15, 2023." Center all of these lines horizontally.
APA Student Title Page Example
1 The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Sleep Jordan A. Smith Department of Sociology, Stanford University SOC 202: Modern Society Dr. Robert Henderson November 12, 2023
Common APA Title Page Mistakes
Avoid these frequent errors to maintain professional formatting:
- Including a running head: Student papers do not need the "Running head: TITLE" prefix used in older APA versions or professional papers.
- Incorrect spacing: The entire title page must be double-spaced. Do not add extra gaps between the course name and the instructor.
- Underlining or italicizing titles: The paper title should be bolded and centered, but never underlined or italicized.
- Using the wrong date format: Use the month-day-year format (e.g., May 5, 2024) rather than numeric shortcuts like 05/05/24.