how to write professor's name on paper apa

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / Formatting an APA title page

Formatting an APA title page

The title page is a requirement for all APA papers. The primary role of the title page is to present just that: the title. But that’s only the beginning of what is actually required for a properly formatted APA title page. This is the first chance a writer has to truly engage with the reader.

For students, the title page also lets people know which class, professor, and institution the text was written for. For professional authors, the title page is an opportunity to share any affiliations or conflicts of interest that might be present.

APA Style recognizes two different ways to format a title page. One is for student papers and the other is for professional papers. This guide will examine the difference and provide real-life examples of both.

The information provided below comes from the 7 th edition of the APA’s Publication Manual . You can read more about title page elements in Sections 2.1 – 2.8.

Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:

The difference between a professional title page and a student title page in APA

Elements of an apa style title page, apa formatting title page example, conclusion: formatting a title page in apa 7.

Both student and professional title pages require a title, author, and an affiliation. Both types of title page also require the same basic formatting, including 1-inch indentations on all sides and a page number in the top right corner.

The primary difference is that professional title pages also require an author note and a running head. However, some professors do ask that you provide some of these elements in student papers. It’s a good idea to know how to format them just in case.

Student title page APA

An APA title page for any paper being submitted for a class, degree, or thesis is all about the basics. Here are the elements that should be included in a student title page :

• Title of your paper
• Byline (author or authors)
• Affiliation (department and university)
• Course name and course number
• Instructor name

Page number

Your professor or institution might have their own formatting requirements. When writing a paper for a class, the first rule is to always pay attention to the instructions.

Professional title page APA

A professional title page skips the class info and due date, but it includes:

• Affiliation (division and/or organization)
• Author note
• Running head

The author note and running head are generally only required for professional papers. However, some professors might ask that you include one or both of them. Be sure to check the assignment instructions before submitting.

The title of your paper is really important. This is where the author needs to simultaneously inform and engage the reader without being overly wordy.

An effective title will:

• Engage the reader
• Concisely explain the main topic of research
• Concisely explain any relevant variables or theoretical issues

The paper title should be placed three or four lines down from the top margin of the page. It should be presented in bold, title case, and centered on the page.

Author/Byline

The correct way to display the author’s name is first name, middle initial, and last name. The most important thing is to prevent the possibility of mistaken identity. After all, there are a lot of papers published every year, and it’s possible that someone else has the same name as you do.

For all author bylines in APA, all licenses and degrees are omitted (e.g., Dr., Professor, PhD, RN, etc.).

If your paper has multiple authors, then they should all be listed in the same way, in order of their contributions. All authors should be on the same line, unless more lines are required.

Here’s an example of a properly formatted byline for a paper with two authors:

Cassandra M. Berkman and Wilhelm K. Jackson

Affiliation

The affiliation element is where you identify the place where the work was conducted or who it was conducted for. This is almost always a university or institution. In some cases, there are multiple affiliations for one author, or multiple authors with different affiliations.

Academic affiliations

Academic affiliations include schools, universities, and teaching hospitals. The affiliation line should include the specific department followed by the name of the institution. There is no need to include a location for academic affiliations.

Here is an example of what a basic academic affiliation line should look like:

Department of Psychology, Colorado State University

Non-academic affiliations

Non-academic affiliations are anything that isn’t a school or university, which could be a hospital, laboratory, or just about any type of organization. The affiliation line for a non-academic organization should include the department or division, followed by the name and location of the organization. All elements should be separated by commas.

Here’s how it looks when put to use:

Vidant Health, Greenville, NC, United States

Course number and name (Student only)

Use the course number and course name as they appear on official university materials. Examples:

• ENG 204: Modern English Literature
• PSYC 2301: Research Methodology

Instructor name (Student papers only)

It’s important that you display your instructor’s name in their preferred way. With academics who have multiple degrees and positions, this isn’t something that you should guess at.

It is generally safe to use the course syllabus to see how they prefer to be listed. For example, some use the word “Professor” as their prefix, and many will have PhD, RN, or other type of professional designation.

Due date (Student papers only)

The due date should be presented in the day, month, and year format that is standard to your country.

The page number goes at the top right-hand side of the paper. This is one of the only elements that appears on every single page.

You can add running page numbers to your paper by double-clicking the header portion of the document or clicking the “Insert” tab. It will automatically insert page numbers into the rest of the document.

Author note (Professional papers only)

The author note is usually only required for professional papers. This is where additional data, disclaimers, conflicts of interest, and statements about funding are placed. In some cases, the author statement can be several pages long.

The author note is generally split into four paragraphs, including:

• ORCID iD (a scientific/academic author ID)
• Changes of Affiliation
• Disclosures and Acknowledgments
• Contact Information

Section 2.7 of the Publication Manual has even more information on how to structure these elements for a professional paper.

Running Head (Professional papers only)

While some student papers might require a running head, this is something that is typically only for papers being submitted for publication. This is an abbreviated version of your title that appears at the top of every page to help readers identify it. The running title is particularly useful especially in print versions of journals and publications.

The running head does not have to use the same words as they appear in your title. Instead, try to re-work your paper’s main idea into a shortened form.

For example, if your paper’s title is:

“A Mystery of Style: Exploring the Formatting Mechanics of the Running Head According  to APA Style 7th Edition”

Then your abbreviated title can be something like:

“RUNNING HEAD IN APA 7”

“FORMATTING THE RUNNING HEAD”

The idea is to convey only the most important aspects of your title. The running head should be entered in the page header, flush left against the margin, and presented in all-capital letters.

The APA suggests a maximum length of 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for a running head. If your title is already 50 characters and under, then you can use the whole thing as the running head.

Next, let’s have a look at an example of what a real APA title page looks like when it’s all put together.

Student title page formatting example

Professional title page formatting example

All papers written according to APA Style should have a properly formatted title page. Making sure that the title page elements are accurate and informative will help people access your work. It is also the first opportunity that you have as the author to establish credibility and engage the reader.

For more information on the basic elements of an APA paper, check out Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual or our guide on APA format .

Published October 28, 2020.

APA Formatting Guide

APA Formatting

• Annotated Bibliography
• Block Quotes
• et al Usage
• In-text Citations
• Multiple Authors
• Paraphrasing
• Page Numbers
• Parenthetical Citations
• Reference Page
• Sample Paper
• APA 7 Updates
• View APA Guide

Citation Examples

• Book Chapter
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Website (no author)
• View all APA Examples

An APA title page provides the details of the paper, such as the title of the paper, author name, and author affiliation. APA title pages have two formats—one for professional papers and one for student papers.

The elements to be added on the title page of a professional paper (in order of appearance) are:

• Page number and running head: These elements appear in the header section. The page number appears at the top-right corner, whereas the running head appears at the top-left corner. If the title is too long, the running head is shortened to less than 50 characters.
• Title of the paper: It provides information about the paper. It is aligned center and set in bold.
• Names of the authors: It gives the names of the contributors to the paper and is aligned center.
• Affiliations of the authors: It gives the department and university details of the authors.
• Author note: It gives extra information about the authors.

In a student paper, the following details are included on the title page:

• Page number: This appears in the top-right corner of the header section.
• Title of the paper: It gives the reader an idea of the information in the paper. It appears in title case and bold. It is center-aligned.
• Names of the authors: The names of the contributors are added here. This field is also called the by-line.
• Affiliations of the authors: It includes the names of the authors’ departments and universities.
• Name of the course: The name of the course for which the paper is written is included in this field.
• Name of the instructor: Unlike the professional paper, the instructor’s name is included in a student paper.
• Due date of the assignment: The due date of the assignment is added here. The format is “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 22, 2017).

The title page information for APA is different for a professional paper and a student paper. As a student, you need to include the following details in the same order on the title page of your student paper.

• Page number: This appears in the header section. Set the page number in the top-right corner of the header.
• Title of the paper: Set it in title case and bold. Align it to the center.
• Names of the authors: Provide the names of the contributors. This field is also called the by-line.
• Affiliations of the authors: Include your department and university name.
• Name of the course: Provide the name of the course and course number for which the paper is written.
• Name of the instructor: Add the instructor’s name. There is no rigid rule on how to set the instructor’s name. You can set it according to the instructor’s preference.
• Due date of the assignment: Add the due date of the assignment. The format should be “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 23, 2021).

APA Citation Examples

Writing Tools

Citation Generators

Other Citation Styles

Plagiarism Checker

Upload a paper to check for plagiarism against billions of sources and get advanced writing suggestions for clarity and style.

Get Started

• Using Academic Writer
• Grammar Guidelines
• Punctuation Guidelines
• Writing Guidelines
• Inclusive Language
• Abbreviations
• DOI Correction
• References (Creating and Editing)
• Reference Examples

Student Paper Template

• Creating APA Style Tables and Figures
• Copyright Information
• Discussing Statistics In-text
• Dissertation to Journal Article This link opens in a new window
• MLA Resources
• AMA Resources This link opens in a new window

Title Page Template

Learn how to set up the title page of an APA Style student paper and professional paper, including the page header, title, author name and affiliation, course information, and author note.

Academic Writer

© 2023 American Psychological Association.

Students should use the student version of the title page unless their instructor has requested they use the professional version.  The student title page no longer requires a running head. 

Was this resource helpful?

• << Previous: Quotes
• Next: References (Creating and Editing) >>
• Last Updated: May 8, 2024 8:42 AM
• URL: https://resources.nu.edu/APAStyle

APA 7th edition - Paper Format: Title Page

Introduction.

• Mechanics of Style
• Overall Paper
• Sample Papers
• Reference List
• Tables and Figures
• APA Citations This link opens in a new window
• Additional Resources
• Writing Skills This link opens in a new window

Student or Professional Style?

Most courses require students to write papers using the Student Style. Do not use the Professional Style paper unless your instructor requests you to do so. If you are unsure which style to use, ask your instructor for clarification.

The key differences between Student Style and Professional Style are the  Title Page  and the  Abstract . 

Student Style papers do  not  require an abstract, whereas Professional Style papers  do  require an abstract.

• APA Title Page - JIBC Tip Sheet A handy guide to creating a title page in APA Style.

Title Page - Student Paper

How to Create a Student Style Title Page - Tutorial

Student style title page requirements: 

Page number:.

• Page number included in the top right corner. Ensure it is the same font as the rest of your paper.

Title of Paper: 

• Bold and centre aligned.
• The first word, including minor words such as “A” or “The”
• All words with four or more letters 
• The first word after a colon, em dash, or punctuation in a heading
• The first word in a subtitle
• Major words, including the second part of a hyphenated major word
• 3-4 lines down from the top margin of the page.
• Double spaced.
• Put a double-spaced blank line between the title and the author(s) names. This is the only additional line space in your paper.
• The paper title also appears at the top of the first page of your paper (formatted as a Level-1 heading)

Author Name(s): 

• Should be centred and one double-spaced blank line beneath the title.
• In the format of first name and last name, e.g. John Doe.
• Do not include titles, honorifics, or degrees.
• If your instructor requires your student number, it will be centred and one double-spaced blank line beneath the author name.

Multiple authors:

• Order the names of authors based on their contributions (i.e. the one that did the most work should be listed first).
• Write all of the names on the same line (flowing onto additional lines if needed).
• For example, John Doe (J123456), Ann Student (J246898)

Author Affiliation: 

• Centre aligned and beneath the author(s) names.
• Identify where they worked or studied when the paper was written.
• Include the name of the institute in full (“Justice Institute of British Columbia”)

Course Name:

• Include the course abbreviation, number, and full course name, centre aligned and below the Author Affiliation, e.g. RESM 2100: Research Methods

Instructor:

• Include the full name (first, any middle initial that they use, and last) of the course instructor(s), centre aligned and below the Course Name. 
• Do not include the label "Instructor" in front of the instructor's name.
• Include the instructor's title and /or degree (i.e. Dr., Professor, or PhD) if that is their preference.
• Place the month, date, and year of the date the assignment is due, centre aligned and below the Instructor(s) name(s).
• Do not include the label "Due Date" in front of the due date.

Word Count:

• Word counts are not required on APA Style student paper title pages. However, if your instructor requests it, then include it centre aligned and below the Due Date of the paper. 
• You may choose to stay the number of words or include “Word Count:” before the number of words, e.g. “1,987 words” or “Word Count: 1,987”

See Additional Resources  for more.

Title Page - Student Style

Title Page - Professional Paper

How to Format a Professional Style Title Page - Tutorial

Unless you are requested by your instructor to write your paper in the Professional Style of APA, use the Student Style format. If you are unsure which style to use, ask your instructor for clarification. 

Professional style title pages require:

Page number included in the header, in the top right corner. Ensure it is the same font as the rest of your paper.

Running Head:

How to Include a Running Head - Tutorial

The running head is an abbreviated version of the paper title that appears in the header at the top of every page to identify it for readers.

• Consists of a maximum of 50 characters, counting letters, punctuation, and spaces between words.
• If the title is less than 50 characters, the full title can be used.
• Avoid using abbreviations.
• The ampersand symbol (&) may be used rather than the word “and.”
• In the header, in the top left corner.
• In all capital letters.
• Ensure it is the same font as the rest of your paper.
• Use the same running head on every page of your paper.
• Do not use the label “Running head” to identify the running head on any page.
• Title Casing (see Title Casing rules in the box to your left  Title Page - Student Paper ).
• In the format of first name and last name (e.g. John Doe).
• Write all of the names on the same line (flowing onto additionally lines if needed).
• Include the department and/or program of study (e.g. “Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies”)

Author Note:

An author note provides additional information about authors, study registration, data sharing, disclaimers or statements regarding conflict of interest, and help or funding that supported the research. The author note is written in the style of paragraphs. 

Students using the professional style of formatting should use the author note to include:

• Course Information
• Advisors and/or Sponsors
• Word Count (if requested)

The author note may be arranged in separate paragraphs to maintain organization of ideas. For example, students may choose to keep course information, due dates, and word counts together in one paragraph and instructors, advisors, and/or sponsors in a second paragraph.

Formatting the Author Note:

• Begin the author note in the bottom half of the title page.
• Leave at least one blank line between the affiliation and the author note label.
• Centre the label “Author Note” written in bold font.
• Left align and indent each paragraph of the author note.
• Do not label the paragraphs of the author note.  For example, do not include the label "Instructor" in front of the instructor's name.

• << Previous: Sample Papers
• Next: Abstract >>
• Last Updated: May 1, 2024 11:05 AM
• URL: https://libguides.jibc.ca/apa/formatyourpaper

APA Guide: 7th Edition

• Page Numbers
• Figures/Images
• Webpages and Other Online Content
• Legal Citations
• Writing Style
• Summary of Changes

Student Paper Example

• Student Paper Example This is a student paper example from the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Professional Paper Example

• Professional Paper Example This is a professional paper example from the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Student Title Page Elements

The title page includes the following elements: Page number, Paper title, Author, Author Affiliation, Course, Instructor, and Due Date .  Remember, your instructor can include other requirements for your assignment.  Refer to their instructions carefully.

Your title page and paper is double-spaced. Use 1-inch margins. 

Acceptable Fonts:

• 11-point Calibri 
• 11-point Arial
• 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode 
• 12-point Times New Roman
• 11-point Georgia
• 10-point Computer Modern 1 
• Should summarize the main idea in a succinct way .
• Include strong keywords so that readers can find your work in a database or by using a search engine.
• Avoid using abbreviations in a title.
• The title should be provided in title case .  This means that all major words are capitalized. 
• Be bolded, centered, and begin 3-4 lines down from the top margin of the paper.
• Put a double-spaced blank line between the title and the byline.
• The paper title also appears at the top of the first page of your paper.

Author Name(s) (Byline)

• Beneath the title, type the  author's or authors' full name(s) .
• Do not use titles or degrees.
• ​Order the names of authors based on their contributions.
• Write all of the names on the same line.
• Center the names in a standard font.
• Smith and Doe
• Smith, Doe, and Jones

Author Affiliation

• Identify where you worked or studied when the body of work was completed.
• Include no more than two affiliations for each author.
• Example:  College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington
• Include the department or division.
• Include the name of the institution.
• Include the location of the institution.
• Example:  Hematology/Oncology, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
• Include the location.

Locations should include the city, state, province, and country.

Course Name

• Put the course number and name below the Author Affiliation.
• Check with your instructor on the preferred name.
• Place the month, date, and year after the Instructor(s) name(s).

See the example title page below:

All content on this guide comes from the 7th edition of the  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association and from the APA Style Blog.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association ( 7th ed.).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000  

American Psychological Association. (2020, October). Blog .  https://apastyle.apa.org/blog

• << Previous: Page Numbers
• Next: Tables >>
• Last Updated: May 13, 2024 12:06 PM
• URL: https://libguides.uta.edu/apa

University of Texas Arlington Libraries 702 Planetarium Place · Arlington, TX 76019 · 817-272-3000

• Internet Privacy
• Accessibility
• Problems with a guide? Contact Us.

• The Complete Guide to APA Format in 2020
• Headings and Subheadings
• Discussion Section
• Websites and Online Sources
• Journals and Periodicals
• Other Print Sources
• Other Non-Print Sources
• In-text Citations
• Footnotes and Endnotes
• Using MyBib Responsibly
• Miscellaneous Questions

APA Format is the official writing style of the American Psychological Association, and is primarily used in subjects such as psychology, education, and the social sciences.

It specifies how to format academic papers and citations for publication in journals, periodicals, and bulletins.

This guide will show you how to prepare and format a document to be fully compliant with APA Format in 2020.

Before You Start Writing...

There are several steps you must take to prepare a new document for APA style before you start writing your paper:

• Make sure the paper size is 8.5" x 11" (known as 'Letter' in most word processors).
• Set the margin size to 1" on all sides (2.54cm).
• Change the line spacing to double-spaced .
• Add page numbers to the top-right corner of every page.
• Add a running head to the top-left corner of every page.

We have a pre-made APA style template document you can download to be sure you are ready to start writing. You can download it below:

When your document is ready, proceed to writing the title page .

• How To Setup Your Software
• Motivational Stories
• Funny Jokes
• Memory Techniques
• APA Format Title Page

This page contains information on how to properly format your cover page (title page) in APA using the latest APA Manual.

Your APA format title page should include 5 elements: running head, your paper’s title, your name, your University and author note (if required by your professor).

Sample APA Format Title Page:

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition

Many thanks, it’s useful!.

Perfect! Thank you.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

very useful

Thanks for this, it really helped me!

This is very sweet of you. Thanks for making this page for me.

If there are multiple maker of the paper, do I have to alphabetize the names or does Alphabetization apply for multiple names in the front page.

The information provided is very helpful.

Awesome, Thank you 🙂

I used your MLA format instructions for Pages in MacBook Pro and have been searching for the same thing for APA. However, I cannot find one on your site and I think you have the very best for the MLA. Is there one for APA with instructions for Pages.

APA Format does not have footer correct?

Thanks a lot, am an informed writer

I did not know this edition until now. It’s also good for academic ics.

Hi Leigh! APA 6 is the most current edition.

Is there an APA 9? We have the latest windows and it only has APA 6.

Leave a Comment

Current ye ignore me @r *

Leave this field empty

Next post: APA Format Abstract Page

Previous post: MLA Format Sample Paper, with Cover Page and Outline

• How to Format the Research Paper
• MLA Format Cover Page
• MLA Format Headings
• MLA Citations
• MLA Format Works Cited
• MLA Format Sample Paper
• MLA Sample Paper w/ Cover & Outline Pages
• MLA Format FAQs
• General Format of the APA Paper
• APA Format Abstract Page
• APA Headings
• APA Format Citations
• APA Reference Page
• APA Sample Paper

AcademicTips.org 1999–2024 • MLA Format • Privacy • Back to top ↑

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

In-Text Citations

Resources on using in-text citations in APA style

Reference List

Resources on writing an APA style reference list, including citation formats

Other APA Resources

• UofGH Library Services
• Research Guides

APA Style 7th Edition

• Lecture Material
• Books & eBooks
• ChatGPT & AI Tools
• Social Media
• Source from another source
• Formatting your paper
• APA Handouts

Lecture Notes

Your own personal notes from a professor's lecture are considered personal communication. Therefore, they do not appear in the References list, and are referred to in the body of the paper only. Put the citation right after the paraphrase or quote from the lecture notes.

General Format: 

(First initial of the person who gave the lecture. Lastname, personal communication, Month Day, Year lecture took place).

Presentation Slides: Course Website

If the slides come from a course website, learning management system (e.g., CourseLink), and you are writing for an audience with access to that resource, provide the name of the site and its URL (use the login page URL for sites requiring login). 

General Format:

Instructor's Last Name, First Initial. (Year Presentation was created). Title of presentation  [Format]. Publisher. URL

Smith, G. (2019).  Ownership structures in mass communications  [PowerPoint Slides]. CourseLink.  http://www.onlineguelphhumber.ca/

In-text citation:

Direct Quote: (Smith, 2019, slide 6)

Paraphrase: (Smith, 2019)

PowerPoint Slides: Online

When the slides are available online to anyone, provide the website name on which they are provided, followed by the URL.

​Smith, G. (2019).  Ownership structures in mass communications  [PowerPoint Slides]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/hellojenjones/guided-reading-making-the-most-of-it​

Direct Quote: (Nepean, 2015, slide 6)

Paraphrase: (Nepean, 2015)

Research Help

• << Previous: Videos
• Next: Source from another source >>
• Last Updated: Mar 26, 2024 2:08 PM
• URL: https://guelphhumber.libguides.com/APA7