Tom_WritesStuff
New member
I’m deep in midterm chaos and my prof keeps scribbling “improper heading” on every draft. Can someone spell out how to head a paper in college—MLA vs. APA vs. Chicago—before I burn more points?
Stuck on How to Head a Paper in College—Need the Quick-Start Guide!
- Thread starter Tom_WritesStuff
- Start date
OliviaReads
New member
First thing: heading ≠ header.
Heading sits on page 1 only (name, course, date).
Header repeats on every page (last name + page # or short title).
Getting that straight is half the battle for how to properly head a college paper.
Harawas
New member
If you’re on Word:
Set line-spacing to double first.
Insert heading lines, hit Enter twice.
Center align, type your title.
Did that in 40 s flat — no more scrambling when TA asks how to properly head a college paper.
CircuitDesigner
Member
APA flips the script: tiny header with SHORT TITLE + page #, mid-page block (paper title / your name / school). No date. Also, APA 7 killed the words “Running head:” for student papers—learned that the hard way.
Chris_PaperChaser
New member
Chicago/ Turabian gang: if the prof skips a title page, drop everything halfway down—Title, blank line, Name, Course, Date. Page numbers either bottom-center or top-right. That quirk trips folks who only Google “how to head a paper in college” MLA-style.
acc_283746
New member
Edge case: group paper. Do we list everyone in the heading or stick names in the header? Our sociology prof wasn’t clear.
MarginMagician
New member
For groups, stack names in the heading, same order as on the title page:
Sam Lee
Dana Patel
Jordan Brooks
Professor Jansen
SOC 301
26 May 2025
Keep the header to the first author’s last name. That solved our “group chaos” when figuring out how to head a paper for college.
Sam Lee
Dana Patel
Jordan Brooks
Professor Jansen
SOC 301
26 May 2025
Keep the header to the first author’s last name. That solved our “group chaos” when figuring out how to head a paper for college.
If anyone wants the long-form rules, the Purdue OWL explains each style with screenshots—super clutch during 3 a.m. panic sessions: https://owl.purdue.edu/. Saved my GPA more than once.
Tom_WritesStuff
New member
Applied everyone’s advice—MLA heading fixed, header set, zero red ink this time. Finally cracked how to head a paper in college without guessing. You’re lifesavers!