Running Head for Dummies

Running Head is a term commonly used in academic writing, particularly in research papers, dissertations, and articles. It refers to a short title that appears at the top of every page of a document to give readers an idea of what the paper is about. Think of it as a compact summary or sneak peek of the main topic.

Just like a headline in a newspaper, a running head helps readers quickly identify the content of the document they are reading. It is placed in the header section, usually aligned to the left, and is separated from the rest of the text by a horizontal line.

You might wonder why is it called a "running head"? Well, imagine you are watching a race, and the runners are moving swiftly along the track. The running head, in a way, functions similarly. It keeps running alongside the text, providing a glimpse of the main focus as readers "follow" along the pages.

Now, let's break down the two possible definitions of "Running Head" that exist in academic writing. The first definition refers to the short title itself and its purpose of summarizing the content. For instance, in a research paper on climate change, the running head could be "Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity." This concise phrase at the top of each page lets readers know what the paper broadly covers, even without reading every single paragraph.

The second definition of "Running Head" relates to the formatting, specifications, and requirements that come with it. Different formatting styles, such as APA (American Psychological Association) or MLA (Modern Language Association), have specific guidelines on how the running head should be structured. These guidelines include details like the maximum length of the running head, the inclusion of page numbers, and the position of the title on the page.

So, to sum it up, "Running Head" is a short title that appears at the top of each page in an academic document, giving readers a snapshot of the paper's content. It's like a helpful guide running alongside the text, allowing readers to quickly identify the main topic. At the same time, it refers to the formatting guidelines that govern the placement and structure of the running head in different styles of academic writing.