How your title page should look depends entirely on the formatting style your assignment or project requires. APA, MLA, and Chicago each have different rules, and business reports follow their own conventions. Here’s exactly what goes on a title page for each major format, along with the spacing, alignment, and font details you need to get it right.
APA Style: Student Papers
APA is one of the most common formats assigned in college courses, and its title page rules are specific. Every element on the page should be centered and double-spaced. Use a standard font like 12-point Times New Roman or 11-point Calibri. Set 1-inch margins on all sides.
Place the paper title three to four lines down from the top of the page. It should be bold and in title case, meaning you capitalize all major words. If your title has a subtitle, put it on a separate double-spaced line below the main title. After the title, leave one double-spaced blank line, then list these elements in order, each centered on its own line:
- Your name
- Department and school name (separated by a comma, such as “Department of Psychology, University of Michigan”)
- Course number and name (for example, “PSY 301: Research Methods”)
- Instructor name
- Assignment due date
The page number “1” goes in the top right corner of the header. Use your word processor’s automatic page-numbering tool for this. Student papers do not include a running head (that repeating abbreviated title at the top of each page) unless your instructor specifically asks for one.
APA Style: Professional Papers
If you’re writing for publication or a professional audience, the APA title page changes slightly. The title, author names, and affiliations follow the same placement and formatting as a student paper, with the title bold, centered, and positioned three to four lines from the top. But instead of course information and a due date, a professional paper includes an author note in the bottom half of the page. The author note can contain your ORCID identifier, any relevant disclosures, and contact information.
Professional papers also require a running head. This is a shortened version of your title, no more than 50 characters, that appears in the top left corner of the page header on every page. Unlike student papers, you do not label it “Running head:” on the title page. Just type the abbreviated title in all caps in the header area.
MLA Style: Usually No Title Page
MLA format does not use a separate title page unless your instructor specifically requests one or the paper is a group project. Instead, your identifying information goes at the top of the first page of the essay itself.
In the upper left corner of page one, list these items on separate double-spaced lines: your name, your instructor’s name, the course name, and the date. After that information, center your paper title on the next line. Don’t bold it, don’t underline it, and don’t increase the font size. Just use standard title capitalization. Then begin your essay immediately below the title.
For group projects, list each contributor’s name on its own line in the header, then follow with the remaining header elements. If your instructor does ask for a standalone title page, follow their specific instructions since MLA itself doesn’t prescribe a standard layout for one.
Chicago/Turabian Style
Chicago style (also called Turabian in academic settings) does use a dedicated title page, and its layout is more spread out than APA’s. Center the title about a third of the way down the page. Use title case capitalization. If you have a subtitle, end the title line with a colon and place the subtitle on the next line below it. Double-space each line.
Several lines below the title, center your name, class information, and the date. These elements should be roughly in the lower third of the page, creating a balanced visual distribution. The title page does not carry a page number, but it still counts as page one (or page “i” if your paper uses Roman numerals for front matter). The actual printed numbering begins on the following page.
Business and Professional Reports
Corporate and formal business reports follow a different structure from academic papers. The goal is clarity about who wrote the report, who it’s for, and when it was delivered. A standard business title page includes four blocks of information, evenly spaced to fill the page:
- Report title: Positioned about 2 inches from the top margin, typically in uppercase letters. This is the most prominent element on the page.
- Recipient information: The word “Prepared for” on one line, followed by the name of the receiving organization and location on separate lines. If the report is addressed to a specific person, include their name and title as well.
- Author information: The word “Prepared by” on one line, followed by the author’s name(s) and organization on separate lines.
- Date of submission: Placed about 2 inches above the bottom margin. This is the date the report is delivered, which may differ from when it was written.
Space these four blocks evenly so the page looks balanced rather than crowded at the top or bottom. Business title pages often include a company logo at the top, though this varies by organization. No page number should appear on the title page, but it is typically counted as page “i” for numbering purposes.
General Formatting Tips That Apply Everywhere
Regardless of style, a few principles hold across all title pages. Use the same font and size as the rest of your document. Set standard margins (1 inch on all sides for most academic formats). Double-space all text unless your style guide specifies otherwise. Center every element horizontally on the page.
Resist the urge to add decorative borders, WordArt, extra colors, or unusual fonts. A title page should look clean and professional. In academic work, the formatting itself signals that you’ve followed the assignment’s requirements. In business settings, simplicity keeps the focus on the content of the report rather than the packaging. If you’re unsure which style your assignment requires, check your syllabus or project guidelines. The wrong title page format is one of the easiest things for an instructor or reviewer to spot.