The format for a research paper title page depends on which citation style your instructor requires. APA, MLA, and Chicago/Turabian each handle the title page differently, and some styles don’t even use a separate title page at all. Here’s exactly how to set up each one.
APA Student Title Page
APA style requires a separate title page, and for student papers it includes six centered elements stacked in order, all double-spaced. Set your page number to 1 in the top right corner using your word processor’s automatic page-numbering function, then add these elements:
- Paper title: Place it three to four lines down from the top of the page. Center it and make it bold. Use title case capitalization (more on that below).
- Author name: One double-spaced blank line below the title. Center your full name.
- Author affiliation: On the next double-spaced line. Include both your department and your institution, separated by a comma (for example, “Department of Psychology, University of Michigan”).
- Course number and name: Next double-spaced line. Use the course number as it appears on your syllabus, followed by a colon and the course name (for example, “PSY 301: Research Methods”).
- Instructor name: Next double-spaced line. Use the name format shown on your course materials, including their title if that’s how they’re listed (for example, “Dr. Sarah Chen” or “Professor James Ward”).
- Assignment due date: Next double-spaced line. Use whatever date format is standard in your country.
Everything on an APA title page is centered horizontally. The text starts a few lines below the top margin, not in the middle of the page. Use the same font and size as the rest of your paper (typically 12-point Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial). Professional papers for journal submission have a slightly different title page format, but if you’re writing for a class, the student version is what you need.
MLA First-Page Header
MLA style does not use a separate title page. Instead, you place a four-line header in the upper left corner of the first page, double-spaced, in this order:
- Your name
- Your instructor’s name
- The course name
- The date
After this header, double-space once more and center your paper title on the next line. Then double-space again and begin your first paragraph. The title should be in title case but not bold, not italicized, and not underlined (unless it contains the title of another work that would normally be italicized).
If your instructor specifically asks for a separate title page in MLA, or if you’re working on a group project, you can create one. For a group paper, list each contributor’s name on its own line in the header, followed by the rest of the standard information. But unless you’re told otherwise, skip the title page entirely and use the first-page header.
Chicago/Turabian Title Page
Chicago style (often called Turabian in academic settings) uses a standalone title page with a distinctive layout. Unlike APA, where everything clusters near the top, Chicago spreads elements across the page vertically:
Place your paper title about a third of the way down the page, centered. If you have a subtitle, put it on the next line after a colon or on its own line below the main title. Several lines below the title, center your name. Below your name, add any information your instructor requests: typically the course title (with department and number), the instructor’s name, and the date.
Chicago title pages do not include a page number. The page is counted in your overall numbering, but the number itself doesn’t appear. Your text begins on the next page, usually starting with page 2. There’s no bold formatting on the title, and the overall look is more minimal than APA.
How to Capitalize Your Title
All three major styles use title case for the paper’s title, which means capitalizing some words and leaving others lowercase. The rules are straightforward once you know the pattern.
Always capitalize nouns, verbs (including short ones like “is” and “be”), adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns. Also capitalize any word that’s four letters or longer, regardless of what part of speech it is. That means words like “With,” “From,” and “Between” get capitalized even though they’re prepositions.
Keep these words lowercase (unless they’re the first word of the title or subtitle): articles (“a,” “an,” “the”), short conjunctions (“and,” “but,” “or,” “nor,” “for,” “so,” “yet”), and short prepositions of three letters or fewer (“at,” “by,” “in,” “of,” “on,” “to,” “up”). Always capitalize the first word of the title, the first word of a subtitle, and the first word after a colon, regardless of length.
For hyphenated words, capitalize both parts if both are major words. “Self-Report” is correct, not “Self-report.”
Formatting Details That Apply to Every Style
Regardless of which citation style you’re using, a few mechanical details stay consistent. Use the same font on your title page as you do throughout the paper. Set your margins to one inch on all sides. Double-space everything unless your style guide specifies otherwise for a particular element.
Your title should be descriptive and specific. A good research paper title tells the reader exactly what the paper examines. It typically runs between 10 and 15 words. Avoid vague titles like “Research Paper” or “Final Project.” Instead, aim for something that communicates both your topic and your angle, like “The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Working Memory in College Students.”
Don’t put your title in quotation marks (unless your instructor asks you to), and don’t end it with a period. If your title has two parts, separate them with a colon and capitalize the first word after the colon. Question marks and exclamation points are fine if they’re part of the title itself.
When in doubt about which style to use, check your assignment sheet or syllabus. Most instructors specify APA, MLA, or Chicago. If nothing is listed, ask. Getting the title page right sets the tone for the entire paper, and it’s one of the easiest formatting elements to nail once you know the rules.