An MLA header refers to two things: the running header that appears on every page of your paper (your last name and the page number in the upper right corner) and the first-page heading block (your name, instructor’s name, course, and date stacked in the upper left corner). Most people searching for this are trying to set up one or both correctly, so here’s exactly how each one works.
The Running Header
The running header is the small line of text that repeats on every single page of your paper, including the first. It sits in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top of the page, flush with the right margin. It contains just two things: your last name, a space, and the page number. Nothing else.
For a student named Jordan Rivera, the running header on page three would look like this:
Rivera 3
The page numbers run consecutively from the first page to the last, including your Works Cited page. Your last name stays the same throughout. There is no comma, period, or abbreviation like “p.” between your name and the number.
The First-Page Heading Block
The first-page heading is a separate element from the running header. It appears only on page one, in the upper left-hand corner, inside the standard 1-inch margins. It includes four lines of information, each on its own line, all double-spaced:
- Your full name
- Your instructor’s name
- The course name and number
- The date
So the top left of your first page might read:
Jordan Rivera
Professor Chen
English 101
15 April 2025
After this block, you hit Enter once (still double-spaced), center your title, then begin your essay. The running header with your last name and page number still appears in the upper right corner of this same page.
How to Set Up the Running Header in Word Processors
Most word processors place headers in a separate area from the main body text, which is exactly what you want. In Microsoft Word or Google Docs, open the header area by double-clicking the top of any page or going to Insert > Header. Once inside the header, right-align the text, type your last name, add a space, and insert an automatic page number. The automatic page number updates itself as you add or remove pages, so you never have to fix numbering manually.
Set the header distance to 0.5 inches from the top edge of the page. In Word, you can adjust this under the Header & Footer Tools tab. In Google Docs, go to Format > Headers & Footers and set the header margin to 0.5 inches. Your document’s body margins should remain at 1 inch on all sides.
Formatting Details That Matter
The running header uses the same font and size as the rest of your paper, typically 12-point Times New Roman. Don’t bold it, italicize it, or increase the font size. It should be unobtrusive.
The entire paper, including the first-page heading block, should be double-spaced. That means no extra spacing between your name, instructor’s name, course, and date. Just standard double spacing throughout. Do not add extra blank lines before or after the heading block to “separate” it from the title.
MLA format does not use a separate title page unless your instructor specifically asks for one. The heading block on page one serves that purpose. If your instructor does require a title page, the running header still begins on the title page as page 1, and the heading block is typically omitted since the title page covers that information.
Quick Reference
- Running header position: upper right corner, 0.5 inches from top, right-aligned
- Running header content: last name + space + page number
- Running header appears on: every page, including page 1 and Works Cited
- First-page heading position: upper left corner, inside 1-inch margins
- First-page heading content: your name, instructor name, course, date (four lines, double-spaced)
- Font: same as body text (typically 12-point Times New Roman)