How to Add an MLA Header in Word: A Step-by-Step Guide

To add an MLA header in Microsoft Word, right-align the header, type your last name and a space, then insert an automatic page number at the cursor. The result is a running head such as “Garcia 1” at the top right of each page. You can set it up in a few minutes in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; the Mac steps are similar. Check your instructor’s directions first, since they take priority if they specify a different format.

What You’ll Need

A Word document, preferably with your paper’s text already entered so you can check the header on multiple pages.
Your last name, spelled as it should appear in the running head.
Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows or Mac. Word for the web can also insert page numbers, although some header controls may be arranged differently.

MLA papers commonly use one-inch margins, double-spaced text, and a readable, consistent font. Those are separate from the header itself: adding a running head does not automatically format the rest of the paper. If you are following a teacher’s template or special instructions, use those rather than changing the document to match a general example.

Step-by-Step

Open the paper and check the page layout. Open your document in Word. On Windows, select Layout > Margins > Normal to use one-inch margins, unless your assignment specifies otherwise. On Mac, use Layout > Margins > Normal. Normal margins help keep the page number in the expected position. If your document already uses a required template, do not replace its margins without checking.
Open the header area. Double-click near the top edge of the first page, above the main text. Word opens the header for editing and displays the Header & Footer tab or its contextual controls. You can also open it through Insert > Header > Edit Header on Windows. On Mac, use Insert > Header & Footer if double-clicking the page does not open the area. The header is separate from the paper’s first-page heading, which contains details such as your name, instructor, course, and date.
Set the header paragraph to right alignment. Click in the header paragraph and press Ctrl+R on Windows. On Mac, press Command+R. You can also select Home > Align Right. This places the running head against the right margin. Do not use spaces or repeated tabs to push the text across the page; alignment controls are more reliable if the font, margins, or page size changes.
Type your last name and a space. Enter the surname you want printed, then type one space after it. For a hyphenated or multi-part surname, follow the spelling your instructor expects and keep it consistent with your paper. The page number should follow the name on the same line, with a space between them. Do not add a comma, dash, “Page,” or the word “No.” unless your assignment specifically asks for it.
Insert an automatic page number at the cursor. Keep the insertion point after the space you just typed. On Windows, select Insert > Page Number > Current Position > Plain Number. In Word for Mac, select Insert > Page Number and choose the option to insert the number at the current cursor position; labels can differ slightly by release. Choose a plain number, not a decorative style. Word inserts a page-number field, which changes automatically on later pages.
Confirm the number and header position. The first page should now show your surname followed by 1 in the upper-right corner. Word’s default header position is usually half an inch from the top of the page, which is appropriate for a standard MLA running head. If the header is visibly too high or low, open the Header & Footer controls and check the Header from Top setting rather than adding blank lines to move it.
Check that the header repeats on later pages. Scroll to page two and confirm that the same surname appears with the number 2, then spot-check another page if the document is long. A page number inserted as a field updates across the document; a number typed as ordinary text does not. If page two has no header, check whether Different First Page or section-specific settings are enabled, as described in Troubleshooting.
Close the header and review the first page. Select Close Header and Footer on the ribbon, or double-click in the main text. Make sure the running head is not confused with the MLA first-page heading: the heading goes at the top left of the body and is normally followed by the paper title, while the surname and page number stay in the top-right header. Save the document and, if submitting a PDF, inspect the exported file too.

If you prefer to start from Word’s built-in header layout, choose Insert > Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3. That option places a number at the top right. Click immediately before the number, type your surname and a space, and verify that the number remains a field. The current-position method above gives you direct control over where the surname goes, while the built-in layout can be quicker if you are comfortable editing its placeholder.

Common Mistakes

Typing a fixed number instead of inserting a field. If you type “1” yourself, every page may show 1. Use Word’s Page Number command so the value changes on each page.
Putting the running head in the body. The header belongs in Word’s dedicated header area, not in the first line of the paper. Text placed in the body will not repeat automatically and may shift when you edit the document.
Using the wrong text or punctuation. A standard MLA running head has the student’s surname followed by the page number, separated by a space. It is not the paper title, a full name, or a label such as “Page 1.” Follow a teacher’s custom directions if they differ.
Leaving Different First Page on by accident. This setting hides the regular header on page one. MLA student papers generally include the running head on the first page too, so check the setting unless your instructor asks for a different first page.
Spacing with repeated spaces or blank lines. Those may look acceptable on one screen but shift after a font or margin change. Use right alignment and the header position setting instead.
Adding a separate first-page heading to the header. Your name, instructor, course, and date normally appear in the document body at the upper left, not in the repeating header. Keep those elements distinct.

Tips

Use the same font as the paper. MLA formatting calls for a legible, consistent font, not a special font just for the running head. If your paper uses 12-point Times New Roman, for example, match the header to it. Select the header text and check Home > Font if it looks different.
Let Word handle page changes. A field is more dependable than manually entering numbers. It also keeps numbering correct if you add, remove, or rearrange pages.
Check the print layout. Use View > Print Layout and inspect the top-right corner on page one and another page. A header can look different in Draft view or when the page is zoomed out.
Keep a clean source file. If you need a PDF, use File > Save As or Export to create it after checking the Word version. A quick glance at the PDF can catch clipped headers or an unexpected blank first page.
Follow assignment-specific rules. MLA provides a general format, but instructors may request a different header, font, or first-page setup. Treat the assignment sheet as the final authority.

Troubleshooting

The number appears, but the surname does not. Double-click the header and click before the number field. Type the surname and a space. If the insertion point is difficult to place, use the arrow keys to move to the start of the number, then type the name. Keep both items in the same right-aligned paragraph.

Every page shows the same number. The number was probably typed as plain text. Delete the fixed digit, place the cursor where it belongs, and insert a page-number field through Insert > Page Number. Check page two afterward; it should show 2 without you typing it.

The first page has no running head. Open the header and look on the Header & Footer tab for Different First Page. If it is selected, turn it off when the assignment requires a header on page one. Also check that the first page is not separated into a section with its own header settings.

The header is missing on later pages or changes unexpectedly. If the document has section breaks, Word may treat headers in different sections separately. Open the header on the affected page and check whether Link to Previous is enabled where appropriate. If the sections are intentional, add the same surname-and-number field to each section and verify that page numbering continues as expected. Avoid deleting section breaks unless you understand what formatting they control.

The header sits too close to the top or overlaps text. Open the header and adjust Header from Top in the Header & Footer controls. Do not move it by adding blank paragraphs. Also check Layout > Margins and confirm that the body text has not been pushed into the header area. If the document came from a template, unusual settings may be intentional, so compare them with the assignment instructions.

The Mac or web menu looks different. Word’s ribbon layout can vary by release and window size. Look under Insert for Page Number, then choose the plain option that inserts a number at the cursor or at the top of the page. In Word for the web, some layout and section controls may be limited; if you cannot find a setting such as Different First Page, open the file in the desktop Word app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the MLA header go on the first page?

Usually, yes. A standard MLA student paper has the surname and page number in the upper-right header on every page, including page one. Turn off Different First Page unless your instructor gives different directions.

What exactly goes in an MLA header?

Usually, it is your last name, one space, and the page number, aligned right. For example, the first page might show “Patel 1.” Do not add your first name or the paper title unless required by your instructor.

Should the page number be typed or automatic?

Insert it as a Word page-number field. Word updates the field as pages are added or removed, while a number typed as regular text stays the same and can make the document incorrect.

Does the MLA header use a different font or size?

It should generally match the paper’s readable, consistent font and size. There is no need to make the header bold or larger. If your instructor specifies a font or size, follow that instruction throughout the document.

Is the MLA header the same as the heading on page one?

No. The running head repeats at the upper right and contains your surname and page number. The first-page heading is in the body at the upper left and commonly includes your name, instructor, course, and date.

Can I add an MLA header in Word for the web?

Yes. Use Insert and the page-number or header controls to add the running head, then check the first and later pages. If the web version does not show a control you need, open the document in Word for Microsoft 365 on a computer.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.