Place your last name, one space, and the automatic page number at the upper right of every page: Smith 1. Position it one-half inch from the top and align it with the right margin.
Correct running header format
Use your last name in normal capitalization. Insert an automatic page-number field so the number changes on each page.
Smith 1
Where it belongs
The running header sits one-half inch from the top, flush with the right margin. It appears in the document’s header area, unlike the four-line heading in the main body of page one.
- ✓ Upper right
- ✓ Every page, including page one
- ✓ Last name followed by page number
- ✓ No comma or abbreviation
If your name needs special handling
Ask your instructor how to distinguish papers when two students share a last name or when a group has multiple authors. Avoid inventing a format when course directions are available.
Create your MLA header
Enter your details once, see the complete first page, then copy or download it.
Open the free generatorFrequently asked questions
Does the running header appear on page one?
Yes, in the standard MLA student-paper format it begins on page one.
Do I type each page number manually?
No. Use your word processor’s page-number field so pages renumber automatically.
Based on the MLA Style Center’s paper-formatting guidance and the MLA Handbook, ninth edition. Last reviewed 28 September 2026. Always follow your instructor’s directions.