How should a running head be formatted in an APA paper?

In APA format, the running head appears on the title page and consists of a shortened version of the paper's title. It is specifically formatted to be flush left, using all capital letters. This formatting helps to differentiate the running head from the rest of the document and ensures consistency throughout academic papers adhering to APA guidelines.

The requirement to keep the running head under 50 characters is crucial for brevity and clarity, allowing readers to quickly identify the paper without being distracted by excessive or unnecessary words. Properly formatting the running head as specified helps maintain the standardized appearance of academic writing, fostering a professional presentation of research.