What is a running head?
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Start writing free- A running head is repeating text at the top of pages.
- It commonly shows the title, author, or chapter name.
- A version at the foot of the page is a running foot.
- It often pairs with the page number.
- It helps orient readers within a long book.
A running head (or running header) is the line of text printed at the top of a book's interior pages that repeats across the book — typically the book title on the verso and the author name or chapter title on the recto. It helps readers stay oriented in a long book and contributes to a professional layout. A similar element at the bottom of the page is a running foot. Running heads usually sit alongside page numbers (folios).
Chapter i·Why it matters
Knowing what a running head is helps authors and self-publishers lay out a professional book interior and communicate with designers. Running heads orient readers — telling them which book and chapter they are in — and their conventions (title on verso, author or chapter on recto) signal a professionally produced book. Understanding the element, and how it interacts with page numbers and chapter openings, helps authors review proofs and specify a clean, traditional layout.
Chapter ii·What to include
- Repeating text at the top of pages.
- Conventional content: title, author, or chapter.
- The verso/recto split of content.
- Pairing with page numbers.
- Awareness of running feet as an alternative.
- Suppression on chapter-opening pages.
Chapter iii·Example
In a published novel, the top of each left-hand page shows the book's title and each right-hand page shows the chapter title, with page numbers below. Those running heads keep the reader oriented through a 400-page book — a small layout detail that marks a professionally produced interior.
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Chapter iv·Related questions