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Formatting Google Docs: Page Numbers & Headers

A guide to assist students in formatting a paper in Google Docs

Page Numbers

Page numbers can be automatically inserted into your paper. This is the ideal way to include page numbers as they will be automatically updated as you add and remove pages from your document. To insert page numbers, select Insert from the menu. Then select # Page numbers.
Screen capture showing the location of page numbers in the Inset menu

APA and MLA both require page numbers to be located in the top, right corner of the page. 

APA requires all pages to be numbered, including the title page. MLA requires all pages to be numbered from the first page. The first option on the top left of the # Page numbers menu will be appropriate for both an MLA and APA paper.

Screen capture showing the location of page numbers. Select the first top left option to include a page number on every page in the top left corner.

Headers

MLA style requires adding your surname to the left of the page number. To do this, you need to change the header.

Select Insert from the menu. 

Next, select Headers & footers. Finally, select Header.

Screen capture showing the location of header editor in the insert menu.

The screen will reset so that your cursor is in the header section of the page. This will allow you to type your surname in the header. The surname should be typed to the left of the page numbers. If the cursor does not automatically go to the right of the page, use the Align & Indent button Screen capture of the align and indent button in the Google Docs toolbar. in the toolbar to change to Right Justification. If you have not yet inserted the page numbers, you may do so now by clicking Options and selecting Page Numbers. 

Screen capture showing the location of the author's surname. Typed to the left of the page number in the header section of a page.

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