To add your last name and page number in Word, go to Insert > Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3 to place a number in the top-right corner. Word opens the header with the cursor next to the number. Press Home to move before the number, type your last name and a space, then press Esc to close the header. Your last name and the correct page number now appear on every page, like “Rivera 1,” “Rivera 2.”
This is the standard MLA header format. Below are the full steps, how to match your paper’s font, and how to fix common problems.
How to add a last name and page number
- Click the Insert tab.
- Click Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3 (the right-aligned option).
- The header opens with the page number selected. Press Home on your keyboard to move the cursor to the left of the number.
- Type your last name followed by a space.
- Press Esc or double-click the document body to close the header.
Don’t type the page number yourself. It must be the automatic page number field, or every page will show the same number.
Match MLA formatting
- Font: Double-click the header, select the name and number, and use the same font and size as your paper, usually Times New Roman, 12 pt.
- Position: MLA places the header half an inch from the top, which is Word’s default header margin. Check it in Header & Footer > Header from Top (0.5″).
- Spacing: Don’t add “p.” or “Page.” It should look like Rivera 1.
- First page: MLA includes the header on the first page too, so leave Different First Page unchecked.
For full MLA setup, see how to do MLA format in Word.
Word for Mac and Word for the web
- Mac: Click Insert > Page Number, set Position to Top of page (Header) and Alignment to Right, and click OK. Then double-click the header and type your name before the number.
- Web: Click Insert > Page Numbers and choose the top-right option. Then click in the header and type your name before the number.
Troubleshooting
- Name appears after the number: Click in the header, delete the name, click just left of the number, and type it again.
- Every page shows “1”: You typed the number. Delete it and insert a page number field.
- Header only shows on some pages: Your document may have section breaks. In the header of each section, turn on Link to Previous.
- Number starts at the wrong value: Click Page Number > Format Page Numbers and set Start at to 1.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove the header from the first page?
Double-click the header and check Different First Page. MLA doesn’t require this, but some instructors ask for it. See how to skip page numbers in Word.
Can I add my last name and page number in Google Docs?
Yes. Click Insert > Page numbers, choose the top-right style, then click in the header and type your name before the number.
Does APA use the same header?
No. APA 7 student papers use just the page number in the top right, and professional papers add a running head in all caps on the left.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.