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Glite Dictionary
running head

running head

7.2
A heading printed at the top of each page showing the title or chapter
  • noun
  • /ˈrʌnɪŋ hɛd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : encabezado
  • In academic papers, the running head should be concise and formatted according to guidelines.

Examples

  • The title page includes the title of the manuscript, author's name, institutional affiliation, city and state, phone number, e-mail address, and running head (abbreviated title that would run on a published article).

    Academic text (2002)

  • The running head on each page of the report clearly indicates the chapter title.

  • Ensure that every page has a running head that reflects the main theme of the document.

Synonyms

header
vsrunning head
39 3.0

A line at the top of a page that tells what the content is

is a repeating top label on each page in books and documents
heading
vsrunning head
28 1.3

A short title at the top of a page that shows what follows

is regularly printed across pages rather than only introducing a single section
running headline
vsrunning head
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A heading at the top of each page that shows the title or section

is used similarly but may appear on every other page rather than each page
running title
vsrunning head
  • Jargon
7.1

A short title appears at the top of each page to show the chapter or section

is the same device but can use the full name instead of an abbreviation

Surface Forms

running head singular
running heads plural

Morphology

running + head

The meaning 'a heading that appears at the top of each page' is directly derivable from combining 'running' (continuous/repeated) with 'head' (heading/title). Although somewhat publishing-specific, the compositional logic (a head that 'runs' across pages) is transparent and would be accessible to a B1 learner who knows both constituent senses.

Etymology

The noun running head comes from old printing: it is a short head, a 'heading' that keeps running and appearing again and again at the top of each page. That's why a running head today means the small heading shown on every page to identify the book or chapter.