what goes on a cover page for an essay

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How to Write an Essay Cover Page

What you include in your cover page depends slightly on which citation style you are using, but the rules are generally the same.

Guide Overview

• APA cover pages
• MLA cover pages

For APA cover pages:

Include the title of the paper, running head, the author’s name, institutional affiliation, and an author’s note.

Here is an example of a cover page in APA:

For MLA cover pages:

Cover pages are not as frequently used in MLA format, as the inclusion of headers is preferred.

A header looks like this:

Cover pages can include the name of your school, your paper title, your name, your course name, your teacher or professor’s name, and the due date of the paper. If you are unsure of what to include, check with your instructor.

Here is an example of a cover page in MLA format:

For more help making cover or title pages, visit our title page generator   here.

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APA Title Page (Cover Page) Format, Example, & Templates

Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

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Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include:

• A running head (professional papers only) and page number
• The title of the paper
• The name of the author(s)
• The institutional affiliation
• An author note; optional (professional papers only)
• A student paper should also include course information

Note : APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).

Professional paper APA title page

Student paper APA title page

Formatting an APA title page

Note : All text on the title page should be double-spaced and typed in either 12-point, Times New Roman font. In the 7th edition, APA increaded the flexibility regarding font options: which now include Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, or Georgia 11. All words should be centered, and capitalize the first letter of important words.

Running Head

In the 7th edition of the APA style manual, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication (student papers do not require a running head, but still need a page number).

Your title page should contain a running head that is flush left at the top of the page and a page number that is flush right at the top of the page.

Place the running head in the page’s header:

• The running head is the abbreviated title of the paper (IN UPPERCASE LETTERS) aligned left on the page header of all pages, including the title page. APA (7th edition) guidelines require that running heads be a maximum of 50 characters (spaces count as characters).
• The “Running head:” label used in the APA sixth edition is no longer used.
• Place the page number in this same header, but align right, beginning with page number 1 on the title page.
• This header should be 1 inch from the top. Some instructors allow for 1/2 inch, too, but the default is 1 inch.

Paper Title

Position the title of the paper in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface, and important words should be capitalized.

The APA recommends that your title should be a maximum of 12 words and should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose.

Author Name(s)

Institutional affiliation.

Position the school or university’s name below the author(s) name, centered.

A student paper should also include the course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date.

Further Information

• APA Student Title Page Guide
• APA Referencing
• How to Write a Lab Report
• Essay Writing Guide for Psychology Students
• APA Style Citations & References
• Example of an APA Formatted Paper

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Lab Report Format: Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

How to Make a Cover Page: Illustrative Formatting Examples

Table of contents

• 1.1 MLA Style Cover Page
• 1.2 APA Style Cover Page Format
• 1.3 Chicago Style Cover Page Format
• 1.4 ASA Style Cover Page
• 1.5 Harvard Cover Page Format
• 1.6 Bottom line

A perfect cover page is an essential part of an essay’s presentation. It can make a great first impression on your instructor and set the tone for your essay. First, to write a cover page, understand your assignment’s formatting requirements. This includes the required format for the cover page, which may vary depending on your instructor’s or institution’s guide.

Once you have this information, you can create a title page that looks professional. It should include the title of your essay , your name, the course title, and other pertinent details. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to make a cover page for an essay. This article will show the following:

• We’ll describe how a good cover page should look.
• In the article, we offer you examples of different formats of a cover page, including MLA, APA, and more.
• You’ll know the measurements you require to position some cover page aspects.

What Does a Paper Cover Page Look Like?

Creating a cover page for an essay in grade school was simple – add your name and date, and it’s done. However, structuring an essay and following grammar rules in university involves multiple steps that may be unfamiliar to you. But knowing how to format an essay can make the process easier. However, it can be overwhelming to determine the appropriate structure and ensure that your essay adheres to grammatical rules.

A well-designed cover page is crucial for an essay’s presentation; many students wonder how to make one. Therefore, we have compiled a guide on creating a title page for the most commonly used citation formats you may come across.

A cover page is a separate page at the beginning of your academic essay. It contains the title and author’s name and may also feature details like page number, course name, instructor name, and more. Remember that it’s essential to format your page consistently with the rest of your essay.

Use these tips when writing your cover page:

• Keep every margin at 1 inch;
• Select a font that’s easy to read. We’d recommend Times New Roman and Arial for this;
• Always keep the font size at 12;
• Use double-line spacing.

MLA Style Cover Page

The MLA cover page has a vague format for essay pages. Instead, formatting guidelines are based on your teacher’s preferences and standard MLA (Modern Language Association) text formatting. You can follow some best practices to create an MLA essay cover that looks professional. A typical sample MLA cover centers essay titles about one-third of the page’s length. You can also use italics or bold lettering to emphasize important words or phrases.

In our sample MLA format cover, including the necessary MLA heading in the top-left corner is crucial. Follow this guide for proper writing of the cover page template:

• Instructor’s name;
• Page number half an inch away from the top;
• Your name is an inch away from the top;
• The arrangement of the details is an inch away from the leftmost side of the sheet, while ensuring it’s double-spaced throughout;
• A half-inch indent in the first paragraph.

APA Style Cover Page Format

The APA citation format is widely used in the academic and business worlds but has some challenging aspects. For this reason, many busy students order cheap essays to avoid dealing with the nuances of APA essay cover. For your APA cover page, keep your essay’s title brief, under 12 words, and center it. Below the title, include your first, middle, initial, and last names without academic credentials like a PhD. On the following line, indicate your research location, usually your university. Below are the properties of the APA cover page format:

• The title of the paper, centered at the top of the page.
• Your name (student’s name), centered below the title.
• The institutional affiliation (college or university name), centered below your name.
• Course name and number.
• You professors’/instructor’s name.
• Optionally, you can include a running head aligned to the left margin (with the words “Running head:” followed by a shortened version of the title).
• Finally, include a page number in the top-right corner.

Chicago Style Cover Page Format

The Chicago page format, commonly called Chicago style paper, is a popular citation format used in the humanities department. The Chicago cover page format typically includes the following:

• The title of your essay centered on the page and in the title case (i.e., the first letter of each major word is capitalized);
• Your name is centered below the title;
• The course title is centered below your name;
• The instructor’s name is centered below the course title;
• The due date is centered below the instructor’s name.

The page may also include a shortened title at the top and a page number in the header of each subsequent page. It’s essential to follow the specific structuring requirements set by your instructor or institution when creating your Chicago-style cover page. The Chicago and Turabian styles are similar in the following ways:

• Both styles typically place the title of the paper one-third to halfway down the cover page, centered horizontally;
• The title is usually in title case; the major words are capitalized;
• The author’s name is listed below the title and centered horizontally;
• The name of the institution with which the author is affiliated is often placed below the author’s name on the page;
• Both styles generally don’t include a page number on the cover page.

Additionally, endeavor to use the same font on your cover page that you use in your paper. Follow proper capitalization rules for essay titles, using uppercase for keywords and lowercase for articles and prepositions unless they begin the title. This ensures consistency and professionalism throughout your research papers; if you have more questions, you can always check PapersOwl’s page for more information.

ASA Style Cover Page

The cover page format of ASA is based on APA and includes a running head. In ASA, keep your header below 60 characters. Another distinction is that ASA mandates the inclusion of a total word count on the cover sheet, encompassing footnotes and references.

Additionally, include your name and course. List them all vertically below your name and course, if you conducted research at several institutions. Apart from these differences, all other elements follow the APA essay format .

It’s worth noting that page numbers start on the title page and must be placed in the bottom-right corner.

Harvard Cover Page Format

The Harvard cover page is also known as the Harvard referencing style. It is primarily used in social science and humanities disciplines, including literature, history, and economics.

The Harvard cover page example typically includes the following information, arranged in this order:

• Title of the research paper;
• Author’s name (last name, followed by the first initial);
• Date of submission;
• Course name and number;
• Name of instructor.

In addition to the cover page, the Harvard referencing format requires in-text citations and a reference list at the end of the document. The in-text citations include the author’s last name and year of publication, while the reference list provides complete bibliographic information for each source cited in the document.

Bottom line

Although formatting your work according to the requirements of your college might be challenging, it is vital. Undergraduate students, who sometimes take classes in several different areas at once, should be especially concerned about this. However, keep these requirements from obstructing your ability to learn. Use these suggestions to create the ideal cover page, and if you need assistance, we are always here to help. And if your professors require some changes, their instructions hold more weight than the guidelines mentioned here.

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• The Complete Guide to APA Format in 2020

APA Title Page / Cover Page

• Headings and Subheadings
• Discussion Section
• Websites and Online Sources
• Journals and Periodicals
• Other Print Sources
• Other Non-Print Sources
• In-text Citations
• Footnotes and Endnotes
• Using MyBib Responsibly
• Miscellaneous Questions

Details to include

The title page (also known as the cover page) is the front page of your paper. It should contain:

• The running head , a header at the top of the page.
• The first page number .
• The title of the paper
• The institution for which you writing.

Running head

The running head should be in the top-left corner of the page in uppercase. It should include a shortened title of your paper. On the front page only, it should also be prepended with "Running head:".

First page number

The first page number -- generally page 1 -- should be in the top-right corner of the page. Both the page number and the running head should be a half inch from the top of the page.

The title of the paper can contain upper and lowercase letters, and ideally should be no more than 12 words in length. It should be direct, and should not contain abbreviations or other unnecessary words. It should not span longer than 2 lines. The first letter of each word should be uppercase, except for articles (a, an, the), and conjunctions (and, but, for, or, yet).

Underneath the title should be your name (or the author's name if you're not the author). It should be displayed as the first name , middle initial , and last name . Do not add titles (such as Dr.) to the beginning, or qualifications (such as PhD) to the end of an author's name.

Your institution

Finally, underneath the author's name, state the full name of the institution or school you're writing the paper for.

The font for all text on the title page should be Times New Roman, size 12pt, with double line-spacing.

A correct title page will look like the below image:

After completing your title page you will move on to writing an abstract of your paper.

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How to make a cover page for an essay, rachel r.n..

• May 1, 2024
• How to Guides

Creating a cover page is an important step when writing an essay, as it introduces your work and helps create a professional first impression. A cover page typically includes the title of your essay, your name, the course name/number, the instructor’s name, and the submission date. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make a cover page for your essay:

• Check your instructor’s requirements Before you start making your cover page, it’s crucial to review any specific guidelines or formatting requirements provided by your instructor. Some instructors may have precise expectations for the cover page, while others may allow more flexibility.
• Select a clean, readable font Choose a font that is easy to read and looks professional. Some recommended fonts for cover pages include:
• Times New Roman (a classic choice)
• Arial (a clean, modern font)
• Calibri (a popular sans-serif font)

Avoid using decorative or overly stylized fonts, as they can be distracting and difficult to read.

• Center your text Most cover pages have the text centered both horizontally and vertically. This creates a balanced and visually appealing layout.
• Include the necessary information Your cover page should include the following information, typically arranged in this order:
• Title of your essay (in a larger font size, bolded)
• Your full name
• Course name and number (e.g., English 101)
• Instructor’s name
• Submission date (e.g., May 1, 2024)

Here’s an example of how your cover page might look:

[Title of Your Essay]

John Doe English 101: Introduction to Literature Prof. Jane Smith May 1, 2024

• Add spacing and margins Use appropriate spacing between each line of text to improve readability. A common approach is to add a blank line between the title and your name, and between the other lines of information.

Additionally, leave sufficient margins (typically 1 inch) around the edges of the page to create a clean and professional look.

• Consider adding a header or footer (optional) Some instructors may require or prefer that you include a header or footer with your name and the page number on the cover page. If so, make sure to follow their specific guidelines.
• Double-check for accuracy Before submitting your essay, carefully review your cover page to ensure that all the information is accurate and correctly formatted. This includes checking for spelling errors, proper capitalization, and consistent formatting.

What You'll Learn

APA Format Cover Page:

• The title of your essay should be centered, bolded, and in title case on the first line of the cover page.
• On the next line, include your name (first name, middle initial, last name).
• On the next line, include your school or university’s name.
• On the next line, include the course number and name.
• On the next line, include your instructor’s name.
• On the next line, include the assignment due date.
• Use 1-inch margins and a readable font like Times New Roman (12pt) or Arial (11pt).
• Double-space the entire cover page.

Jane Q. Student Awesome University ENGL 101: Introduction to Literature Dr. John Smith May 1, 2024

Related Article: Updated APA 7 Format and Citation Guide

Chicago Format Cover Page:

• The title of your essay should be centered and in title case on the first line of the cover page.
• Approximately one-third of the way down the page, include your full name.
• Use 1-inch margins and a readable font like Times New Roman (12pt).

Jane Q. Student ENGL 101: Introduction to Literature Dr. John Smith May 1, 2024

Related Article: Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide

MLA Format Cover Page:

• On the next line, include your full name.
• On the next line, include the course name.

Jane Q. Student Dr. John Smith Introduction to Literature May 1, 2024

Related article: Guide to correct MLA 8 Citation and Referencing

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Essay Cover Page - MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and APA Format Cover Sheet

Picture this, you have completed your daily duties and now settling in to complete an essay. What is the worst that would happen? Well, the majority of high school, college, university, and graduate students undervalue the need to format an essay cover page properly. In return, most of them end up with either great essays with a poorly done cover page or a poorly done essay with a poorly formatted cover page.

I don’t know which of the above categories, but mine was worse. It is a great mistake to care less about the proper formatting of a title page for any essay. Sometimes the content in the entire class can be great, and the cover page becomes what separates a good grade from a poor grade. You do not have to leave anything to chance when working to maintain a good GPA, do you?

Why master how to make an essay Cover Sheet?

Your title page informs the reader or the professor what to anticipate in your essay. Sometimes, if they are in a hurry, a catchy topic can entice them to read your essay from introduction to conclusion.

The cover page has your name, title of the essay, institution, instructor, and date. A well-formatted title page is enough a getaway to a strict professor’s marks or grade fountain.

And when you are almost giving up on your cover page, we give you a reason to smile. In this article, we will teach you how to make a cover page for an essay, MLA cover page format, Chicago cover page format, APA cover page format, and Harvard cover page format, with examples.

Why should you learn How to Make a Cover Page for an essay?

Sometimes professors and instructors assume the basic things like formatting a college essay. In the end, students end up losing marks over flimsy mistakes. A common question students ask is “how do you make a cover page for an essay?” or “what is to be included on a title page?”

If you have had these questions or related ones, you are in the right place at the right time. We will take you through cover page essay essentials. But before then, why do we have an essay cover page. Or simply, what is an essay cover page?

An essay cover page is the opening page, sometimes called the title page, and offers a comprehensive description of the essay title, identifies the student, and sometimes bears the date and the instructors’ names.

You will notice that the cover pages for essays differ depending on the specific format you are using. For instance, when creating the MLA essay cover page format, you should only do so if the essay prompt requires you to. If not asked for one, there is never any need to include one. The same applies to Harvard, Chicago, and APA cover page formats.

MLA Essay Cover Page Format with Template/Example

Also known as the Modern Language Association, MLA is a unique essay writing and citation format. It is important to mention that most MLA essays do not require an essay cover page. Nevertheless, some instructors insist on you having a cover page for your MLA paper.

When requested to have an opening or cover page for MLA papers, these are some of the details to include:

• Author’s Name
• Instructor’s Name
• The Due Date

Here is a sample MLA cover page template

Note that the format for MLA research paper cover page is slightly different. It will contain:

• Name of university
• Title of the Research Paper
• The subtitle of the research paper
• Your Name (Author’s Name)
• Course Name and Number
• Instructor/Professor’s Name

Below is a sample MLA research paper cover sheet

Some professors or instructors will advise you to use the research paper MLA format title page for your essay.

How do you format an MLA Cover Page?

Formatting an MLA title page is easy!

• It should be double-spaced.
• The preferable font is Times New Roman size 12 or a legible font.
• All the letters must be in Title Case.
• It should have 1-inch margins throughout the paper.
• Ensure that the title page is double spaced.
• Remove any spaces between paragraphs from your Microsoft Word settings page.

See the details in the sample MLA format cover page provided above. Notice the difference between the two and always read the instructor’s essay prompt before deciding on which one to settle for.

APA Cover Page Format with Example/Template

Students have been asking this for a while, and we felt like addressing it would save many of you out there. “How do I make an APA cover sheet?” Well, just like MLA, an APA essay cover page is easy to make.

To begin with, the APA style title page should include:

• Running head (Left aligned in the header section).
• Page Number (Right aligned).
• Title and subtitle of the essay/paper (centered)
• Name of the author (centered).
• Institutional Affiliation (centered).
• Author’s Note (for long research papers, thesis, and dissertations).

An important note, in APA the title should not exceed 50 characters and should be in capital letters. Times New Roman font size 12 is always preferred as well.

For more details, see the example APA title page provided below.

Note that there are changes to APA 6. In APA 7, there is no "Running head" instead, you will only need a page number situated to the top left of the paper. Here is a sample APA 7 Cover page.

Chicago Cover Page Format with Example/Template

Even though less common in academic essay writing, understanding the Chicago essay title page is necessary. It can save you some trouble when writing a Chicago style paper, which is the case with most literature and humanities subjects such as history. Thus, after reading this, you should understand how to format a Chicago essay title cover page correctly.

Here are tips when making Chicago format opening page:

• Chicago title page has no page number or running head in the header section.
• Using Times New Roman or any legible font of size 12 is preferred.
• All the text on the cover page is centered.
• The cover page is double spaced with no spaces between paragraphs

You see, a Chicago style paper opening page is relatively simple to make. A caution, though, when making any type of cover page, your professor’s guidelines are your rule book. Therefore, everything you need to format an essay cover page is always in the prompt.

Chicago style papers are the easiest to handle. However, despite the ease of inserting a title page, it remains a challenge to most students. Sometimes, seeking professional help can be the only option. Our experts can help you craft your Chicago format essays and research papers, talk to us!

Here is a Chicago style format essay cover page.

Harvard Cover Page Format with Example/Template

Harvard formatting has a specific and well-organized cover page.

• The shortened version of the title of the paper comes in the header section (aligned to the right) and is preceded by the page number).
• The full title, written in all capital letters , appears halfway through the page.
• The author’s name (three lines from the title).
• Then four lines down you will have class name and code, name of the professor, City and State the university is located, and the due date.

Here is an example of the Harvard format Cover Sheet Page.

Bottom Line

A cover page for an essay is a critical aspect when undertaking your academic writing tasks. Even though it might seem boring and unnecessary, it can be the only aspect left to differentiate who passes a course and who fails.

When writing an APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago format paper, produce an essay cover page that fits each formatting and citation style. I don’t know about you, but I find it easier to do the cover page as the last part of the essay after writing and proofreading. Yet some in our team prefer setting the cover page for their essays first before they outline the essays . As a ritual, it is my last part to shake hands with the mighty Microsoft Word or Google Document applications.

Check out our article on indenting paragraphs and how to title an article when writing an essay. 

Sometimes, you can ask the instructor or professor how to make a cover page for your essay. We believe no teacher will reprimand you. These are essential basics to keep with you as they will help you understand how to make a cover page for an essay. If you need help writing an essay, our professional writers can always come in handy. Until then, have a happy academic writing session!

Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.

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The Perfect APA Cover Page

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Definition: APA Cover Page
• 3 What to Include?
• 5 All Components
• 6 In a Nutshell

Definition: APA Cover Page

Also known as the title page, an APA cover page is the very front page of an essay. It entails crucial information of the work presented by the author as advised by the examiner. The core duty of the APA cover page is to let the reader identify different parts of your work without having to read the paper.

Also, it also ensures that your work looks professional and well presented. To the learners, the APA cover page helps them know the work that needs to be presented.

Students are mostly asked to write essays or complete their projects in APA Format. However, quite a number of them do not have a clear understanding of what APA format entails and how to use it for their projects. This piece tends to explore the details of an APA cover page to help learners.

This section aims at answering some of the common questions asked by students and scholars looking to have a deeper understanding of the APA Cover Page. Let’s take a look at the five common questions asked about APA Cover page.

What is the APA format?

APA formatting is a style that is mainly used for academic and scholarly journals and books. Mainly, the APA style is used in citing sources that fall within the field of social sciences and other related areas. A perfectly formatted APA thesis entails following the rules of the APA formatting method for APA citation , APA title pages and finally, using these rules for your cover page.

What is the importance of an APA cover page?

To the examiner, the APA cover page helps them get an idea of the academic work in a glance since it contains all of the necessary information about the author’s work. It also allows the writers to present their research paper in an orderly manner that appears more professional and presentable. The cover page is one of the first things a reader will see (after the title page of course).

What’s the difference between the APA cover page and other cover page styles?

Compared to other styles like MLA and Harvard , APA has more details presented on the center of the cover page and a running head that bears a section of the main title of the paper written in capital letters. This is the main difference that immediately becomes obvious when trying to distinguish APA formatting from the other styles.

What are the common mistakes made in the APA cover page?

Though most students and other writers tend to research styles before writing, they make different mistakes whilst trying to craft a perfect APA cover page. Some of the most common mistakes are the placing of the page number, while others do not put page numbers at all, some APA cover pages also lack the running head, or lack clear information. Note that all of the APA title page details must be clearly formatted as well, as this is the very first view that readers will have of your paper.

Do I still have to indicate the title in the actual paper after indicating it in the APA cover page?

Yes. The APA cover page will  be one of the first pages of the essay, book, or any other academic writing work. The title should be on every page (due to the running header) as well as on the title page and cover page. The title should also appear once more on the first page of text, to remind the reader what they’re about to read.

What to Include?

If you are trying to write your piece in APA style, then you have to ensure that it entails a page number, a running head, the name of the author (your name), the title of the paper, and the institutional affiliation. These are the common components of a standard APA cover page, however, you can include more in case you are advised so by the examining body or even the editor if you are using one.

The above example of an APA Cover page depicts what a student or scholar would present in the final essay of a project. Note that what is indicated in the cover page might vary depending on what is requested by the examining body. Nevertheless, other than the details, that is what an APA cover page should look like.

All Components

Let’s take a close look at what the APA Cover page should contain.

The Running Head

Also known as the page header, a running head is a text that usually appears at the very top of the page and is always separated from the body text. It is identical in all pages when you are writing in APA Style. If it appears at the bottom of the page, it is called the page footer, but that is not recommended in APA style.

The Page Number

As mentioned above, the APA style helps the writers to make their work appears orderly. The page number helps them achieve this so that the readers can know how much of the work they have read. In APA, the page number should be made using 12 pt Times New Roman Font. The page number should appear on the top right corner of all pages.

The Title of the Page

Other than the running head, you need to clearly indicate the title of your work so that the readers know what you are writing about. The running head should only contain a section of the title of the entire piece. Make sure that the title is placed in the middle of the APA cover page.

Name of the Author (Your Name)

In APA Cover page, you must indicate your name as the name of the author. That way, the readers will know right away whose work they are reading. Normally, include your official name so that when the work is published, your name goes as the author of the piece. The name of the author usually appears beneath the title of the work.

Institutional Affiliation

If you are a student working on a project or essay, then the institutional affiliation is the name of your college. If you are working for an agency, then you will indicate the name of the organization in this section. It is crucial that you use an authentic institution so that you are recognized as a member, and that you worked on the project following their instructions.

Beneath the Institutional Affiliation, your work should have a date. The time is vital because it helps the examiners to know when the work was done. If it is a book you are writing, your readers will see when you have completed the work.

Importance of APA Cover page in Academic Writing

In academic writing , the APA cover page is essential in helping examiners identify your work easily. Being that it contains your name and the details of the work, they will have an easy time telling it from other files that they might have.

In a Nutshell

The APA style has many formats that can be used by learners and scholars to present their works. Therefore, before you get started, it is vital that to you do your homework well. Also, your institution will provide you with the latest APA cover page format that you need to use throughout your work.

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FAQ: How do I make an APA title page?

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In APA Style, the cover sheet is called a title page. Follow the guidelines of your instructor when determining the proper format for your title page. Unless instructed otherwise, include the following elements:

• Title of the paper in bold
• Author name
• University Affiliation
• Course number and name
• Instructor name
• Page number (top right).

For APA 7th edition, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication. Please see Section 2.3 for more information or review the APA Style blog’s  Student Title Page Guide . The video below by Academic Support walks you through how to format your paper. Here is an example of a student title page in APA style:

More Information

• APA Guide  (Shapiro Library)
• Title Page Setup This link opens in a new window  (APA Style)

Further Help

This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Always speak to your instructor about citation styles and paper formats for your course.

For help with citations and more, visit Academic Support. To access Academic Support, visit your Brightspace course and select Tutoring and Mentoring from the Academic Support pulldown menu. Then, select 24/7 Drop-In Tutoring from the top navigation menu.

Visit these guides for more information:

• How do I access Academic Support from Brightspace?
• How do online students submit a paper for feedback?

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Posted on 21st June 2018

What’s a Title or Cover Page? And How Do I Make One?

By Cite This For Me

A title or cover page is exactly what you’d imagine—it’s the very front page of your academic essay or paper, which includes important information about your work. The function of a title or cover page is that it allows the reader to identify your work at a glance, but it can also help your assignments to look neater and more professionally put-together. Additionally, it provides a handy buffer against any finger smudges and will protect your work from whatever might be lurking at the bottom of your school bag!

Title or cover pages are common in work that’s formatted using the APA style rules, although you may also need to include them when following other popular formatting styles such as MLA or Chicago. If you’re unsure as to whether you need to create a title page, check with your teacher, tutor, or college advisor.

Failing to include a title page if required could give a negative first impression to whoever is reading your work. It could even cause you to lose marks for presentation, so don’t be tempted to skip this simple formatting task that should only take a few minutes to complete.

How to Make an APA Title Page

If you’ve been instructed to use APA style formatting then it’s likely that your tutor is expecting to see a title page including the following information:

• Title of the paper
• Author name
• Author institution i.e. the name of your school, college or university
• Running head i.e. an abridged title that features at the top left of every page

For example:

• Title : Does The Internet Encourage Individualization?
• Author : Roxanne Wells
• Institution : The University of Derby
• Running Head : Internet And Individualization

The above information should be centered (with the exception of the running head) and double-spaced, in Times New Roman font, size 12. See an APA example below:

How to Make an MLA Title Page

Title or cover pages are less common when following the MLA style of formatting. Instead, your tutor might prefer you to include a header with the required information at the top left of the first page of your assignment. These usually look like this:

• Tutor/Professor name
• Course name and number
• Due date of the paper
• Author: Roxanne Wells
• Tutor/Professor Name: Professor Dale
• Course: Sociology 100
• Due Date: 1 May 2018

The above header should sit under a one-inch top margin, to the left of the page. It should be double-spaced and in a legible font (Times New Roman is a safe choice), size 12. The title of your essay should follow, centered, with the body of your work commencing underneath. In addition, every page should have a right-aligned header with the author’s last name and the page number.

If you do need to make up a cover page, however, you would set out the above information, plus the title/subtitle of your assignment and the name of your institution, centered and presented over a full page.

When it comes to creating a correctly formatted and professional-looking title page, we’ve got you covered!

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How to Write an Essay Cover Page

• Essay Cover Page

An essay cover page provides essential information about the essay.  

For this reason, academic and professional writing demands good skills on how to write a cover page.

It is essential when it comes to how to write an essay .

Note that the cover page is also referred to as the title page.

What to Include

Apa cover page, mla cover page, harvard cover page, chicago cover page.

As a scholar, you are required to appreciate the differences in respective title pages.

Rightly, this brings us to the question, “what goes on the title page?”

Answering the above question requires you to first understand what it is a cover page.

Per se, a cover/title page is your academic or professional essay’s front page.

It particularly includes key details about your work and yourself.

It is clear that the cover page could have different details and features depending on the formatting style being used.

With this mind, different cover pages are as explored below.

This is one of the most common cover pages in academia.

It contains the following:

1. Running head

2. Paper’s title

3. Author’s name, and

4. Institutional affiliation

The above APA cover page features should appear as explained below.

Running Header

The running header should:

-Be flush to the left and to the top of the page

-Have a page number flush to the right and to the top of the page

The header and paper’s title should look as illustrated below:

Running head: PAPER TITLE

Skills on how to write an essay cover page requires you to understand the features of the title. In this, the title should:

-Be in UPPERCASE and LOWERCASE letters.

-Be centered in the page’s upper half.

-12 or less words.

-Be in one or two lines.

-Be double-spaced.

Author’s Name

In an APA cover page, the author’s name should:

-Be immediately beneath the title.

-Include the author’s first name, middle name initial (s), and the last name

-Not use titles like Dr. or PhD

Institutional Affiliation

This is another important feature in the APA cover page. Institutional affiliation should:

-Indicate where the research was conducted by the author(s).

APA cover page template should as illustrated below.

MLA is another formatting style the features extensively when it comes to how to write an essay cover page. As illustrated in respective cover page templates, it is quite different from the APA style. The question is, what goes on a title page in the MLA style?

The contents of the MLA cover page should follow each other like:

1. The header

2. Author’s name

3. Instructor’s name

4.  Course’s name

5. Publication date

6. Paper’s title

The MLA header should:

-NOT have a separate title or first page.

-Have a header on the top right side.

– Have the author’s surname as the header.

-Be in Upper and Lowercase letters.

-Have the page number after the header, separated with a space.

The header should be as shown below:

     Surname 1

The author’s name should:

-Be on the top left-hand corner.

-Include your two names.

Instructor’s Name

Skills on how to write an essay cover page demand that the instructor’s name should:

-Be immediately after the author’s name.

-Include the title of the instructor, e.g. Professor.

Course’s Name

The name of the course should:

-Be immediately beneath instructor’s name.

-Include the full name of the course for the essay.

Publication Date

This entails the date the essay was write and should:

-Be immediately beneath the title of the course.

-Start with the day, followed by month and then the year, e.g. 2 January 2020.

Paper’s Title

This should:

-Appear immediately after the publication date.

-Be centered on the page.

-Use italics and or quotation marks when referring to other works, e.g. Analysis of Symbolism in  Merchant of Venice .

MLA cover page template is as illustrated below.

This is also a common style that requires you to demonstrate savviness on how to write an essay cover page.  The below is what goes on a title page in Harvard style.

2. Page number

3. Essay’s title

4. Author’s name

5. Class/Course’s name

6. Instructor’s name

7. Institutional affiliation

8. City and State

9. Publication date

When it comes to how to write an essay cover page in Harvard, the header should:

-Entail a short description of the essay’s title.

– Be placed on the top right side.

– Be in lower and uppercase letters.

Page Number

The page number should:

-Be in numerical numbers.

-Be 5 spaces after the header.

Essay’s Title

The title should:

-Be in uppercase letters.

-Be centered at about the upper two-thirds of the page.

-Be about 3 spaces below the title.

-Start with the preposition “by”.

-Include all your names.

Class/Course’s Name

-Be placed about 5 spaces below the author’s name.

-Include either the name of the class or course.

The instructor’s name should:

-Be directly below the class/course’s name.

-Include the instructor’s full names, and titles if any.

-Be directly below the instructor’s name.

-Include the school/college/university the student is studying at.

City and State

The city and state should:

-Be directly below the institutional affiliation.

-Include information on the city or state the institution is within.

-Be directly below the city and state.

-Start with the day, followed by the month, and end with the year, e.g. 7 th  January 2020.

Harvard cover page template would look as below.

The Chicago style is also common in academics and professional work. It is therefore important to learn how to write an essay cover page in Chicago.

Accordingly, the below is what goes on a title page in Chicago style.

1. Title

4. Date of publication

-In case of a subtitle, the title line should end with a colon, and the subtitle in uppercase placed under the title.

When it comes to how to write an essay page in Chicago style, the author’s name should:

-Be placed at about the lower two-thirds of the page.

-Include all the names of the author.

The class should:

-Be placed immediately below the author’s name.

-Include all the relevant details about the class.

Date of Publication

-Be placed immediately below the class.

-Start with the month, followed by the day, and end with the year, e.g. January 7, 2020.

A Chicago cover page template should be as illustrated below.

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Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Create a Cover Page in Microsoft Word (Built-In and Custom)

By Erin Wright

This tutorial shows how to create a cover page in Microsoft Word. First, we’ll create a cover page using a built-in design. Then, we’ll create a custom cover page that can be reused. Next, we’ll delete a cover page. Plus, the bonus section at the end shows how to remove page number zero from a cover page.

Quick Links:

• How to Create a Built-In Cover Page

How to Create a Custom Cover Page

• How to Delete a Cover Page

How to Remove Page Number Zero from a Cover Page

This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 250 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel .

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365 on a PC. These steps will also work in Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010. However, your interface may look slightly different in those older versions of the software.

How to Create a Built-In Cover Page in Microsoft Word

You can quickly create a cover page using a built-in design.

• Select the Insert tab in the ribbon.

• Select Cover Page in the Pages group.

• Choose a built-in design from the gallery in the drop-down menu. (Hover over More Cover Pages from Office.com for additional options.)

• (Optional) To insert your cover page somewhere other than the top of your document, right-click the built-in design, and then choose a location from the shortcut menu.

• Place your cursor in the sample text, and then type your information.

Pro Tip: To delete a section of sample text, right-click it, and then select Remove Content Control from the shortcut menu.

The built-in cover page should now be part of your Word document.

You can create a custom cover page that can be reused in other Word documents.

• Open a blank document. ( Pro Tip: Press Ctrl + N to open a blank document.)
• Create your cover page, including images if necessary.
• Select all the text and images that should be included in the cover page.

• Select the Insert tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
• Select Cover Page in the Pages group (see figure 2).
• Select Save Selection to Cover Page Gallery from the drop-down menu.

• Type a unique name into the Name text box in the Create New Building Block dialog box. (Cover pages are part of Word’s building block system of reusable content.)

• (Optional) Add additional information into the Description text box, if necessary.

Important Note: I strongly recommend leaving the default settings for the other options in this dialog box.

• Select the OK button.

Your custom cover page should now be added to the Cover Page Gallery.

• Close the document used to create your custom cover page. (You don’t have to save this document.)
• Select Save in the alert box asking if you want to save changes to Building Blocks.dotx.

• Open the document to which you want to add the custom cover page.
• Select the Insert tab (see figure 1).
• Select your custom cover page from the gallery.

Your custom cover page should now be added to your current document.

Pro Tip: How to Delete a Custom Cover Page from the Cover Page Gallery

• Right-click the custom cover page in the Cover Page drop-down menu, and then select Organize and Delete from the shortcut menu.

Caution: Your custom cover page will be automatically selected when the Building Blocks Organizer dialog box opens. Take care not to select another item.

• Select the Delete button in the Building Blocks Organizer dialog box.

• Select the Yes button in the question dialog box asking if you are sure you want to delete the selected building block.

• Select the Close button in the Building Blocks Organizer dialog box.

Your custom cover page should now be removed from the Cover Page Gallery.

How to Delete a Cover Page in Microsoft Word

The following steps show how to remove a cover page from an individual document.

• Select Remove Current Cover Page from the drop-down menu.

Your cover page should be removed from your document.

If your document has page numbers, the page number zero may show up unnecessarily on the cover page. The following steps show how to remove page number zero.

• Double-click the top of any page to open the Header & Footer tab.

• Select Different First Page in the Options group.

• Select the Close Header and Footer button.

The page number zero should now be removed from your cover page.

Related Resources

How to Insert Citations in Microsoft Word

How to Create a Citation with Multiple Sources in Microsoft Word

How to Insert Footnotes and Endnotes in Microsoft Word

Updated July 02, 2023

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Debunking 12 Myths About Trump’s Conviction

D epending on your perspective, the conviction of Donald Trump on 34 counts in a Manhattan courtroom was either a refreshing affirmation of the rule of law or a miscarriage of justice in a politically motivated prosecution. A jury returned a verdict finding that Trump had caused the falsification of checks, invoices, and ledgers to conceal the payment of $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election, with intent to conceal the violation of campaign finance and tax laws.

We are all entitled to our own views of the case, of course, but opinion should also be based on facts. Certain myths are creeping into the conversation and distorting the truth about Trump’s conviction. And it’s worth examining some of these myths in order to dispel them.

Myth: No one knows what Trump was charged with.

Response: Trump was charged in a 15-page indictment, handed up by a grand jury, with 34 counts of violating New York Penal Law 175-10 in the first degree, which is a felony.  A violation in the first degree occurs when a person falsifies business records with an intent to defraud that includes an intent to commit, aid, or conceal another crime. In addition to the indictment, the Manhattan District Attorney filed a 13-page statement of facts detailing the allegations.

Myth: Prosecutors stretched the law to convert a misdemeanor into a felony.

Response: Under New York law , a simple falsification of business records without any intent to commit or conceal another crime is a violation of the statute in the second degree, punishable as a misdemeanor.

An intent to conceal another crime is an aggravating factor that brings enhanced penalties, such as a felony. This law containing degrees of severity was enacted by the New York legislature, and it is a common way of structuring laws with escalating penalties for more egregious violations. (For example, penalties for federal drug offenses range from misdemeanors for simple possession to lengthy terms of imprisonment for aggravating factors based on quantity or intent to distribute.) The grand jury found probable cause of 34 violations in the first degree, and the trial jury found proof of these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.

Myth: The prosecution didn’t tell Trump what he was charged with until closing argument, a violation of due process.

Response: While the indictment specified each of the checks, invoices, and ledger entries alleged to have been falsified, it did not specify which crime Trump allegedly concealed.  A  defendant is entitled to fair notice of the crime with which he is charged so that he can effectively defend himself at trial, but New York law does not require this level of specificity in the charging document. New York case law requires that the indictment allege only a general intent to conceal a crime, not an intent to conceal a specific crime.

Nonetheless, prosecutors provided this specificity in a prosecution filing in November 2023 , five months before his trial began. In that filing, prosecutors disclosed that the crimes they alleged Trump intended to conceal were violating state and federal campaign finance laws and violating state tax laws. The court rejected an additional basis offered by the prosecution, falsifying business records outside the Trump organization.

Myth: It was improper for a state prosecutor to charge a federal offense.

Response: The parties litigated this issue months before the trial and the court found that statutes outside of the laws of New York were proper bases to be considered “other crimes.” For example, case law has held that an offense under the New York statute prohibiting possession of a concealed weapon by a person who has been “previously convicted of any crime” may be proved by showing that the person was convicted of a crime in another state.

New York courts have also upheld the use of federal offenses as the predicate crimes in other cases involving the falsification of business records in the first degree, the very crime charged in Trump’s case.

Myth: Trump would not have been charged for a mere bookkeeping error if his name were anything other than Donald J. Trump.

Response: The Manhattan DA’s office has filed charges for falsification of business records 9,794 times since 2015. When announcing the charges, Bragg emphasized the importance of the integrity of business records in Manhattan, the “home to the country’s most significant business market.” He explained: “We cannot allow New York businesses to manipulate their records to cover up criminal conduct.” At the time of Trump’ s indictment, Bragg, had already filed 120 cases alleging violations of 175-10, all of them in the first degree based on the concealment or commission of another crime.

Myth: There is nothing illegal about paying hush money, and famous people do it all the time.

Response: Paying hush money itself is not a crime, but it is a crime to falsify business records. And it is a more serious crime to falsify business records with, as in this case, intent to conceal other crimes. These include violations of campaign finance laws, by accepting donations over the legal limit, and violations of tax laws, by inaccurately characterizing the payments as income.

Myth: The charges were filed after lengthy delay to interfere with Trump’s campaign for president.

Response: While prosecutors have discretion as to whether and when charges should be filed, there is no evidence that this case was brought to interfere with an election. In fact, the trial court found that the reason for the delay in bringing charges was partly Trump’s own doing.

In 2018, the case was being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which convicted Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, for the same conduct, and referred to Trump in the charging document as “ Individual-1 .” For reasons unknown, federal prosecutors during the Trump Administration did not bring charges against Trump. Once federal prosecutors closed their investigation, Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance, Jr., started this investigation, but was delayed by Trump’s prolonged challenges to grand jury subpoenas for his financial records, taking his objections all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court .

When Vance retired and Bragg was elected, Bragg insisted on reviewing the evidence before deciding whether to continue with the case. Ultimately, he decided to go forward. All of these factors contributed to the delay.

Myth: Justice Juan Merchan was biased because of his $35 financial contribution to Joe Biden and because of his daughter’s work as a democratic political consultant.

Response: Justice Merchan sought an opinion from the New York Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics , regarding both of these issues, and received an opinion that he need not recuse himself from the case. The finding of Trump’s guilt was made by a jury that Trump’s lawyers helped select.

Myth: Juan Merchan is a judge on the New York County Supreme Court.

Response: Merchan’s correct title is “justice,” even though he presides in one of New York’s trial courts, which are called the Supreme Court of each county. The state’s highest court is called, oddly enough, the New York Court of Appeals.

Myth: Justice Juan Merchan violated Trump’s rights to defend himself by refusing to permit him to call an expert witness.

Response: In Trump’s defense, he wanted to call Brad Smith, a former member of the Federal Election Commission, as an expert witness on federal election law. Expert witnesses are permitted to testify in trials to assist the jury in understanding facts about matters beyond ordinary understanding. Matters of law, in contrast, are for the judge to provide.

Justice Merchan did not prohibit Smith from testifying, but when he ruled that he could testify only about facts, and not law , Trump’s team decided not to call him as a witness. Contrary to this myth, Justice Merchan would have erred if he had permitted Trump to call an expert witness to testify about the law.

Myth: Justice Merchan violated Trump’s First Amendment rights to free speech and to testify in his own defense by imposing a gag order in the case.

Response: The gag order entered by Justice Merchan and upheld by the five-judge appeals division did not prevent Trump from testifying in his own defense, a right Merchan expressly explained to Trump in open court during the trial. Trump had every right to do so, and chose to instead exercise his right to remain silent at trial.

The gag order restricted the defense from making statements outside of court that targeted witnesses, jurors, staff and family members of the court and prosecution team, though not Justice Merchan or Bragg himself. The court of appeals found that the order properly protected witnesses and the fair administration of justice.  

Myth: The U.S. Supreme Court may intervene and overturn Trump’s conviction before the his sentencing on July 11, which is four days before the GOP convention.

Response: Trump may appeal his conviction after he is sentenced on July 11. The case could not go before the U.S. Supreme Court until he exhausts all of his appeals in the New York state court system, which likely will take more than a year. Then, Trump could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review his case, but only for alleged errors applied to federal statutes or the U.S. Constitution, such as the due process clauses of the 5 th and 14 th Amendments.

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Chloë sevigny defends kim kardashian amid backlash over variety ‘actors on actors’ interview pairing.

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Chloë Sevigny defended Kim Kardashian against backlash over their pairing for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” interview.

“Our chosen career of actor has many forms,” the Oscar nominee wrote on Instagram Wednesday alongside a picture of the “American Horror Story” stars’s joint magazine cover.

“Some are rewarded early. Some of us are the journeymen, some have a quieter route, and some a much louder one. And I am always excited to celebrate every kind of actor,” she added.

Sevigny, 49, then thanked Kardashian, 43, and Variety for the feature.

When the publication released its covers for this year’s “Actors on Actors” series, in which movie and TV stars interview each other in candid one-on-one conversations, readers were quick to ask why the reality star would be paired with an award-winning actress.

“Why are we calling Kim K an actor???” one Instagram user commented on Variety’s post Tuesday.

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“I’d be so pissed if I were an actor and was asked to do an episode of ‘#ActorsonACTORS’ just to get paired with Kim K,” another added.

“An incredibly talented and professional actress and then there’s Kim Kardashian,” a third person wrote.

“Read the room, @variety. There was a reason she was booed at the Tom Brady roast ,” a fourth fan commented.

Others hypothesized that Kardashian’s mom and manager, Kris Jenner, had “paid” for her billionaire daughter to be included.

“You gotta be effing kidding me @variety? How much did Kris pay you?” one user asked.

A spokesperson for Variety justified the mag’s decision to include the “Kardashians” star, saying in a statement to Page Six, “We are very proud of the 24 actors who have made Variety’s ‘Actors on Actors’ the No. 1 franchise of its kind.”

We also reached out to Kardashian’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.

During their chat, Sevigny and Kardashian bonded over their love of high fashion, classic Hollywood glam and director Ryan Murphy.

The Skims co-founder made her foray into acting last year when she joined the cast of “American Horror Story: Delicate.” The “Boys Don’t Cry” star previously starred in the Murphy-co-created anthology series’s “Asylum” and “Hotel” seasons.

Kardashian also did voice work in the 2023 kids’ film “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie.”

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Guest Essay

A Federal Judge Wonders: How Could Alito Have Been So Foolish?

By Michael Ponsor

Judge Ponsor is a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 after serving 10 years as a federal magistrate judge.

The controversy about the decision to fly an upside-down American flag outside the home of Justice Samuel Alito recalls St. Paul’s admonition that while some things may be lawful, “not all things are helpful.”

I can offer no opinion as to whether the flag display at the justice’s house was unlawful. I won’t even opine whether my flying the flag upside-down at my house would have constituted a violation of the code of ethics that binds me and all federal judges — except the justices.

To me, the flag issue is much simpler. The fact is that, regardless of its legality, displaying the flag in that way, at that time, shouldn’t have happened. To put it bluntly, any judge with reasonable ethical instincts would have realized immediately that flying the flag then and in that way was improper. And dumb.

The same goes for the flying of an “Appeal to Heaven” flag at Justice Alito’s vacation house along the New Jersey shore. Like the upside-down flag, this flag is viewed by a great many people as a banner of allegiance on partisan issues that are or could be before the court.

Courts work because people trust judges. Taking sides in this way erodes that trust.

In four decades as a federal judge, I have known scores, possibly hundreds, of federal trial and appellate judges pretty well. I can’t think of a single one, no matter who appointed her or him, who has engaged or would engage in conduct like that. You just don’t do that sort of thing, whether it may be considered over the line, or just edging up to the margin. Flying those flags was tantamount to sticking a “Stop the steal” bumper sticker on your car. You just don’t do it.

Assuming it is true that it was Justice Alito’s wife who raised the inverted American flag, apparently in response to some provocative behavior from a neighbor, I do sympathize. (How the “Appeal to Heaven” flag came to be flown at his house is not known.) Being a judge’s spouse is not easy. On the one hand, a person should not have to forfeit the right to free expression at the marriage altar. On the other hand, it is not unreasonable to expect a spouse to avoid embarrassing a loved one or complicating his or her professional life. This is true not only for Supreme Court justices but also for people in many walks of life.

Let me offer an example. About 25 years ago, I presided over a death penalty case involving a nurse charged with murdering several of her patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Western Massachusetts. It was a tough case, regularly on the front pages of our local papers. Let’s say my wife was strongly opposed to the death penalty and wished to speak out publicly against it. I’m not saying this is true, but let’s imagine it. The primary emotional current in our marriage is, of course, deep and passionate love, but right next to that is equally deep and passionate respect. We would have had a problem, and we would have needed to talk.

In this hypothetical situation, I hope that my wife would have held off making any public statements about capital punishment, and restrained herself from talking about the issue with me, while the trial unfolded. On the other hand, if my wife had felt strongly that she needed to espouse her viewpoint publicly, I would have had to recuse myself from presiding over the case, based on the appearance of partiality.

However this issue came out, by the way, I certainly would not have had the temerity to claim that my wife and I never discussed the problem. Any protestation of this sort would have provoked raucous laughter from our circle of friends. They know very well that we talk about everything.

Did Justice Alito and his wife discuss the issue of the upside-down flag before it went up? I don’t know, of course. But I do know they should have. And I know that some other method should have been found to express the couple’s unhappiness with their neighbor’s possibly crummy conduct.

The court recently adopted an ethics code to “guide the conduct” of the justices. One of its canons states that a justice should “act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” That’s all very well. But basic ethical behavior should not rely on laws or regulations. It should be folded into a judge’s DNA. That didn’t happen here. The flag display may or may not have been unlawful, but as far as the public’s perception of the court’s integrity, it certainly was not helpful.

Michael Ponsor is a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 after serving 10 years as a federal magistrate judge.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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