How to Set Up a Cover Page Header

MS Word can be frustrating. Here is the step by step to set up a cover page header WITHOUT a page number and begin the rest of the manuscript with a different header that includes page numbers. It's easy.

As you study the steps below, you can click on the picture for a large image that you can study.

Here is the method:

1) Start the document with NO header. If you have one, remove it.

 

Start with NO Header like this.

 

2) Select the Header icon on the Insert page. Make sure your cursor is on this Title Page.

 

3) From the dropdown box, choose "Blank" . . . this will open the "Header and Footer Tools" menu.

 

Notice the BLANK box on top in the dropdown box.

 

 

4) In this new menu, check the box "Different first page" . . . this allows you to setup a cover page header that does not include a page number.

 

Notice the green menu on top. Check DIFFERENT FIRST PAGE

 

5) Enter your book title and author name. It will automatically be left justified. If you wish to change to center or right-justified, highlight it and use the left/right/center justification icons on the “Home” toolbar to position your title/author in your header where you want it. Suggestion: choose the same justification for the header page as you plan to use for the rest of the document, and BE SURE to look at the submission guidelines in case they specify an orientation.

6) Next, use the slide at the right side of the page to slide down to the top of the actual page one of the manuscript.

 

7) Select the Page Number box on the upper left toolbar. Choose the style and location of page number that you like best. I prefer simple right-justified page numbers instead of anything fancy. Also, most agents and editors are NOT impressed with glitzy fonts or unusual formatting.

 

Add the page numbering format first.

 

8) This page will show the number "2" because the program counts all pages, including the cover page. To correct this, go back into the Page Number box and click on Format Page Number. In this box, enter the starting number "0" and it will produce number "1" for your first story page.

 

Format the number using the Format Page Number menu.

 

 

9) Now, highlight the inside edge of the page number and enter your story/author name. You can then use the TAB key to position that information in the center or opposite side of the header from the page number. If you are tabbing to the left, be sure to use Shift Tab, instead of Tab.

 

Use the TAB or Shift TAB key to position Title/Name.

 

 

10) One last tip:  if you use the space bar instead of the Tab key to position the title/author to the margin opposite the page number, be sure to leave two or three spaces between the characters and the margin. As page numbers move from one digit to two, or two to three digits, you might exceed the spaces available on the line, thereby forcing your page number onto the next line. To prevent this, be sure to leave three character spaces between the info and the margin.

 

And . . . here is the finished product!

 

Cover Page with no page number

First page beginning with Page 1