Start Page Numbers on Second Page Instead of Title Page

When creating an APA 7 paper with PERRLA for Word or PERRLA Online, the page numbers will be set up according to the requirements set forth by APA 7. This means the page numbers will appear flush right in the header section of all pages in the paper. This includes the title page, which will be page 1. 

However, there may be times when your professor or institution is asking that you exclude the page number from the title page. There is not a function within PERRLA itself to accomplish this, but you can use normal Word functions to alter the page numbers accordingly. (Note: If you're working in PERRLA Online, wait until you are finished with your paper. You will then export the paper to your computer as a "Simplified Word Document," open it in Word, and proceed with the steps listed below.)

We will cover some common scenarios below. First, you may be asked to remove the page number from the title page, while leaving the next page as page 2.

Remove the Page Number From the Title Page, Leaving the Next Page as Page 2

1. Double-click in the header section of page 2 of your paper.
   This will open up the Header & Footer ribbon in Word.
2. In the Header & Footer ribbon, click the Link to Previous button to deactivate it.
3. Scroll up to the title page and click inside the header section of the title page.
4. Highlight the page number 1 in the header section.
5. Hit the DELETE key on your keyboard.

That's it! You will now have a paper without a page number on the title page, with page 2 on the next page. The page numbers will update correctly throughout the paper as you create new pages.

Another common scenario is that you could be required to remove the page number from the title page, moving page 1 down to the next page.

Remove the Page Number From the Title Page, Changing the Next Page to Page 1

1. Double-click in the header section of page 2.
   This will open up the Header & Footer ribbon in Word.
2. In the Header & Footer ribbon, click the Link to Previous button to deactivate it.
3. Scroll up to the title page and click inside the header section of the title page.
4. Highlight the page number 1 in the header section.
5. Hit the DELETE key on your keyboard.
6. Scroll down to page 2 and click inside the header section.
7. In the Header & Footer ribbon of Word, click Page Number.
8. Choose Format Page Numbers...
   This will open up the Page Number Format box.
9. Under Page numbering, choose Start at:.
10. In the text box next to Start at:, type the number 1 if it does not automatically appear.
11. Click the OK button.

After following these steps, you will now have a paper without a page number on the title page, with page 1 on the next page. The page numbers will update correctly throughout the paper as you create new pages.