Headers appear at the top of the page and footers at the bottom, separated from the text by a space or a rule. Generally, the document title or part title is shown on the left-hand page (verso) page, and the chapter or section title on the right-hand (recto) page, in either the header or the footer.

Text in headers and footers is usually centred, or aligned by inner or outer margins – that is, so the pages look like mirrors of each other.

Ensure that the font and format of headers and footers are not overpowering (eg use a smaller point size or paler font than the main text). Omit headers and footers from the first page of a section or chapter that begins on a new page, and from blank pages and title pages.