Lars Eighner's Homepage Writers' Workshop FAQ: Q. What is a slug line?

Q. What is a slug line?

A. So far as a writer is concerned a slug line is an identifying header that appears in the upper-left corner of every page of a manuscript except the first. A typical slug line is:

Eighner/Qs&As/5

The slug line in this case includes the author's surname, a very short form of the title of the piece, and the page number. If it is entered with a word processor, it would probably be entered as a header. Since the slug line will not be set in type, it may be entered in a font that is different from that used for the body of the text. The slug line may appear more attractive if it is back tabbed from the usual left margin and if it includes a couple of carriage returns at the end to provide extra space above the text. The slug line may be within the upper margin.

The slug line should not be confused with running heads in a finished book. Pages in a finished book may have headers on each page. Sometimes these will vary from chapter to chapter. The author is not responsible for supplying these running heads, and the author's suggestions are not at all welcome.

A book manuscript, ought to have the same slug line on every page. In book manuscripts the page numbers ought to be moved to either the upper-right corner or the center top of the page.