How to Create Footnotes and Endnotes in Microsoft Word: A Step-by-Step Guide

Adding references to your documents without cluttering the main text is easy with footnotes and endnotes in Microsoft Word. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to insert, customize, convert, and delete footnotes and endnotes. Follow along with the steps below, and be sure to check out the accompanying video for a visual guide.

How to create Footnotes and Endnotes in Microsoft Word. You'll learn how to insert, customize, convert, and delete Footnotes & Endnotes.

You can also download the sample document we used in the video to follow along. Just be sure to download and open the file in Microsoft Word, desktop app version.

Step 1: Preparing Your Document

First, open your Word document.

Step 2: Inserting Footnotes

Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page where the reference is made. Here’s how to insert them:

1. Place Your Cursor: Click where you want the footnote to appear in your text.

2. Navigate to the References Tab: Go to the "References" tab on the ribbon.

3. Insert Footnote: In the "Footnotes" group, click on "Insert Footnote."

Word will automatically insert a superscript number at the cursor position and move your cursor to the bottom of the page where you can type (or paste) your footnote text.

Step 3: Inserting Endnotes

Endnotes appear at the end of the document. To insert an endnote:

1. Place Your Cursor: Click where you want the endnote to appear in your text.

2. Navigate to the References Tab: Go to the "References" tab on the ribbon.

3. Insert Endnote: In the "Footnotes" group, click on "Insert Endnote."

Word will insert a superscript number at the cursor position and move your cursor to the end of the document where you can type (or paste) your endnote text.

Step 4: Customizing Footnotes and Endnotes

You can customize the format of your footnotes and endnotes to better suit your document’s style.

1. Open the Footnote and Endnote Dialog Box: Click the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the "Footnotes" group on the "References" tab.

2. Choose Your Settings: In the dialog box, you can change the number format, the location of footnotes and endnotes, and more. For example, you can switch from numbers to letters or Roman numerals.

3. Apply Changes: After customizing, click "Apply" to save your changes.

Step 5: Converting Footnotes to Endnotes (and vice versa)

Sometimes, you may need to convert footnotes to endnotes or vice versa.

1. Open the Footnote and Endnote Dialog Box: Click the small arrow in the "Footnotes" group.

2. Convert Notes: Click "Convert..." in the dialog box.

3. Choose Conversion Option: Select whether you want to convert all footnotes to endnotes, all endnotes to footnotes, or swap them.

4. Confirm Conversion: Click "OK" to apply the changes.

Step 6: Deleting Footnotes and Endnotes

To delete a footnote or endnote:

1. Select the Superscript Number: Click next to the superscript number in the main text.

2. Delete the Number: Press backspace to remove the superscript number. Word will automatically delete the corresponding note and renumber the remaining ones.

3. Force Auto-Renumber: If you find the footnotes & endnotes renumbered successfully, but the supersripts within the document did not, you can expand the Footnote & Endnote custom pop-up menu, reselect your desired format and click “Apply” and you’ll see the superscripts in the document will align with the footnotes and endnotes.

Additional Tips

• Navigating Between Footnotes and Endnotes: Use the "Next Footnote" or "Next Endnote" options in the "References" tab to quickly navigate through your document’s notes.

• Reapplying Formatting: If deleting a note disrupts the numbering, open the Footnote and Endnote dialog box and reapply your formatting settings to correct the order.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can efficiently manage footnotes and endnotes in your Word documents, ensuring your references are clear and well-organized. If you found this guide helpful, check out the accompanying video tutorial for a visual walkthrough. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more tips and tricks on Microsoft Word and Excel.

Happy writing!