Footnotes let you add citations, explanations, or source information without placing the full note in the main paragraph. Microsoft Word manages the numbering automatically, so you should use the built-in footnote feature instead of typing superscript numbers yourself.
Insert a footnote in Word
- Place the cursor immediately after the text that needs the note.
- Open the References tab.
- Select Insert Footnote.
- Word adds a superscript reference number and moves the cursor to the footnote area.
- Type the citation or explanatory note.
Word keeps the numbers synchronized
If you insert another footnote earlier in the document, delete a note, or move referenced text, Word automatically renumbers the footnotes. Manually typed superscript numbers do not have this behavior and can easily become incorrect as the document changes.
Footnotes and endnotes are different
A footnote normally appears at the bottom of the page containing its reference. An endnote is generally collected at the end of a document or section. Choose the feature that matches your assignment, publication style, or document requirements.
Change footnote formatting
Use Word’s Footnotes dialog when you need to change the numbering style, starting number, location, or related options. This is preferable to manually editing each reference.
After adding several notes, review the pages where they occur. Long footnotes can affect pagination by taking up space at the bottom of a page, so a document’s page breaks may change as notes are added or expanded.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.