To make an appendix in Word, go to the end of your document (after the references), press Ctrl + Enter to start a new page, type a title like Appendix A: Survey Questions, and apply the Heading 1 style from the Home tab. Add your appendix content below it. Because it uses a heading style, the appendix shows up in the Navigation pane and in an automatic table of contents. For more appendices, repeat with Appendix B, Appendix C, and so on.
Here’s the full process, plus how to label tables and figures in an appendix, number appendix pages, and follow APA or MLA style.
How to create an appendix
- Click at the very end of your document, after the reference list.
- Press Ctrl + Enter (or Insert > Page Break) so the appendix starts on a new page.
- Type the appendix title. Use Appendix alone if there’s only one, or Appendix A, Appendix B, and so on for several. Add a short descriptive title if your style guide asks for it.
- With the cursor in the title, click Heading 1 in the Styles group on the Home tab.
- Press Enter and add your content: tables, figures, survey questions, raw data, or supplementary text.
Open the Navigation pane with View > Navigation Pane to jump between appendices.
How to add appendices to the table of contents
If you already have an automatic table of contents, click it and choose Update Table > Update entire table. New appendix headings appear automatically. To insert a table of contents, go to References > Table of Contents.
If you don’t want appendices in the main TOC, use a custom style based on Heading 1 but set its outline level to Body Text in Paragraph settings.
How to label tables and figures in an appendix
- Select the table or figure and go to References > Insert Caption.
- Click New Label and create a label like Table A or Figure A, so captions read “Table A1,” “Table A2.”
- Choose the position (above or below) required by your style guide and click OK.
Refer to them in your text with References > Cross-reference. See how to insert a caption in Word.
Style guide basics
| APA 7 | MLA 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Placement | After references, each appendix on a new page | Before the Works Cited page |
| Label | Appendix, or Appendix A, B, C (bold, centered) | Appendix, with a descriptive title |
| Title | Bold title on the next line, centered | Optional descriptive title |
| Tables and figures | Numbered with the appendix letter, such as Table A1 | Labeled as in the main text |
Always follow your instructor’s or publisher’s instructions if they differ.
How to number appendix pages differently
- At the end of the main text, insert a section break with Layout > Breaks > Next Page instead of a page break.
- Double-click the footer in the appendix section and turn off Link to Previous.
- Click Page Number > Format Page Numbers and choose a format or starting number, such as starting again at 1.
For more section-based numbering tricks, see how to skip page numbers in Word.
Help readers find it by adding navigation and a table of contents.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in an appendix?
Supporting material that’s useful but would interrupt the main text, like survey instruments, detailed data tables, interview transcripts, or extra figures.
Should I mention the appendix in my text?
Yes. Refer to each appendix at least once, for example “(see Appendix A).”
Can I make an appendix in Google Docs?
Yes. Add a page break, type the title, and apply Heading 1. It appears in the document outline and table of contents the same way.
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.