Footnotes allow you to cite a source or explain a concept in detail without diverting the main text. Word has made it easier to manage footnotes, because new footnotes are numbered automatically, and the footnote area can expand and narrow dynamically based on the amount of text. Give your document a professional feel by using strategically placed footnotes to clarify information and give credit to your sources.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Word 2007/2010/2013 (Windows)
Step 1. Click the "References" tab
It's located at the top of the window, usually between "Page Layout" and "Mailings". This tab allows you to insert various reference tools, such as tables of contents, footnotes and endnotes, citations, captions and more.
Step 2. Place the cursor where you want the footnote to appear
By default, footnotes are marked with a superscript number that rises above the text. Place the cursor where you want the number to appear.
Step 3. Click the "Insert Footnote" button
It's located in the "Footnotes" section of the "References" tab. A footnote number will be inserted, and a separator bar will be added to the bottom of the page. Your cursor will automatically be directed to the footnote at the bottom of the page so you can fill it in.
- Endnotes are like footnotes, except that their references appear at the end of the document. By default, endnotes are numbered with Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc).
- Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+Alt+F to create a footnote, or Ctrl+Alt+D to create an endnote.
Step 4. Change when your footnote numbering is reset
By default, your footnotes are incremented throughout the document. You can change it so that the numbers restart on each page or at a section break in the document.
- Click the Menu button in the lower right corner under "Footnotes". This will open the "Footnote and Endnote" window. In the "Format" section, use the "Numbering" drop-down menu to select when you want the footnote number to be restarted.
- You can insert section breaks into your document by clicking the "Page Layout" tab, clicking the "Breaks" button in the "Page Setup" section, then selecting the type of break you want to insert. In addition to changing the way footnotes are numbered, section breaks are great for making layout changes to specific sections of a document.
Step 5. Change the format of your footnote
If you prefer to use symbols over numbers, want your footnotes to appear below the text instead of at the bottom of the page, or want the numbering to start with a different number, you can change this from the "Footnote and Endnote" window. Click the Menu button in the lower-right corner of the "Footnotes" section to open it.
Click Symbol… to select a symbol from the Symbol menu. You can select any character from any font (font), although the "Symbol" font will open by default
Method 2 of 3: Word 2011 (Mac)
Step 1. Switch to Print Layout view
Click View and select Print Layout.
Step 2. Place the cursor where you want the footnote to appear
Your footnote will appear at the cursor, so place your cursor at the end of the text you want to use to reference the footnote.
Step 3. Enter the footnote
Click the "Document Elements" tab, then click the "Footnote" button in the "Citations" section. A footnote will be inserted at your cursor and you will be taken to the footnote text section to enter the footnote content. The footnote text will be at the bottom of the same page as the footnote, separated by a line.
Alternatively, you can press Cmd+⌥ Opt+F to create a footnote, or Cmd+⌥ Opt+E to create an endnote
Step 4. Change the format of your footnote
If you prefer to use symbols instead of numbers, want your footnotes to appear below the text instead of at the bottom of the page, or want the numbering to start with a different number, you can change this from the "Footnote and Endnote" window. Click Insert and select Footnotes.
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Click Symbol… to select a symbol from the Symbol menu. You can select any character from any font, although the "Symbol" font will open by default.
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By default, your footnotes are incremented throughout the document. You can change it so that the numbers restart on each page or at a section break in the document. In the "Format" section, use the "Numbering" drop-down menu to select when you want the footnote number to be restarted.
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You can apply formatting changes only to the text that you select, in the currently visible section or throughout the document.
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Method 3 of 3: Word 2003 (Windows) or Word 2004/2008 (Mac)
Step 1. Switch to Print Layout view
Click View and select Print Layout.
Step 2. Place the cursor where you want the footnote to appear
Your footnote will appear at the cursor, so place your cursor at the end of the text you want to use to reference the footnote.
Step 3. Enter the footnote
Click Insert → Reference → Footnote… to open the "Footnote and Endnote" window. Select "Footnote," then select the numbering option you want. You can set Word to number footnotes automatically, or you can select a symbol of your choice to include.
- In Word 2004/2008, click Insert → Footnotes….
- Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+Alt+F to create a footnote, or Ctrl+Alt+D to create an endnote in Windows. On a Mac, press Cmd+⌥ Opt+F to create a footnote, or Cmd+⌥ Opt+E to create an endnote.
Step 4. Enter your footnote text
Your footnote will be created and you will be taken to the footnote text section at the bottom of the page. You can enter the text you want for the footnote, then click back in your document when you're done.
