How to Insert, Edit, Move, Renumber and Delete Footnotes & Endnotes in Microsoft Word

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on how to effectively manage footnotes and endnotes in Microsoft Word. Footnotes and endnotes are useful tools for adding references or additional information without cluttering your main text. This guide will walk you through the processes of inserting, editing, moving, renumbering, and deleting these notes to enhance your documents.

Step 1: Insert Footnotes

1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the footnote in your document.
2. Go to the "References" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on "Insert Footnote."
4. Type your footnote text in the designated area at the bottom of the page.

Step 2: Footnotes Automatically Renumber

• When you insert a new footnote, Microsoft Word automatically renumbers existing footnotes.
• If you delete a footnote, Word will also renumber the remaining footnotes to maintain order.

Step 3: Delete a Footnote

1. Locate the footnote reference number in your text.
2. Delete the reference number.
3. Word will automatically remove the corresponding footnote from the bottom of the page.

Step 4: Move a Footnote

1. Highlight the footnote reference number in your text.
2. Cut the reference (Ctrl + X).
3. Place your cursor at the new location where you want the footnote.
4. Paste the reference (Ctrl + V).
5. Adjust the footnote text if necessary.

Step 5: Navigate Between Footnotes

• Use the "Next Footnote" and "Previous Footnote" buttons in the "References" tab to quickly navigate through footnotes in your document.

Step 6: Change Numbering or Lettering Format

1. Go to the "References" tab.
2. Click on the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the "Footnotes" section to open the Footnote and Endnote dialog box.
3. Choose the desired format from the "Number format" dropdown menu.
4. Click "Apply" to update the changes.

Step 7: Sections with Different Footnote Settings

1. Insert a section break to create a new section in your document.
2. Go to the "References" tab and click the small arrow in the Footnotes section.
3. In the dialog box, select your desired footnote options for the new section.
4. Click "Apply" to set different footnote styles.

Step 8: Change Layout of Footnotes in Columns

1. Click anywhere in your footnote area.
2. Go to the "Layout" tab.
3. Select "Columns" and choose the number of columns you want for your footnotes.

Step 9: Insert Endnotes and Convert Footnotes to Endnotes

1. Place your cursor where you want the endnote.
2. In the "References" tab, click on "Insert Endnote."
3. To convert existing footnotes to endnotes, select the footnote, right-click, and choose "Convert to Endnote."

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can efficiently manage footnotes and endnotes in your Microsoft Word documents. This functionality not only improves the readability of your text but also allows you to provide additional references seamlessly. For more advanced formatting and organization, explore the various options in the "References" tab and utilize section breaks as needed.