Add footnotes and endnotes in Word on Mac and iOS

Footnotes and endnotes are used to explain, comment on, or provide references for text in a document. Footnotes are positioned at the bottom of the page, whereas endnotes are positioned together on a page at the end of the document. A footnote or an endnote consists of two parts — the note reference mark and the corresponding note text. Footnotes and endnotes differ from citations, which are parenthetical references that are placed inline with the text. The source information stored in the Citations tool or Source Manager can be used to create citations, a list of works cited, or a bibliography. However, you cannot use the information in the Citations tool or Source Manager to create footnotes or endnotes, and you cannot use footnotes or endnotes to create a list of works cited or a bibliography.

Do any of the following:

Add a footnote or endnote

1. On the View menu, click Print Layout.

2. In your document, click where you want to insert the note reference mark.

3. On the Insert menu, click Footnote.

4. Under Location, click Footnotes or Endnotes, and then on the Footnotes or Endnotes pop-up menu, click the location that you want.

5. Under Format, select the numbering options that you want, and then click Insert.

   Word inserts the note number and puts the cursor next to the note number in the footnote or endnote.

6. Type the note text.

   Tips: 

   • If you add, delete, or move a cross-referenced footnote or endnote, you must update the cross-reference number. Hold down CONTROL , click the cross-reference number, and then click Update Field on the shortcut menu. Word updates cross-references automatically when you print.

   • To quickly add a footnote or endnote, on the Document Elements tab, under Citations, click Footnote or Endnote.

Edit the text in a footnote or endnote

1. On the View menu, click Print Layout.

2. In your document, double-click the note reference mark.

   Word automatically scrolls to the footnote or endnote.

3. Make the changes that you want.

   Tip: If you add, delete, or move a cross-referenced footnote or endnote, you must update the cross-reference number. Hold down CONTROL , click the cross-reference number, and then click Update Field on the shortcut menu. Word updates cross-references automatically when you print.

Restart footnote or endnote numbers

You have the option to restart footnote or endnote numbers so that numbering begins with 1 on each page or in each section.

1. On the Insert menu, click Footnote.

2. Under Format, in the Start at box, enter 1.

3. On the Numbering pop-up menu, click the option that you want, and then click Apply.

Change the number format of note reference marks

1. On the Insert menu, click Footnote.

2. Under Format, on the Number format pop-up menu, click the option that you want, and then click Apply.

   Tips: 

   • You can change the size or font of the note reference mark, footnote, or endnote exactly as you would any other text. Select the note reference mark, footnote, or endnote, and then on the Home tab, under Font, apply the formatting changes that you want.

   • If you add, delete, or move a cross-referenced footnote or endnote, you must update the cross-reference number. Hold down CONTROL , click the cross-reference number, and then click Update Field on the shortcut menu. Word updates cross-references automatically when you print.

Move a footnote or an endnote

To move or copy a note, you work with the note reference mark in the document window, not with the text of the note.

1. Select the note reference mark.

2. Drag the mark to the new location.

Copy a footnote or an endnote

1. Select the note reference mark.

2. Hold down OPTION , and then drag the mark to the new location.

Delete a single footnote or endnote

To delete a footnote or an endnote, you must delete the note reference mark in the document window, not the text of the note.

• In the document, select the note reference mark of the note that you want to delete, and then press DELETE .

  Notes: 

  • When you delete an automatically numbered note reference mark, the remaining notes are renumbered.

  • If you delete a footnote that you cross-referenced, you must manually delete the cross-reference.

Delete all automatically numbered footnotes or endnotes

1. On the Edit menu, point to Find, and then click Advanced Find and Replace.

2. Click the Replace tab and make sure that the Replace with box is empty.

3. Under Find, on the Special pop-up menu, click Endnote Mark or Footnote Mark, and then click Replace All.

   Note: If you do not see the Special pop-up menu, click the arrow .