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How to Insert Endnotes in Word

Tap through each step to insert an endnote in Word.

  1. Place your cursor where the endnote should go

    Click right after the word or sentence you want to add a note to.

  2. Click the "References" tab

    Go to the "References" tab at the top of the ribbon.

  3. Click "Insert Endnote"

    Clicking "Insert Endnote" in the "Footnotes" group creates a numbered endnote marker and moves you to the end of the document.

  4. Type the endnote's content at the end of the document

    At the spot the cursor jumped to, type your reference note or source citation.

  5. How footnotes and endnotes differ

    A footnote appears at the bottom of the page it's referenced on, while an endnote collects all notes together at the very end of the document. Endnotes suit situations like a bibliography, where you want everything gathered in one place.

When to reach for endnotes instead of footnotes

Academic papers with many citations, or a works-cited section you want gathered in one place, are good candidates for endnotes, since they avoid cluttering every page with small text. A brief clarifying aside that you want the reader to see immediately, on the other hand, is usually better served by a footnote.

Formatting endnotes to match your citation style

Clicking the small arrow in the "Footnotes" group opens the Footnote and Endnote dialog, where you can change the numbering format β€” numerals, letters, roman numerals, or symbols β€” and set the starting number, which is handy for matching APA, MLA, or Chicago-style requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert existing footnotes into endnotes?

Yes β€” open the Footnote and Endnote dialog from the small arrow in the References > Footnotes group, click "Convert," and choose to change all footnotes to endnotes at once.

Can I change the numbering format of endnotes, like using roman numerals instead of numbers?

Yes, the same dialog lets you pick a different number format and set where numbering starts, so you can match whatever citation style you're following.