Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Inserting and Deleting Footnotes.

Inserting and Deleting Footnotes

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated August 2, 2012)

1

Footnotes are used to provide printed annotations or references for a document. If you want to insert a footnote in your document, follow these steps:

  1. Position the insertion point where you want the footnote mark to be located.
  2. Choose Footnote from the Insert menu. You will see the Footnote and Endnote dialog box appear. (See Figure 1.)

    3. Figure 1. Footnote and Endnote dialog box.

  3. Click on OK. A footnote mark appears in your document. If you are in Normal view, the Footnotes window is displayed at the bottom of the document window. If you are in Page Layout view, the insertion point moves to the bottom of the page where the footnote will appear.
  4. Enter your footnote, formatting it as you would any other text in your document.
  5. If the Footnotes window is visible, click on Close at the top of the Footnotes window.

If you previously inserted footnotes into your document, and you want to later delete one of them, follow these steps:

  1. Highlight the footnote reference mark in your document.
  2. Press either Del or Ctrl+X.

The footnote is deleted and, if you are using auto-numbered footnotes, the remaining footnotes in your document are renumbered.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1059) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Inserting and Deleting Footnotes.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Getting Rid of Choppiness in Justified Text

Justified text doesn't always produce the best-looking results. Here's how to avoid some of the choppiness that can occur.

Discover More

Adding a Border Around Text in a Chart

You can included text in your charts, and even place a border around the text.

Discover More

Understanding Forms

If you have ever created several documents that contain the same basic information with only a few minor differences, ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!

More WordTips (menu)

Where Do You Want Your Endnotes?

Endnotes can be placed in a couple of different places in your document, not just at the very end. Here's how you can ...

Discover More

Returning to Your Document after Adding an Endnote

Endnotes are a required element in some types of writing. When you add an endnote, Word moves you to the end of your ...

Discover More

Formatting Footnotes and Endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes can be formatted in the same way that you format regular text in your document. There is an easier ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is three minus 0?

2014-07-16 07:53:33

karen

I have to write my first academic assignment and will have to use foot notes. I am not sure how to do this and wondered if there was anyone who could provide a simple explanation. Do I create the bibliography first and then what ??
would really appreciate a step by step as I really have no how this works and how you change the reference in the bibliography to Harvard or Chicago??
thank you
karen

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2020 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.