Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Default Numbering Format for Endnotes.
Ken wonders if it is possible to change the default numbering format for endnotes from lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, etc.) to uppercase Roman numerals (I, II, etc.). While this can be done manually in the Insert Endnote dialog box, that takes several steps and a change to the default would be much easier and faster.
It is possible to change the default, but the way you do it is to change the template on which new documents are based. In most cases, this means changing the Normal template because most new documents are based, automatically, on settings stored in the Normal template. (In other words, changing the template is how you change many of Word's defaults—including endnote numbering styles.)
In order to make a change to the Normal template you need to load it directly. The location of the Normal template will vary from system to system, but you can use the Windows search feature to locate it. (Just search for Normal.dotx, Normal.dotm, or some variation of these names.) Load the template directly into Word and then follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Footnote and Endnote dialog box.
The next time you create a document based on that template, the endnote reference numbers will be formatted as Roman numerals (assuming you selected a Roman numeral format in step 3). This won't affect any existing documents, only new ones.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (5936) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Default Numbering Format for Endnotes.
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2021-02-06 13:49:17
Angelika
Laura, you are a saint. I spent an entire week trying to change roman numeral to Arabic numerals in my manuscript and was about to hang myself!
2020-08-25 01:21:22
John Arohaina Thorpe
I am using MS Word which is a part of my Dropbox account. I have many endnotes which are in Roman numerals by default. I want to change them to the usual Arabic numerals. There is no option to change the format in the Format Options when you show the endnote. I am coming to the conclusion that there is only one option and that is Roman numerals. Very frustrating. I can't find the answer anywhere on the internet. I am going to go back to a non-online version of MS Word where I know how to change the format. But it sort of defeats the whole purpose of using Dropbox. Do you know of any solution to my problem? Thanks
2020-07-29 16:58:57
Steve
Your explanation of how to change the default for endnotes does not work. I've tried it 20 times now and it just doesn't work. Where you say click OK, there is no OK on the dialogue box. But I'm not sure if that's the problem. In any case, this has been a waste of time.
2019-08-03 04:52:32
Furfar
I introduce endnote in arabic format number. But in the window for cross-referencing, the numbers are in roman format; and the cross-refeence introduced is also in arabic format. How to return to arabic format in the windows to select the cross-reference.?
2018-12-06 14:37:35
Paul
Wow! Thank you so much!!!
2017-12-27 15:11:14
Laura
Mike, I'm a fellow Mac user who was having the same problem as you: Once I converted footnotes to endnotes (by highlighting all of the footnotes, and then right-clicking and choosing "Convert to Endnote"), I didn't know how to change the default Roman numerals in an existing file to Arabic numerals.
Here's what worked:
1. Insert a "dummy" endnote by clicking anywhere in the main text.
2. Select from menu: "Insert" -->"Footnote."
3. In the popup window, select "Endnotes" and also select "Number format: 1, 2, 3, ...". Then click "Insert" to accept.
4. Now Word has converted all of your endnotes to Arabic numerals, and the last step is to find & delete the dummy endnote that you just created.
Hope that helps! - Laura
2017-05-08 15:33:45
Jonathan
God bless you!
2017-02-03 23:10:46
KW Grad Student
This tip was so very helpful!! Thanks!!!
2016-11-13 17:55:54
James S. Huggins
I am trying to find a way to change the footnote formatting for all the footnotes in my document. Both the 500 existing footnotes and any new ones I add.
2016-08-10 20:09:29
Hossein
It was very helpful for me.
Thank you very much
2016-06-25 11:49:09
Rorie
I went to Microsoft and got crazy, convoluted directions. Yours are so easy to follow and accurate. Thank you.
2016-06-06 23:15:21
Denise
Many thanks Mike for your tip about Mac, it worked.
2016-05-13 19:41:05
Mike
Hi Allen,
I have a new MAC and recently downloaded WORD (May 2016). My Reference tab does not look like previous ones I am used to or the one on your screen. When in the Reference in the ribbon, I am left with only the following options: Insert footnote, insert endnote, next footnotes, show notes. I have no small icon in the right lower corner of the footnote group. Thus, I am unable to access the Endnote radio button.
I can convert endnotes to footnotes and vice versa by VIEW>Draft, REFERENCES>highlight footnotes>Right click change to endnotes. This converts endorse with Arabic numerals to Footnotes with Roman Numerals. I need to change Rman to Arabic in my Endnotes. Thank you for the consideration of this question.
Mike
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
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