Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: Formatting Footnotes and Endnotes.
You can format footnotes and endnotes in the same manner in which you format regular text. If you have a large number of notes in your text, however, it could get tedious to manually format every one. Instead, consider changing the styles that Word automatically applies to footnotes and endnotes.
When you add your first footnote to a document, Word automatically creates a style called Footnote Text. Similarly, the addition of your first endnote creates the Endnote Text style. These two text styles will be listed in the Styles pane if you choose to show All Styles. (If you are using Word 2010 or a later version, display the Home tab of the ribbon, click the small icon at the bottom-right of the Styles group to open the Styles pane, and click on Options at the bottom of the Styles pane. Then choose All Styles in the Select Styles To Show drop-down list.) Change these styles according to your needs, and your footnotes and endnotes will look great.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (6088) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Formatting Footnotes and Endnotes.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
Word includes a powerful feature that allows you to add footnotes and endnotes to your document. What if you want them at ...
Discover MoreFootnotes can be handled many different ways in a document. If you want to restart the numbering of your footnotes every ...
Discover MoreFootnotes appear at the bottom (or foot) of each page. It is an easy task to insert a footnote at any point you desire, ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: 
Comments