Word implements a full-featured footnote system that allows you almost total control over where and how footnotes are printed. If you have previously inserted footnotes into your document and you want to duplicate a footnote, you can use techniques you already know for copying regular text. To copy a footnote, follow these steps:
If you instead want to move a footnote to another location in your document (or even in another document), you can use similar techniques. All you need to do is use Ctrl+X in step 2 instead of the noted Ctrl+C.
There is an important point to remember if you are copying, pasting, or moving footnotes in this way, and that has to do with Track Changes. If you have Track Changes turned on in the document, then copying, pasting, or moving footnotes results in an edit that is "tracked." The result is that your automatic footnote numbering can become messed up and seem all out of whack. Don't worry if this happens; when you resolve all the changes you've been tracking (either by accepting or rejecting them individually), the numbering will come back in whack and you'll be happy with the results.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8874) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Copying and Moving Footnotes.
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2021-05-01 15:49:16
Tomek Dluzniewski
That is all good if you really want a duplicate of your footnote or endnote, especially in a different document. However, if you use those for citations of the literature (in technical writing typically done in endnotes), then you may want a single note that is referenced in several places in the text. In such case instead of copy-paste approach you may want to insert an endnote or footnote cross-reference.
After that you may need to format that inserted cross-reference mark to match other footnote/endnote reference marks. In my opinion it is best to apply the appropriate character style (Footnote Reference or Endnote Reference). You may need to choose Show All Styles in options in the Styles Pane to find it.
Generally, the references and notes will be renumbered automatically, but if not, make sure that all fields are updated before publishing/printing the document.
Granted, this approach is a bit more complicated than simple copy and paste, but achieves a slightly different goal.
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