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: Adding Footnotes to Endnotes.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 26, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Peter notes that he is working on a document that has both extensive footnotes and endnotes. He has a need to add additional footnotes to his existing endnotes, but he can't find a way to do it.
The reason you can't find a way to do it is because there is no way to do it in Word. Footnotes and endnotes are singular in nature, meaning that you can have one set of footnotes and one set of endnotes per document; that's it. (Endnotes can be placed in different places in a document—the end of a section or the end of the document—but there is still only one set.) You can't add notes within notes, which is what would be required if you wanted to footnote your endnotes.
In addition, all of the style guides we've been able to locate indicate that your endnotes should not have their own footnotes. In most cases, you should simply incorporate the footnote material within the endnote to which it applies. Many people do this by having an endnote contain multiple paragraphs, which is perfectly legal in Word.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12842) 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: Adding Footnotes to 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!
Need to make a cross-reference from one footnote to another footnote? You can do it if you throw bookmarks into the mix, ...
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