Endnotes let you place citations, comments, or references at the end of a document instead of at the bottom of each page. Unlike footnotes, which appear on the same page as the referenced text, endnotes collect all notes in a single section at the document’s conclusion. This article explains how to insert, format, and manage endnotes in Word. You will also learn how to convert endnotes to footnotes and back, plus how to avoid common formatting pitfalls.
Key Takeaways: Inserting and Managing Endnotes in Word
- References > Insert Endnote: Adds an endnote at the cursor position with automatic superscript numbering.
- Ctrl+Alt+D (Windows) or Command+Option+E (Mac): Keyboard shortcut to insert an endnote without using the ribbon.
- References > Footnotes dialog launcher > Convert: Changes all endnotes to footnotes or vice versa with one click.
What Are Endnotes and When Should You Use Them
Endnotes are numbered reference markers that link to explanatory or source text placed at the end of a document. Word automatically numbers endnotes sequentially as you insert them. If you add or remove an endnote in the middle, Word renumbers all subsequent endnotes.
Use endnotes when you want to keep footnotes from cluttering the page layout. Academic papers, legal briefs, and research reports often use endnotes to provide citations without breaking the reader’s flow on each page. Endnotes also work well in printed documents where footnotes might cause awkward page breaks.
Before you insert endnotes, decide on a numbering style. Word defaults to Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3…). You can change this to Roman numerals, letters, or custom symbols through the Footnote and Endnote dialog box.
How to Insert an Endnote in Word
- Place the cursor where you want the endnote reference number
Click at the end of the word or sentence that needs a citation. The reference number will appear as a superscript after that text. - Open the References tab on the ribbon
Click References in the top navigation bar. The Footnotes group appears on the left side of the ribbon. - Click Insert Endnote
Word inserts a superscript number at the cursor and jumps to the endnote section at the bottom of the document. Type your note text there. Click anywhere in the main document to continue editing.
To insert an endnote using the keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+D on Windows or Command+Option+E on Mac. This shortcut works without opening the ribbon.
How to Change Endnote Numbering and Formatting
Word lets you control the number format, starting number, and whether numbering restarts in each section. Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog box to make these changes.
- Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog box
On the References tab, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Footnotes group. The dialog box opens. - Select Endnotes in the Location section
Choose Endnotes and decide whether they appear at the end of the document or at the end of each section. The default is end of document. - Choose a number format
Under Format, click the Number format dropdown. Options include 1, 2, 3…; i, ii, iii…; a, b, c…; and custom symbols. Click Apply to save changes. - Set the starting number
In the Start at box, enter the first number for the endnote sequence. Use this to continue numbering from a previous document or section. - Choose whether numbering restarts
Under Numbering, select Continuous (the default), Restart each section, or Restart each page. For endnotes, Restart each page is rarely used but available.
How to Convert Endnotes to Footnotes
Word includes a built-in conversion tool that changes all endnotes to footnotes or all footnotes to endnotes. This is useful when a publisher or style guide requires a different note placement.
- Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog box
Click the arrow in the Footnotes group on the References tab. - Click the Convert button
Near the bottom of the dialog box, click Convert. The Convert Notes dialog box appears. - Choose a conversion option
Select Convert all endnotes to footnotes. You can also convert footnotes to endnotes or swap the two note types. Click OK. - Verify the changes
Scroll through the document to confirm that all notes moved to the correct location. Word converts the numbering style automatically.
How to Delete an Endnote
Deleting an endnote requires removing the reference number in the main document, not the text in the endnote section. Word then renumbers remaining endnotes.
- Select the superscript endnote reference number in the document body
Click directly on the superscript number. Do not select any surrounding text. - Press Delete or Backspace
Word removes the reference number and the corresponding note text in the endnote section. All subsequent endnotes renumber automatically.
Common Endnote Issues and How to Avoid Them
Endnotes appear on the wrong page in a printed document
Endnotes always appear at the end of the document by default. If you want notes at the end of each chapter or section, change the Location setting to End of section in the Footnote and Endnote dialog box. Insert section breaks between chapters for this to work correctly.
Endnote numbers do not match the footnote numbers
Word maintains separate numbering sequences for footnotes and endnotes. If you use both types, each sequence starts at 1 independently. To avoid confusion, use only one note type per document, or clearly label each type in the text.
Endnote text spills into the footer area
Endnotes appear in a dedicated section at the end of the document. If footer content overlaps with endnote text, reduce the footer margin or move footer content to a different section. Open the header and footer area by double-clicking the top or bottom of the page, then adjust the footer margin in the Design tab.
Endnotes vs Footnotes: Key Differences
| Item | Endnotes | Footnotes |
|---|---|---|
| Location | End of document or end of section | Bottom of each page |
| Reader experience | Reader must flip to the end to see notes | Notes appear on the same page as the reference |
| Page breaks | No risk of notes splitting across pages | Footnotes may break across pages if too long |
| Default keyboard shortcut (Windows) | Ctrl+Alt+D | Ctrl+Alt+F |
| Best use case | Academic papers, books, legal documents with many citations | Short comments, definitions, or source references that benefit from immediate access |
After inserting endnotes, you can now manage citations and references without disrupting your document layout. Try converting a set of footnotes to endnotes to see how the conversion tool handles multiple note types. For advanced control, explore the Footnote and Endnote dialog box to customize separator lines and note spacing.