How to Write Footnotes: When to Use Them and How to Add Them in Word

how to write footnotes blog post image

When reading a book or article, you’ve probably noticed small numbers placed at the end of a sentence, which correspond to a note at the bottom of the page.

These are called footnotes, and they can add value for your readers by providing information about your sources, or adding supplementary details so they can better understand a subject.

However, if you want to use footnotes in your next article or nonfiction book, there are several rules you should be aware of, including when and how to use them.

How to Insert Footnotes

If you’re working with Microsoft Word, inserting footnotes is quite easy, Just follow these steps:

1. Place your cursor where you would like the superscript to appear.

2. Under the References tab, click Insert Footnote. This will make the superscript appear in the text, where you placed your cursor.

how to insert footnotes in word image

3. The corresponding number will be automatically inserted in the footer of your text.

where to write footnotes in word image

4. In the footer of the text, add your footnote citation.

What Is an Example of a Footnote?

Footnotes can be used to cite all kinds of sources, including books, magazines, journals—even websites and blog posts!

Here’s an example of how to cite this post in a footnote, using the rules of the Chicago Manual of Style:

[1] Kaelyn Barron, “How to Write Footnotes: When to Use Them and How to Add Them in Word,” TCK Publishing, last modified August 18, 2020, https://ift.tt/35IGxgI.

As this is a web page, it follows this format:

[1] Author first and last name, “Title of Page,” Website name, Publishing organization, publication or last modified date, URL.

How Do You Quote Using Footnotes?

If you want to quote a source directly, follow these steps ton make sure you insert the footnote in the proper place:

1. Copy the exact words from the original source.

2. Place quotation marks (“) at the beginning and end of the quoted text.

3. Insert the superscript number at the end of the sentence containing the quote. If more than one author is quoted within a sentence, insert a footnote next to each author’s name. If there is punctuation present, insert the superscript outside the punctuation (i.e., after a period or comma).

Always Cite Your Sources

Regardless of which style you choose, it’s important that you always cite your sources in order to avoid plagiarism.

Fortunately, there are plenty of online citation generators to make things easier for you. All you have to do is select the style you want, enter the source information, and you’ll have a properly formatted citation ready for your footnotes or bibliography.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

The post How to Write Footnotes: When to Use Them and How to Add Them in Word appeared first on TCK Publishing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Think Pieces: What They Are and How to Write One

Image
A think piece, also known as a thought piece, is an article or piece of writing intended to stir up the reader’s thoughts. It is usually speculative, with a lot of expository material, context, and the author’s analysis and opinion of existing ideas. Sometimes, think pieces can lean toward the controversial, especially when they seek to challenge majority opinions. Particularly provocative pieces are often the ones that get shared all over social media or the internet. Editors of magazines, blogs, and websites often pay for think pieces, but they are not that easy to write. This is perhaps why many writers aspire to be published in mainstream publications like The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Economist, The Atlantic, and The Saturday Evening Post , but their submissions barely get a sideways glance.  The good news is that getting a think piece published does not depend on your name or reputation; instead, quality is king. The key is being able to think deeply about a topic
Read more

The Best Mobile Apps for Writers

Image
If you’re a writer looking for a better way to write on your smartphone or mobile device, this post will help. Using a text app or word processor just won’t cut it if you’re doing heavy duty writing on a mobile device. These tools can help whether you have an Android or Apple device. 1. IWriter iWriter is a writing tool that functions excellently on Android and iOS. It is the best app for writing articles, books, or taking detailed notes. iWriter is a simple and elegant text editor. You can download it via iTunes or Google Play . You can check out iWriter subscription pricing here. 2. JotterPad Jotterpad makes it possible to convert files from PDF to WORD and some other popular formats. The app supports Markdown. It includes text styling, a thesaurus, a built-in dictionary that’ll even help you rhyme. It has essential features such as snapshots, typewriter scrolling, undo/redo, night vision, universal dark theme, and phrase finder. JotterPad supports full Cloud integratio
Read more

Author Business Cards: Why You Need Them and How to Make Them

Image
The first rule for being a successful author is to write. The second rule for being a successful author is to write more. The third rule for being a successful author is to always be networking. You never know where your next fan will come from. It might be someone who finds your book on Goodreads, but it might also be the person in front of you at the grocery store or the guy you bump into when you’re out for pizza. You might get chatting with someone at the bowling alley. You might end up discussing your book at the DMV. Your next reader could be anyone, anywhere. So you need to be prepared! That’s why business cards still matter in the digital era. Although we all tote tiny computers in our pockets all day, it’s still a pain in the butt to exchange contact information on a phone—not everyone uses the same system, vCards work with contact and email programs but aren’t universal, and NFC transfers are kind of clunky. Besides, after you dump your information into someone else’
Read more