Footnote Numbering
Footnote numbering connects an in-text reference mark to the corresponding note at the bottom of the page. Word can control number format and section-level restarting, but the required sequence is a style decision.
Use the document system’s footnote references so in-text marks and notes stay linked; choose continuous or restarted numbering according to the governing style.
Key details
Important caveats
Style Boundary
Number format, restarting conventions and note typography vary by publication or citation style; software capability is not a universal rule.
Further guidance
Linkage
Insert footnotes through the note feature so the reference mark and note remain connected instead of typing superscript numbers manually.
Practical Application
Insert footnote references with the document system’s note feature so the in-text mark and note remain linked. Choose continuous numbering, section restarts, or another sequence only when the governing style or template calls for it.
Reader Check
If a note is inserted or removed, will later note numbers update automatically, and does the numbering sequence match the required style?
Sequence
Choose a consistent numbering scheme and apply any restart rule at the document or section level through the authoring system when possible.
Worked Example
Use the editor’s footnote command for note 7 rather than typing a superscript “7” and a separate note manually; if the publisher requires numbering to restart by chapter, set that rule in the document system.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Add footnotes and endnotes — Microsoft Support (opens in a new tab)Microsoft Support · Footnote/endnote placement, reference marks and formatting options