CMS Format: Using the Footnote Function in Word

CMS refers to a research format described in the Chicago Manual of Style. This format is often used for history, philosophy and religion papers; instructors in other disciplines may also prefer CMS format.

You can create a footnote manually by using the superscript icon on the toolbar in Microsoft Word, but using the Insert Footnote function is quicker and makes it easier to ensure the proper placement of the notes at the bottom of the page.

To Create a Footnote in Word:

1. After entering the information requiring a footnote, select the References tab.
2. Select "Insert Footnote." This places a superscript number in the text of your paper, inserts a line between the text and the footnote area, and adds the superscript number under the line (or under the previous footnote).
3. In the footnote, delete the superscript number, change the font to match the rest of your paper (e.g.Times New Roman 12 point), hit the tab key to indent the note, and type in the number for the footnote.
4. Enter the citation information.

To Create a Footnote in Word Online:

1. After entering the information requiring a footnote, select the References tab.
2. Select "Insert Footnote." This places a superscript number in the text of your paper, inserts a line between the text and the footnote area, and adds the superscript number under the line (or under the previous footnote).
3. Enter the citation information after the footnote number under the rule.
4. Click on "Format Footnotes" and in the Format Options box, change the font and size to match the rest of the paper, and select the indented format (on the right-hand side) under the "Indentation" heading. Click "Apply To All."
5. Click in the body of the paper to continue writing.

Additional footnotes may be added using this procedure. Be sure to add a line space between footnotes, as Word does not do this.