To add references in Word, place your cursor after the text you want to cite, select References > Insert Citation > Add New Source, enter the source details, and select OK. In Word for Windows, choose your citation format under References > Style first. After inserting your citations, select References > Bibliography to create the reference list.
The built-in citation and bibliography tools are desktop features. In Word for the web, you can open the document in desktop Word, use a supported citation add-in, or enter references manually.
The short version
- Add a source: Use Insert Citation > Add New Source to enter source details and insert a citation.
- Create the list: In Word for Windows, choose a format under References > Bibliography.
- Keep it current: After adding citations, select Update Citations and Bibliography inside the bibliography.
- Use the right platform: Browser users need desktop Word, a supported add-in, or manual references.
| Option | Use it to | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in citations | Insert a citation from a saved or new source | Desktop References > Insert Citation |
| Automatic bibliography | Generate a reference list from source records | Windows References > Bibliography |
| Manual references | Type or paste citations and reference entries | Your document on desktop, web, or mobile |
| Footnotes and endnotes | Put reference text in a note | Desktop References or mobile Insert |
| Zotero | Insert citations from your Zotero library | Desktop Zotero > Add/Edit Citation |
| Mendeley Cite | Insert citations from your Mendeley library | Insert citation in the add-in on supported platforms |
Choose a style and add your first citation
Open your document in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 for Windows, then click immediately after the text that needs a reference. Select References > Style and choose the citation style you need. Choose the style before entering your first source so you can review the citation in the intended format.
Select Insert Citation > Add New Source to open Create Source. Choose the appropriate entry under Type of Source, then enter the source information. Select Show All Bibliography Fields when you need additional fields, and select OK to insert the citation.
Enter the publication details carefully, since Word uses them to format your references. If you spot an error later, you can correct the existing source through Manage Sources.
Create and update the reference list
After inserting your citations, place the cursor where you want the reference list. In Word for Windows, select References > Bibliography and choose a format. Word generates the list using the source information you entered.
For a list without a built-in heading, select References > Bibliography > Insert Bibliography. You can then type the heading your document requires.
After adding further citations, click inside the bibliography and select Update Citations and Bibliography. This brings the reference list up to date with your additions.
To change the citation format, select References > Style and choose another available style. Microsoft warns that APA and MLA formats change, so check that Word's implemented edition matches your assignment or publisher's requirements.
Reuse sources and correct citation details
In Word for Windows, place your cursor after the relevant text and select References > Insert Citation to cite a source again. Choose the existing source from the menu. You can reuse its publication details without entering them again.
To add page numbers to a particular citation, select the inserted citation and open Citation Options > Edit Citation. Enter the page details for that passage. This lets you cite different pages of the same source without changing its source record.
To correct an author, title, or another source detail, select References > Manage Sources. Select the source under Master List or Current List, choose Edit, make the correction, and select OK. The Master List holds previously saved sources, while the Current List holds sources for the document.
If you cannot find a saved source, use Search to look for its title or author, or sort the sources. Select Browse when you need to open another master source list.
When you need to keep writing before you have all the details, select References > Insert Citation > Add New Placeholder. Later, open Manage Sources, select the placeholder under Current List, and choose Edit. Enter the missing information and select OK.
Insert citations in Word for Mac
In Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac or Word 2024 for Mac, place the cursor where the citation belongs. Select References > Insert Citation, then choose an existing source. To enter a new one, select Add New Source, complete the information in Create Source, and select OK.
Word inserts the citation as a citation field. If you prefer to manage your sources through a separate library, Zotero also provides a Word integration on Mac.
Add references in Word for the web or mobile
Word for the web does not have native citation insertion or bibliography creation. With an installed, licensed desktop copy of Word, select Editing > Open in Desktop App. Add your citations and bibliography there, then save the document to retain the results when you reopen it in the browser.
Manual references work as ordinary text in Word on Windows, Mac, the web, iPhone, iPad, and Android. Type or paste the citations where they belong, then enter the full reference entries in your list. These entries do not automatically become records in Word's source manager.
For a hanging indent in Word for the web, select the reference entries and open Home > Paragraph using the dialog launcher. Under Special, choose Hanging, then select OK. This formats the selected text without turning it into an automatic bibliography.
A supported add-in is another browser option. Mendeley Cite supports Word for the web and supported Word for iPad installations, allowing you to insert citations from its library and generate a bibliography.
Put references in footnotes or endnotes
Use a footnote or endnote when you need the reference text in a note. On Windows or Mac, place your cursor where the note marker belongs and select References > Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote. Enter the reference text, then double-click the reference mark to return to the main text.
For more control over note formatting, you can add and format footnotes in Word. Entering reference text in a note does not create a managed source record.
In Word for the web, select Edit > Editing if necessary, then place the cursor at the reference point. Select Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote on the References ribbon and type the reference. To format the notes, select References > Show Footnotes or Show Endnotes, then choose Format Footnotes or Format Endnotes and select Apply.
On mobile, tap the insertion point, open Insert, and select Footnote or Endnote. Type the reference, then double-tap the reference numeral to move between the note and the document.
Use a reference manager for a source library
Zotero can insert citations and maintain a bibliography in supported desktop Word versions on Windows and Mac. Download it from the official Zotero download page; its Word integration is supplied with Zotero. With Zotero and its Word plugin installed, place the cursor in your document and select Zotero > Add/Edit Citation.
Search by title, author, or year, select the item, and press Enter on Windows or Return on Mac. At the reference-list location, select Add/Edit Bibliography. Use Document Preferences to change the style and Refresh to update source metadata.
For Mendeley, open the official Mendeley Cite page and select Get Mendeley Cite to reach its add-in listing. Mendeley Cite can use your cloud library without installing Mendeley Desktop.
Open Mendeley Cite, find the reference, and select the Insert citation button beneath it. To create the list, place your cursor at the desired location and select More > Insert Bibliography in the Mendeley Cite pane. The add-in updates the bibliography as you insert additional citations.
Fix reference formatting before you finish
If your manually entered references need hanging indents in Windows, select the entries and open the Paragraph Settings dialog launcher on Home. Under Indents and Spacing, choose Special > Hanging, then select OK. On Mac, select the entries and choose Format > Paragraph > Special > Hanging > OK.
When your required document format calls for it, double space the document in Word. You can also add page numbers in Word when preparing the finished document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you save a source without inserting a citation immediately?
Yes, in Word for Windows, select References > Manage Sources > New. Complete Create Source, select Show All Bibliography Fields if you need additional fields, and select OK. This saves the source information without inserting an in-text citation.
Can one Word citation contain more than one source?
Yes, native Word citations can contain multiple sources. Select an existing citation and insert another source into it. You can do this in current desktop Word on Windows and Mac.
How do you make a reference entry clickable?
On Windows, select the reference text, choose Insert > Link, select Existing File or Web Page, and enter the Address. On Mac, select the text and choose Insert > Link > Web Page or File, enter the Address, and select OK. Adding a hyperlink does not create a source-manager record.
Can Word reference a numbered bibliography entry elsewhere in the document?
Yes, Word for Windows can create a cross-reference to a numbered item. Create the destination first, place the cursor at the reference location, and select Insert > Cross-reference. Choose Reference type, Insert reference to, and the destination under For which, optionally select Insert as hyperlink or Include above/below, then select Insert. Update affected fields after moving or renumbering the destination.
Can you copy formatted references from Zotero without using its Word plugin?
Yes, select the items in Zotero and choose Edit > Copy Bibliography, then paste them into Word. You can also drag selected library items into the document. The result is formatted text rather than a live Zotero citation.