EndNote

Cite While You Write plugin for Microsoft Word

Before you can insert in-text citations or footnotes into your Microsoft Word documents you will need to ensure you have the EndNote Cite While You Write plugin installed.

If you use EndNote Desktop and EndNote Online:

If you are using EndNote desktop, DO NOT download and install the Cite While you Write plugin as it will already have been installed when you installed EndNote desktop.

You simply need to select the EndNote Web option in the toolbar in Microsoft Word: 

1. Go to Microsoft Word
2. Go to the EndNote toolbar
3. Select 'Preferences' and the 'Cite While You Write Preferences' dialog box will open.
4. Select the 'Application' tab.
5. Select the option: EndNote Online or EndNote Web.
6. Make sure your email address and password for EndNote Online are correct.
7. Click the 'OK' button.
8. The EndNote tab in Word should then change to the 'EndNote Web' or 'EndNote Online' tab.

For example, in Word 2016 for Mac the EndNote Online tab looks like this:

If you are ONLY using EndNote Online:

Download and install the Cite While You Write Plug-in for Microsoft Word

Before you get started: turn Instant Formatting off

If you are working on a large document, it is a good idea to turn instant formatting off in Word before you start inserting citations, as this feature can be slow if you insert many citations:

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Select the EndNote tab.
3. Select Preferences.
4. Untick the checkbox: Enable Instant Formatting on new Word documents and click the OK button.

Insert in-text citations or footnotes

Insert In-text citations

To insert a citation into a Microsoft Word document:

1. In Microsoft Word, go to the EndNote tab.
2. Click the Insert Citation button.
3. Enter some search terms and hit the return key on your keyboard, or click the Find button.
4. Select the reference(s) you wish to use.
5. Click the Insert button.

Insert footnotes

You need to use Microsoft Word to insert the footnote and then insert a citation:

1. In Microsoft Word, select the References tab.
2. Click the Insert Footnote button.
3. Use the instructions above for inserting in-text citations.

Format your citations and generate a bibliography

If you have Instant Formatting turned off in Microsoft Word, the citations will be inserted in unformatted mode for example:

{Coffrin, 2011, Smart Load Scheduling for Power System Restoration}

To format your citations and generate a bibliography:

1. In Microsoft Word, on the EndNote tab, select the referencing style you wish to use from the Style drop-down menu.
2. Click the Update Citations and Bibliography button.

EndNote Online: Cite While You Write Overview

Further help