How to Add a Comma Between Footnote References in Word

To add a comma between consecutive footnote references in Word, place the insertion point between the two superscript numbers, type a comma, and make the comma superscript if needed. The comma belongs in the document text, not in either footnote at the bottom of the page. This works in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac, though exact keyboard shortcuts can differ.

Word creates and numbers footnotes automatically, but it does not automatically insert punctuation between two adjacent footnote markers. You add that punctuation yourself. The result should look like a pair of separate superscript references with a comma between them, such as ¹,². Check your required citation style first: punctuation rules vary, and a style guide may specify a different arrangement.

What You’ll Need

A Word document containing at least two footnotes, preferably with their references next to each other in the main text.
Permission to edit the document. If it is shared or protected, you may need editing access first.
A moment to check the citation or publication style you are following, so the comma and its position match the required format.

Step-by-Step

Find the two references in the main text. Go to the sentence or phrase where the footnote markers appear together. You are looking for the small superscript numbers in the body of the document, not the numbered footnote entries below the separator line. For example, if the text ends with two adjacent markers, you want to change the marker sequence from ¹² to ¹,².

If the references are not next to each other, this method may not apply. A comma between footnote markers is used when two references belong at the same point in the text. Do not move or combine footnote entries just to make their numbers appear together.
Make sure you are editing the document body. Click in the paragraph containing the references, rather than clicking inside a footnote at the bottom of the page. If the document is crowded, use the View tab to switch to Print Layout, then zoom in using the zoom control in the lower-right corner. A larger view makes it easier to distinguish the reference markers from the surrounding punctuation.

You can also use Word’s navigation or Find feature to locate a distinctive word in the sentence, then move to the end of that sentence. Avoid selecting a footnote number and typing over it: that could remove the reference and affect the note numbering.
Position the insertion point between the two markers. Click carefully between the first and second superscript numbers. If the gap is too small to click reliably, click immediately before the first marker and press the Right Arrow key once. The insertion point should move past the first reference and stop before the second. Check its position before typing; if it is before both markers or after both, the comma will appear in the wrong place.

When working with a keyboard, you can use the arrow keys to move through the sentence one character at a time. Watch the insertion point on screen, because the superscript formatting can make the marker positions harder to judge. If necessary, undo a misplaced comma with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac, then reposition the cursor.
Type the comma without adding a space. With the insertion point between the markers, type a comma. In most cases, citations grouped at one point should have no space between the comma and either superscript number. The sequence should now read as two references separated by punctuation, not as one changed footnote number.

Do not type a new number or replace either marker. Word manages footnote numbering, and the displayed numbers may change when you add, remove, or move a footnote elsewhere in the document.
Check the comma’s formatting. The comma may inherit superscript formatting from the nearby reference, but do not assume it has. Select only the comma and apply superscript if it sits on the normal text baseline. In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, use Home > Font > Superscript, shown as the x² button. On Mac, use the same Home tab and Superscript button.

For a keyboard shortcut, Word for Windows uses Ctrl+Shift+= to toggle superscript for selected text. Word for Mac commonly uses Command+Shift+Plus (+). Keyboard layouts can affect how the plus sign is entered, so the ribbon button is the dependable option if the shortcut does not work. Make sure you select just the comma, not the footnote markers or the whole sentence.
Check the text around the references. Read the sentence from beginning to end and confirm that its punctuation is still in the right place. Depending on the style you follow, a sentence-ending period may appear before or after the footnote callouts. The comma between references does not determine where the sentence’s period belongs; use your style guide for that decision.

Also confirm that the references still point to the intended footnote entries. Click each marker to check that Word takes you to the corresponding note, or use Print Layout to inspect the note area. Do not edit the footnote text unless you mean to change the note itself.
Save and review the final layout. Save the document, then check the sentence at normal reading size. If the document will be printed or shared as a PDF, use File > Print to preview the page or save a PDF and inspect the result. This catches an awkwardly positioned comma or a formatting difference that may be less obvious while zoomed in.

Common Mistakes

Adding the comma inside a footnote. The note area contains the footnote text. If you type there, the comma becomes part of the note rather than separating the reference markers in the sentence. Return to the main document and insert it between the markers.
Replacing a marker instead of inserting punctuation. Footnote references are linked to numbered notes. Typing over a selected marker can remove the link. Keep both existing markers and insert only the comma between them.
Leaving the comma on the baseline. A baseline comma between superscript markers can look like a stray punctuation mark. Select the comma alone and apply superscript using Home > Font > Superscript.
Adding a space automatically. A space is usually unnecessary between grouped superscript references. If Word’s AutoCorrect or typing leaves a space, remove it unless your required style calls for one.
Assuming every style uses the same punctuation. Citation and editorial styles can differ on marker placement, spacing, and whether references should be grouped. Follow the style required for your paper or publication instead of relying on a universal rule.

Tips

Use Word’s automatic footnote feature for new notes. To add a footnote, place the cursor where its reference belongs and choose References > Insert Footnote. Word inserts the marker and creates the matching note. Add the comma between existing markers afterward if the style requires it; do not type a footnote number manually.
Keep punctuation consistent. If you are editing a long document, search for other places where multiple references appear together and apply the same punctuation pattern where appropriate. Review each case rather than making a blind replacement, since some commas may belong to ordinary sentence punctuation.
Use undo rather than trying to repair a chain of edits. If a marker disappears or the comma lands in the wrong position, press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac promptly. Then place the cursor again and make the change carefully.
Check the whole page after editing. Adding a comma should not alter the footnote text, but Word can repaginate a document after edits. Check that the note remains on the expected page and that no unrelated formatting changed.
Remember that footnotes and endnotes are different. Footnotes appear at the bottom of a page, while endnotes usually appear at the end of a section or document. The same basic punctuation edit applies to the reference markers in the text, but the notes themselves appear in different locations.

Troubleshooting

The comma appears before both markers or after both. Undo the insertion, then move the insertion point one position at a time with the arrow keys. Start immediately before the first marker, press Right Arrow once, and check that the cursor is between the two references before typing.

The comma is not superscript. Select only the comma and click Home > Font > Superscript. If the button is already active, click it once to turn superscript on. The button’s state can reflect the current selection, so selecting the comma itself matters.

The second footnote number changes or a note seems missing. Undo immediately. You may have selected or deleted a reference marker rather than inserting punctuation. Restore the marker, then check the notes in the document. If Word’s numbering has updated automatically, that is normal after a genuine footnote is added or removed; confirm that every reference still has its intended note.

You cannot place the cursor between the small numbers. Zoom in, use Print Layout, or navigate with the arrow keys from just before the first marker. You can also turn on formatting marks from Home > Paragraph > Show/Hide ¶ to inspect spacing, but the display of footnote markers may still require careful keyboard navigation.

The references are separated by words or other punctuation. Do not force them together by deleting text unless you intend to revise the sentence. A comma between footnote markers is only suitable when the references belong together at the same citation point. If the references support different clauses, keep their placement clear and follow the applicable style guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Word insert a comma automatically between two footnotes?
Not as a standard automatic setting when you insert footnotes. Word adds and numbers the references, but you normally type the comma between adjacent markers yourself and format it as needed.

Should there be a space after the comma?
Usually not when the comma separates adjacent superscript footnote references, but citation rules can vary. Follow the style guide or instructions for your assignment or publication.

Does the comma go in the footnote text at the bottom of the page?
No, not when you want to separate two reference numbers in the sentence. Insert it in the main text between the markers. Add punctuation to a footnote entry only if the note’s wording itself requires it.

Can I add a comma between two footnotes after I have written the document?
Yes. Find the two adjacent references in the main text, place the insertion point between them, type the comma, and check its superscript formatting. Word will keep managing the footnote numbering.

Will the comma change the footnote numbers?
No. A comma inserted between the markers is ordinary punctuation and does not create, delete, or renumber a footnote. Removing or inserting an actual footnote reference can cause Word to update numbering.

Does this work in Word for Mac?
Yes. The editing steps and the Home > Font > Superscript control are available in Word for Mac. The superscript keyboard shortcut can differ by keyboard layout, so use the ribbon button if the shortcut is inconvenient.

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