Formatting Issues

How to Add a Bibliography Below Endnotes in Microsoft Word

Natalie Taylor Sep 27, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to insert a bibliography or additional content after the endnotes at the end of a document.

How to Add a Bibliography Below Endnotes in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Finalizing an academic paper or report where standard formatting requires the bibliography to follow the endnotes.
Observed behavior: Word places endnotes at the absolute end of the document by default, disabling page breaks and preventing the user from typing any new text below the endnote section.

Before you start

Ensure your document is fully edited and all endnotes are inserted before adjusting section layouts, as moving breaks can alter your overall pagination.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Section Breaks to Suppress Endnotes

Change the endnote placement to the end of the section rather than the end of the document, and suppress them in a final section created exclusively for the bibliography.

Because Microsoft Word strictly reserves the very end of a document for endnotes, you cannot simply press Enter or insert a page break below them. By configuring section breaks, you can trick the software into placing endnotes just before the final page, leaving the last page completely blank for your bibliography.

Insert a Next Page Section Break

Place your cursor at the very end of your document's body text, immediately before the endnotes start. Go to the 'Layout' tab on the ribbon, click 'Breaks', and select 'Next Page' under Section Breaks.

Change Endnote Location

Navigate to the 'References' tab and click the small dialog box launcher arrow in the bottom right corner of the Footnotes group. In the Footnote and Endnote dialog box, change the Endnotes location to 'End of section' and apply the changes to the 'Whole document'.

Suppress Endnotes in the Final Section

Click inside the new, blank final section you just created. Go back to the 'Layout' tab, click the dialog box launcher arrow in the Page Setup group, switch to the 'Layout' tab, check the 'Suppress endnotes' box, and ensure it is applied to 'This section'.

Insert Your Bibliography

You can now type, paste, or use the References tab to insert your bibliography into this final section. It will display correctly after all of your endnotes.

Formatting Complete: By suppressing the endnotes in the last section, Word is forced to push all previously generated endnotes to the section immediately preceding it, giving you a clean space for appendices or bibliographies.

Advanced Document Formatting

Format Academic Papers with Ease Using WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers intuitive reference tools that make managing endnotes, footnotes, and bibliographies incredibly simple, without getting bogged down by complicated formatting rules.

1. Open Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your academic paper.
2. Insert Section Break: Place your cursor at the end of the text body, go to the 'Page Layout' tab, click 'Breaks', and choose 'Next Page Section Break'.
3. Adjust Endnote Settings: Go to the 'References' tab, click the Settings icon in the Footnotes group, and set Endnotes to 'End of section'.
4. Suppress Endnotes: Click inside the new final page, open the 'Page Setup' dialog from the Page Layout tab, click 'Layout', check 'Suppress endnotes', and apply.
5. Add Bibliography: Insert your bibliography into the newly freed space at the end of the document.

Easily insert and manage endnotes, footnotes, and citations.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word reference formats (.docx).Intuitive Page Setup options to easily manage sections and pagination.Free and lightweight alternative for seamless academic writing.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I just press Enter after my endnotes to add text?

By default, Microsoft Word designates endnotes to be at the absolute end of the document structure. It restricts the insertion of standard text, page breaks, or new sections directly below the endnotes area.

Will applying 'End of section' affect the numbering of my endnotes?

No, changing the placement to 'End of section' will not disrupt your numbering sequence, provided you choose to apply the setting to the 'Whole document' in the Footnote and Endnote dialog box.

Can I place an index or appendix after the endnotes using this same method?

Yes, this section-break workaround works perfectly for any type of content you need to place at the very end of the document, including appendices, indexes, glossaries, and author bios.

Document & File Issues