Document Editing Problems

How to Add a Works Cited Page After Endnotes in Word

Amos Gikunda Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to insert a Works Cited page after the endnotes section in a Microsoft Word document, as pressing the Enter key does not allow the cursor to move past the final endnote.

How to Add a Works Cited Page After Endnotes in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting an academic paper where a Works Cited, Bibliography, or Appendix page must appear after the document's endnotes.
Observed behavior: Pressing Enter at the end of the last endnote only adds new lines within the endnote section itself, rather than creating a new standard page for the bibliography.

Before you start

Before making structural changes, ensure your document is saved and clearly identify the exact paragraph where the main body of your text ends and the endnotes begin.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Section Break and Adjust Endnote Placement

By changing the endnote placement to the 'End of section' instead of 'End of document' and inserting a Next Page section break, you can free up standard page space at the end of your file for a bibliography.

Microsoft Word defaults to placing endnotes at the absolute end of the document. To add text after them, you must divide the document into sections and instruct Word to place the endnotes at the end of the section containing your main text.

Place your cursor at the end of the main text

Scroll through your document and click exactly after the very last sentence of your main body text, right before the endnote section begins.

Insert a Next Page section break

Navigate to the 'Layout' tab on the ribbon, click on 'Breaks' in the Page Setup group, and select 'Next Page' under Section Breaks.

Open the Footnotes and Endnotes dialog

Go to the 'References' tab. Click the small diagonal arrow icon (dialog box launcher) in the bottom-right corner of the Footnotes group.

Change endnote placement

In the dialog box, under the Location section, ensure 'Endnotes' is selected and change the dropdown menu from 'End of document' to 'End of section'. Click the 'Apply' button.

Navigate to the new blank page

Press 'Ctrl + End' on your keyboard to jump past the endnotes to the newly created blank page. You can now type your 'Works Cited' or 'Bibliography' title and add your references.

Use a Section Break and Adjust Endnote Placement

Numbering Continuity: Your endnote numbering will remain intact after making this change as long as the 'Numbering' option in the dialog box is set to 'Continuous'.

Easy Academic Formatting

Format Endnotes and Bibliographies Easily with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive layout for managing footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies. You can effortlessly format academic papers and structure complex sections with full compatibility for Microsoft Word documents.

1. Open your academic document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing your endnotes.
2. Insert a section break: Place your cursor at the end of the main text. Go to the Page Layout tab, click Breaks, and choose 'Next Page Section Break'.
3. Configure Endnote settings: Navigate to the References tab, click the Settings icon in the Footnotes group, and set Endnotes location to 'End of section'.
4. Add the Works Cited page: Scroll past the endnotes to the new blank page and paste or type your Works Cited content.

Seamless format compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx)Intuitive footnote, endnote, and section break managementFree, lightweight, and fast alternative to Microsoft OfficeFamiliar user interface requiring no learning curve

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I just press Enter after the last endnote to make a new page?

Microsoft Word treats endnotes as a specialized field placed at the absolute end of the document flow. Pressing Enter only adds blank spaces within the endnote formatting area itself, rather than creating a new standard document page.

Will changing endnotes to 'End of section' restart my numbering?

No, you can keep continuous numbering. When you open the Footnotes and Endnotes dialog box to change the location, simply ensure the 'Numbering' option is set to 'Continuous' before clicking Apply.

Can I use this method for a bibliography or appendices instead of a Works Cited page?

Yes, this method applies to any content you need to place after your endnotes. Whether it is a Bibliography, Works Cited, Appendices, or an Index, the section break method will give you the necessary blank pages at the end of your file.

How do I remove the separator line above the endnotes?

To remove or edit the line, switch your document to Draft view (View > Draft). Go to the References tab, click 'Show Notes', and then select 'Endnote Separator' from the dropdown menu in the notes pane to delete or modify the line.

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