Formatting Issues

How to Change Word In-Text Citation Brackets to Parentheses

John Wilson Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to change the formatting of in-text citations from square brackets to parentheses for an academic lab report.

How to Change Word In-Text Citation Brackets to Parentheses

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting citations and bibliographies in an academic lab report.
Observed behavior: Citations are currently being inserted with square brackets, such as [Author, Year], instead of the required parenthetical format (Author, Year).

Before you start

Verify whether you are generating citations using Microsoft Word's built-in citation tool or an external reference manager plug-in like Mendeley, EndNote, or Zotero, as the settings locations will differ.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Built-in Citation Style to APA

The bracket format is controlled by the selected citation style. Switching to a style that uses parentheses, such as APA, will automatically update your document.

If you are using Microsoft Word's native citation manager, formatting rules like brackets versus parentheses are hard-coded into the chosen academic style. Styles like IEEE or ISO 690 use square brackets, while APA and MLA use parentheses.

Open the References tab

Navigate to the 'References' tab on the main Microsoft Word ribbon.

Locate the Style menu

Find the 'Citations & Bibliography' group and locate the 'Style' dropdown menu.

Select a parenthetical style

Click the dropdown and select 'APA' (or another preferred parenthetical style). Your document's citations will automatically update to use parentheses.

Change the Built-in Citation Style to APA

Automatic Updates: Changing the style from this menu updates all existing in-text citations and the bibliography format instantly throughout your document.

Solution 2

Update the Style in External Reference Managers

If changing Word's native style settings does not work, an external reference manager is likely controlling the citations.

Solution 3

Convert Citations to Static Text for Manual Editing

As a last resort, you can convert the automated citation fields into regular text and manually replace the brackets with parentheses.

Easily Manage Citations

Manage Academic Citations Effortlessly with WPS Office

WPS Writer offers a comprehensive, easy-to-use References tool that is fully compatible with Microsoft Word. You can effortlessly insert citations, manage your sources, and switch between APA, MLA, and other styles to ensure your academic papers are perfectly formatted.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your academic document or lab report.
2. Go to References: Click on the 'References' tab located on the top ribbon.
3. Manage your sources: Use the 'Insert Citation' tool to quickly add your source details.
4. Set the citation style: Click the 'Style' dropdown menu and select 'APA' to automatically format your citations with parentheses.

Free, lightweight, and fast word processorSeamless compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) documentsBuilt-in reference and bibliography management toolsOne-click switching between popular academic citation styles

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word keep putting brackets around my citations?

This happens because the active citation style in your document is set to a format that requires square brackets, such as IEEE or ISO 690. Changing the style to APA or MLA in the References tab will switch the brackets to parentheses.

Why can't I change the citation style in the References tab?

If changing the style in Word's built-in References tab has no effect, you are likely using a third-party reference manager add-in like Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote. You must change the citation style using that specific plugin's menu on the ribbon.

Can I customize a built-in citation style to use parentheses?

While Microsoft Word does not offer a simple user interface for customizing built-in styles, advanced users can modify the XSL style sheet files located in Word's installation folder. However, for most users, it is much easier to switch to an existing style like APA or manually edit static text.

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