Formatting Issues

How to Fix Excessive Blank Space Above Footnotes in Word

Olivia Miller Sep 27, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to eliminate unnecessary blank space appearing above the footnote separator at the bottom of a document page.

How to Fix Excessive Blank Space Above Footnotes in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a text-heavy document containing footnotes where paragraphs are unexpectedly pushed to the next page.
Observed behavior: The word processor moves text to the subsequent page when a footnote is present, leaving a large, unwanted blank gap between the main text and the footnote separator.

Before you start

Enable the 'Show/Hide ¶' formatting marks in your word processor to clearly see paragraph breaks, page breaks, and extra line spacing before attempting to adjust the layout.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Paragraph Pagination and Keep Options

Modify the pagination settings of the text above the footnote to prevent the word processor from forcing paragraphs onto the next page.

Excessive space above a footnote often occurs because the paragraph above it has 'Keep lines together' or 'Keep with next' enabled. When the footnote is inserted, the software calculates that the paragraph and the footnote cannot fit on the same page, moving the entire text block down and leaving a large gap.

Select the text

Highlight the paragraph immediately preceding the large blank space on your document page.

Open Paragraph Settings

Right-click the highlighted text and select 'Paragraph' from the context menu, then navigate to the 'Line and Page Breaks' tab.

Modify Pagination rules

Uncheck 'Keep lines together' and 'Keep with next' if they are selected. Ensure 'Widow/Orphan control' remains checked to prevent single stranded lines.

Apply changes

Click 'OK' to apply the settings. The text should flow naturally back onto the previous page, closing the blank gap above the footnote.

Adjust Paragraph Pagination and Keep Options

Pagination Checked: By unchecking 'Keep lines together', you allow large paragraphs to split naturally across pages, which is the most common fix for this issue.

Solution 2

Remove Extra Spacing in the Footnote Separator

Use Draft View to access the hidden footnote separator and delete any accidental paragraph breaks added to it.

Easily Manage Footnotes and Formatting with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for managing complex document layouts, including footnotes and paragraph pagination, without generating unexpected blank spaces.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document experiencing the footnote spacing issue.
2. Highlight problematic text: Select the text near the problematic footnote area.
3. Access Paragraph settings: Right-click the selection, choose 'Paragraph', and click on the 'Line and Page Breaks' tab.
4. Adjust Keep settings: Ensure 'Widow/Orphan Control' is checked and 'Keep lines together' is unchecked unless strictly required for a heading.
5. Apply and resolve: Click 'OK' to automatically fix the spacing and perfectly align your footnotes at the bottom of the page.

Precise control over widow and orphan pagination settings.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and footnote layouts.Easy-to-use Draft View for seamlessly editing footnote separators.Free and lightweight alternative to heavy office suites.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a footnote push my text to the next page?

This usually happens if the paragraph is set to 'Keep lines together' or 'Keep with next'. The word processor tries to keep the entire block of text intact. If there isn't enough room above the footnote for the whole paragraph, it forces everything to the next page.

How do I delete extra spaces specifically below the footnote separator?

Switch your document view to Draft View, go to the References tab, click 'Show Notes', select 'Footnote Separator' from the dropdown menu, and manually delete any extra paragraph returns (¶) beneath the line.

Does Widow/Orphan control affect footnote placement?

Yes. Widow/Orphan control prevents a single line of a paragraph from appearing alone at the top or bottom of a page. This rule can occasionally shift text to the next page to keep at least two lines together, inadvertently leaving a small space above the footnote.

Document & File Issues