WD: Footnote Moved to Next Page

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-cd, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1
• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

Part of a footnote may be moved to the next page if it does not fit on the page on which the reference occurs.

CAUSE

If a footnote does not fit in the available space, part of it may be moved to the next page automatically. The amount of space available depends on the amount of text on the page, the margin settings, and the number and length of the footnotes.

WORKAROUND

If part of a footnote on a page is moved to the next page, you may need to change the setting or formatting of a footnote. To control the placement of footnotes, use the appropriate method for your situation.

Method 1: Toggle the Use Printer Metrics Option

This method works for Word 97 for Windows and Word 98 Macintosh Edition only.

To toggle the Use Printer Metrics option, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options (click Preferences on the Macintosh), and then click the Compatibility tab.

2. In the Recommended Options For list, click Microsoft Word 6.0/95.

3. Under Options, click to toggle the "Use printer metrics to lay out document" check box (if there was a check, remove it; if there was not a check, enter one).

Method 2: Change the Line Spacing of the Normal Text to "Exactly"

Try this method if your document is set to a line spacing other than Single. (Indents and Spacing of Paragraph on the Format menu). Set the line spacing of the normal text of the body to an exact point size. The point size will depend on your normal font typeface and point size. To modify the normal text line spacing, follow these steps:

1. On the Edit menu, click Select All.

2. On the Format menu, click Paragraph.

3. Under Line Spacing, click Exactly and under AT: increase the point size to the desired size (for a 12 point font typeface, try Exactly 30 PT.)

4. Click OK.

Method 3: Set the Line Spacing of the Footnote Text Style to "Exactly"

Set the line spacing of the Footnote Text style to an exact point size, slightly larger than the font size. This reduces the amount of space between footnotes, thus allowing more room for footnotes.

To modify the footnote text line spacing, follow these steps:

1. On the Format menu, click Style.

2. In the Styles list, select Footnote Text, and then click Modify.

3. In the Modify Style dialog box, click Format, and then click Paragraph.

4. In the Line Spacing list, click Exactly.

5. In the At box, type a point size slightly larger than the font size of the footnote text, and then click OK. For example, if the font size of the footnote text is 10 points, set the line spacing to exactly 10.5 points.

   NOTE: If you set the line spacing to a size smaller than the point size of the type, the top or bottom of the text may not be visible.

6. Click OK, and then click Apply.

Method 4: Reduce the Size of the Footnote Text Style by a Few Points

To modify the Footnote Text style, follow these steps:

1. On the Format menu, click Style.

2. In the Styles list, select Footnote Text, and then click Modify.

3. In the Modify Style dialog box, click Format, and then click Font.

4. In the Size box, reduce the size by a few points and click OK.

5. Click OK, and then click Apply.

Method 5: Reduce the Size of the Page Margins

To reduce the size of the page margins, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Page Setup (Word 98 Macintosh Edition on the Format menu, click Document).

2. On the Margins tab, reduce the margin settings and then click OK.

Method 6: Reduce the Size of the Text

Reduce the point size of the text by a small amount. If you have applied styles to your text, you can modify the styles directly. If you have not applied styles to your text, highlight the text and use either of the following methods:

• Click Font on the Format menu to change the size of the font.

      -or-
  

• Click Paragraph on the Format menu to change the line spacing of the text.

Method 7: Change the Line Spacing of the Footnote Separator

Use the appropriate method for your version of Word to change the line spacing of the footnote separator to an exact amount.

If you are using Word 6.0, Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0, Word 97, or Word 98 Macintosh Edition, follow these steps:

1. On the View menu, click Normal.

2. On the View menu, click Footnotes. In the note pane, select Footnote Separator from the Footnotes (or Notes) list.

3. Select the footnote separator.

4. On the Format menu, click Paragraph, and, as in Method 2, change the Line Spacing to an exact amount, such as 4 or 5 points.

1. On the View menu, click Normal.

2. On the Insert menu, click Footnote, and click Options.

3. In the Footnote Options dialog box, select Separator or Continuation Separator.

4. Select the separator and change the Line Spacing to an exact amount.

Method 8: Change the Footnote Paragraph Widow Orphan Control to Off

Use the appropriate method for your version of Word to turn off the Paragraph Widow Orphan Control of the footnote.

If you are using Word 6.0, Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0, Word 97, or Word 98 Macintosh Edition follow these steps:

1. On the View menu, click Normal.

2. On the View menu, click Footnotes. Select all the footnotes in the note pane.

3. On the Format menu, click Paragraph.

4. Click the Text Flow tab (Line and Page breaks tab in Word 97 for Windows or Word 98 Macintosh Edition), and clear the Widow/Orphan Control check box. Click OK.

1. On the Tools menu, select Options.

2. In the Category box, select Print.

3. In Options for Current Document Only, clear the Widow/Orphan Control check box. Click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

   ARTICLE-ID: Q158625
   TITLE     : Footnote Text Displayed or Printed on Top of Footer

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 405-421 "Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 585-598