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Assignments and Word

Overview

This page is not part of the AGLC, but offers some tips and advice when working with Microsoft Word for your law assignments. Please check your assignment instructions or check with your subject coordinator for any particular style or format questions.

Working in Word - quick visual demonstration (video has no sound)

Inserting footnotes

To insert a footnote in Microsoft Word, place your cursor where you will place your footnote (hopefully after punctuation, See 1.1.2), then click on 'References' and click 'Insert Footnote'.

Footnotes appear at the bottom (foot) of the same page that cites the note. 

Endnotes appear after the text (end) of the document that cites all sources referred to.

The AGLC is a footnote style, so you will usually use footnotes, although some assessments may require you to use endnotes. 

If you are asked to use endnotes, these are formatted the same as footnotes, but simply appear at the end of your document. To insert an endnote in Microsoft Word, place your cursor where you will place your endnote, then click on 'References' and click 'Insert Endnote'. 

If asked to use endnotes, you are being asked to use endnotes instead of footnotes. There is also reference management software called EndNote, but this is not the same thing. EndNote can be useful for saving and managing your references, but you will not likely be asked to use it as part of an assignment.

HDR students may be advised to use EndNote (or another reference manager). Scroll to the bottom of this page for guides on reference management tools.

If you are unsure of anything, please check your assignment instructions or ask your educator.

If you would like to learn more about EndNote or other reference management software tools, please see the guides below or make an appointment with one of your Faculty Librarians.

Word count

Your word count limit will most likely exclude footnotes (or endnotes) and bibliography (where relevant). Please check your assignment instructions or with your lecturer if you are unsure.

[Warning] The default setting often includes footnotes and textboxes in the word count. Make sure that you find the word count settings and tick or untick 'include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes' (Windows) or 'include footnotes and endnotes' (macOS).

 Using Word online will only give you an approximate word count, please open in Word for an accurate count. 

Cover pages

Reference management tools

Zotero

Use this guide to explore or get started with the reference management software Zotero

EndNote

Use this guide to explore or get started with the reference management software Endnote.

RefWorks

Use this guide to explore or get started with the reference management software RefWorks.

Mendeley

Use this guide to explore or get started with the reference management software Mendeley.

Australian Guide to Legal Citation