C. Johnson

Footnotes for WordPress is a simple plugin designed with a simple aim in mind: to make 
it dead-easy to include decently-formatted footnotes in posts and pages on your 
WordPress blog.
The syntax is roughly based on the common MediaWiki syntax for footnotes, but uses the 
WordPress shortcode conventions. So, to include a footnote with the text “Text,” you use:
<pre><code>This is footnoted.[ref]Text[/ref]
</code></pre>
And that’s all you need to do. When you add a footnote, Footnotes for WordPress will 
create a note marker at the point that the foonote appears in the text, and includes 
the text of the footnote in a styled list of notes down the page. When a reader clicks 
on the link in a JavaScript-enabled browser, a script included with the plugin will 
create a small bubble inline in the text, which pops up over the footnote marker for 
easy reading without losing their place. In non-JavaScript-enabled contexts, clicking 
on the footnote marker jumps down the page to the text of the note.
The jump is based on an unique anchor which the plugin can automatically generate for 
you. However, if you want to create a specific ID of your own for the footnote, you 
can do so using the <code>name="..."</code> attribute:
<pre><code>This is footnoted.[ref name="my-unique-id-1"]Text[/ref]
</code></pre>
If you define an ID for a footnote, you can also refer back to the same footnote 
later on in the document, using the <code>[backref name="..."]</code> shortcode.
<pre><code>This is footnoted.[ref name="source1"]Source 1[/ref]

So is this.[ref name="source2"]Source[/ref]

And this one comes from the same source as the first.[backref name="source1"]
</code></pre>
Footnotes are numbered, beginning at 1. However, you can change the numbering if you 
so desire using the <code>number="..."</code> attribute. For example, I often use this when 
quoting from a book that contains footnotes or endnotes, in order to represent the 
notes used by the original text.
<pre><code>This is footnoted, but footnotes begin at number 42.[ref number="42"]...[/ref]
</code></pre>
You can change the text that is displayed in the note’s superscripted link from the 
note’s number to any text or symbol that you choose using the <code>superscript="..."</code> 
attribute. For example, to use an asterisk instead of the note number:
<pre><code>This is footnoted with a good old asterisk.[ref superscript="*"]...[/ref]
</code></pre>
By default, the list of footnotes appears at the bottom of the post. However, if you 
wish them to appear somewhere above the bottom of the post, for formatting or other 
reasons, you can do so using the <code>[references/]</code> shortcode:
<pre><code>This is footnoted.[ref]Text[/ref]

As are some[ref]Text[/ref] other things.

[references/]

See also: Endnotes.
</code></pre>
Which will cause the two footnotes to appear beneath the second paragraph but above 
the “See also:” text.
<h3>Usage</h3>
<ul>
<li>
To create a footnote, use <code>[ref]...[/ref]</code> to wrap the text of your note.
Example: <code>This is footnoted.[ref]This is the text of the of the footnote.[/ref]</code>
</li>
<li>
Normally footnotes use numbered superscripts to indicate the footnote, beginning 
with 1. You can choose to use symbols instead, like *, **, †, etc. To use custom 
text for a footnote’s superscript, use <code>[ref superscript="*"]...[/ref]</code>, and 
replace the asterisk with whatever symbol or text you want to use.
</li>
<li>
Normally footnotes begin at 1 and count up towards infinity. If you want to use 
numbered subscripts but need to reset the number they count from, use the <code>number</code> 
attribute. For example, if you want the current subscript to be numbered 128, and 
for subsequent subscripts to be numbered 129, 130, etc., use: 
 [ref number=”128″]…[/ref].
</li>
<li>
To create a footnote with a specific unique ID, instead of the one that the plugin 
will automatically generate for you, use <code>[ref name="..."]...[/ref]</code>
Example: <code>This is footnoted.[ref name="my-unique-id"]This is the note text.[/ref]</code>
</li>
<li>
If you define an ID for a footnote, you can also refer back to the same 
footnote later on in the document, using the <code>[backref name="..."]</code> 
shortcode.
This is footnoted.[ref name=”source1″]Source 1[/ref]
So is this.[ref name=”source2″]Source[/ref]
And this one comes from the same source as the first.[backref name=”source1″]
</li>
<li>
To force the plugin to display notes at a different location instead of at the bottom 
of the post, use <code>[references/]</code>
Example:
This is footnoted.[ref]Text[/ref]
As are some[ref]Text[/ref] other things.
[references/]
See also: Endnotes.
</li>
<li>
If you wish to change how footnotes are styled, you can alter them in your 
WordPress theme stylesheet, or using JavaScript. The default elements and 
classes are <code><a class="footnoted"></code> for superscript links to footnotes,
</li>
</ul>
<
ol class=”footnotes”> for the list of references, and
<li> for each individual footnote. So, for example, to 
 display footnotes at the bottom in a simple list, rather than in individual 
 boxes with “Note” headers, add the following line to your Theme stylesheet:</li>

<pre><code> ol.footnotes li {
 background: transparent !important;
 padding: 0px !important;
 border: none !important;
 margin: 0.5em 2em !important;
 }

The use of `!important` will ensure that it overrides the default styles
set up by the plugin.
</code></pre>
<ul>
<li>
Alternatively, if you want to change the CSS class which is applied to to 
the footnotes list, you can do so using the <code>class</code> parameter on 
 [references/]:
<pre><code>This is a test.[ref]Lewis (2000).[/ref]

<h3>Notes</h3>

[references class="compact" /]
</code></pre>
… which will produce the following HTML:
<pre><code>This is a test.[<a href="#test-n-1" class="footnoted"
id="to-test-n-1">1</a>]

<h3>Notes</h3>
<ol class="compact">
<li class="footnote" id="test-n-1">[1] Lewis
(2000). <a class="note-return" href="#to-test-n-1">↩</a></li
></ol>
</code></pre>
Since the default styling is based on children of <code>ol.footnotes</code>, those 
styles will not apply, and you can apply whatever styles you wish to the 
class that you’ve created.
<h3>Changes from version 2010.0309 to version 2010.0822</h3>
</li>
<li>
Added <code>[backref name="..." /]</code> shortcode allowing you to refer back to a note with an established name
</li>
<li>
Eliminated a bug which caused duplicate IDs if you tried to set up multiple sections of footnotes in the same post using repeated <code>[references/]</code> codes.
</li>
<li>
Added <code>[references class="foo" /]</code> syntax, allowing user to supply their own class for CSS re-styling purposes.
</li>
<li>
Tested for and verified compatibility up to WordPress 3.0.1 and WordPress trunk.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Changes from version 2010.0306 to version 2010.0309</h3>
<ul>
<li>Eliminates a harmless but potentially annoying source of “Missing argument” warnings from PHP</li>
</ul>

Footnotes for WordPress

Footnotes for WordPress enables easy-to-use fancy footnotes for WordPress posts.

writerspress

CiteKit is a WordPress citation and footnotes plugin that lets you add APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard citations, generate bibliographies, and manage references across your site.
Add structured in-text citations and footnotes using simple shortcodes like [cite] or Gutenberg blocks. Automatically generate a formatted bibliography at the end of any post using [bibliography] or the Bibliography by CiteKit block.
Create reusable references with custom IDs like [cite id=”who-2024″], or let CiteKit assign them automatically. Citations are linked to your bibliography with numbered markers ([1], [2], etc.) for a clean, academic-style experience.
Use the built-in Reference Library to track, audit, and manage all citations and references across your site. Monitor link status, keep sources up to date, and maintain a consistent, credible content structure.
Perfect for bloggers, publishers, and content creators who want a complete citation, footnotes, and bibliography system inside WordPress.
<h3>Related Citation Tools</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://citekit.com/bibliography-generator/" rel="nofollow ugc">Bibliography Generator</a></li>
<li><a href="https://citekit.com/cite-book-apa/" rel="nofollow ugc">Cite a Book in APA</a></li>
<li><a href="https://citekit.com/cite-youtube-mla/" rel="nofollow ugc">Cite a YouTube Video in MLA</a></li>
<li><a href="https://citekit.com/cite-journal-harvard/" rel="nofollow ugc">Cite a Journal in Harvard</a></li>
<li><a href="https://citekit.com/cite-website-mla/" rel="nofollow ugc">Cite a Website in MLA</a></li>
<li><a href="https://citekit.com/cite-report-ieee/" rel="nofollow ugc">Cite a Report in IEEE</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Features</h3>
Inline Citation, Tooltip & Footnote Formats in Block Editor: Use the CiteKit Citation, Tooltip, and Footnote buttons on the block toolbar to insert and manage inline citations, hover tooltips, and numbered footnotes directly within any paragraph, heading, list, or quote block. Click an existing inline badge to open it for editing, or place your cursor and click the toolbar button to insert a new one — no separate block needed for the inline markers.
Inline [cite] Shortcode with Auto-ID 
Insert citations directly into post content using [cite]. Unique IDs are automatically assigned on first save, or set a custom human-readable ID with [cite id=”who-2024″].
CiteBox — Post-Level Citation Editor 
A dedicated metabox in the post and page editor shows every citation in the current post. Fill in author, title, year, and URL without leaving the editor. Fields save instantly via AJAX and metadata is shared across all posts that reference the same ID.
Bibliography Block & Shortcode 
Insert a formatted, backlinked bibliography anywhere in your content using the native Bibliography by CiteKit block or the [bibliography] shortcode. Entries are ordered by appearance in the post, each with a back-reference to its inline citation, and style and heading are configurable per block or per shortcode.
Manual Bibliography Composition 
Create a standalone bibliography with [bibliography title=”References”] Source 1 ; Source 2 [/bibliography] — ideal for static lists or non-[cite] workflows.
Numbered Footnotes with Hover + List 
Add true footnotes with [footnote]…[/footnote] or the Footnote toolbar button. Each footnote is auto-numbered in order of appearance and renders as a superscript marker with a hover popup. Add [footnotes] or the Footnotes by CiteKit block at the end of your post to render the full numbered list with back-links to each marker. Explicit list mode also supported: [footnotes]Note one; Note two; Note three[/footnotes].
Reference Library 
A central admin page listing every citation used across your site. Citations appear in the library the moment they are inserted into any post or page. See which posts use each reference, sort and filter by status, and manage everything from one place.
Link Health Checker 
Check whether your source URLs are still reachable. Each reference is marked Live, Broken, or Unchecked. Results are saved per citation so you can spot dead links before your readers do.
Multiple Citation Style Support 
Output in APA, MLA, Chicago (Author-Date and Notes-Bibliography), Harvard, or IEEE using [bibliography style=”apa|mla|chicago-ad|chicago-nb|harvard|ieee”].
Default Style Setting 
Set your preferred citation style and bibliography heading once in Settings → CiteKit. All [bibliography] shortcodes and Bibliography blocks site-wide use this default unless overridden per post.
Tooltip-Style Inline Notes 
Add inline definitions and asides with [tooltip]…[/tooltip] or the Tooltip toolbar button. For underline-style tooltips, the <code>tip</code> attribute holds the visible inline term and the content between the tags holds the definition shown on hover — e.g. [tooltip tip=”FOSS”]Free and Open Source Software[/tooltip]. Default style is dashed; use style=”dotted” for a dotted underline. For superscript-symbol markers, use style=”” (or †, ‡, §, ¶, or any short string) where the shortcode content becomes the popup: [tooltip style=”“]Aside text here[/tooltip].
<h3>CiteKit Blocks & Formats</h3>
Bibliography by CiteKit — available in the CiteKit category in the block inserter. Renders a formatted, backlinked bibliography for the current post. Configure citation style and heading in the block sidebar.
Footnotes by CiteKit — available in the CiteKit category in the block inserter. Renders the numbered footnote list collected from [footnote] shortcodes or CiteKit Footnote toolbar tokens earlier in the post. Place at the end of your post. Configure heading in the block sidebar. Distinct from WordPress core’s built-in Footnotes block (added in WP 6.3) — CiteKit’s version adds hover popups on markers, explicit list mode, custom heading, and integration with the rest of the CiteKit system.
Citation Format — the CiteKit Citation button on the block toolbar. Click an existing citation badge to open its reference details for editing, or place your cursor and click the button to insert a new one. Enter the citation ID and reference details in the block options panel.
Tooltip Format — the CiteKit Tooltip button on the block toolbar. Choose a style (dashed underline, dotted underline, or symbol marker), enter the Term (the visible inline word) and the Definition (shown on hover). Click an existing tooltip badge to edit.
Footnote Format — the CiteKit Footnote button on the block toolbar. Enter your footnote text; a superscript number is inserted at the cursor and the text appears both on hover and in the Footnotes list at the end of the post. Click an existing footnote badge to edit.
<h3>CiteKit Shortcodes</h3>
<h4>Inline Citations</h4>
<ul>
<li>[cite] — Inline citation with auto-generated UUID</li>
<li>[cite id=”custom-id”] — Inline citation with a user-defined ID</li>
</ul>
<h4>Bibliography</h4>
<ul>
<li>[bibliography] — Auto-generated bibliography for the current post</li>
<li>[bibliography style=”mla” title=”Article Sources”] — Override style and heading per post</li>
<li>[bibliography style=”chicago-ad”] — Override style only; heading uses your site default</li>
<li>[bibliography] Smith, 2026; John Jacobs, The Red Roof, 2021 [/bibliography] — Manual entry list</li>
</ul>
<h4>Tooltips</h4>
<ul>
<li>[tooltip tip=”Term”]Definition[/tooltip] — Dashed underline tooltip (default): <code>tip</code> is the visible term, content is the popup definition</li>
<li>[tooltip style=”dotted” tip=”Term”]Definition[/tooltip] — Dotted underline variant</li>
<li>[tooltip style=”*”]Popup content[/tooltip] — Symbol-marker tooltip (also: †, ‡, §, ¶, or any short string) — content becomes the popup</li>
</ul>
<h4>Footnotes</h4>
<ul>
<li>[footnote]Note text[/footnote] — Numbered superscript footnote with hover popup; numbered in order of appearance per post</li>
<li>[footnotes] — Render the full numbered footnote list at this position (usually end of post)</li>
<li>[footnotes title=”Notes”] — Render the list with a custom heading</li>
<li>[footnotes]Note one; Note two; Note three[/footnotes] — Render an explicit numbered list without using [footnote] markers</li>
</ul>
Supported bibliography styles: apa, mla, chicago-ad, chicago-nb, harvard, ieee

CiteKit – Footnotes, Tooltips, Citations, Bibliography & References Manager

Add citations, numbered footnotes, tooltips, and bibliographies to your WordPress content. Manage all your references in one place and generate APA, M …

Footnotes for WordPress vs CiteKit – Footnotes, Tooltips, Citations, Bibliography & References Manager