How to Add Simple Yet Elegant Footnotes in WordPress (2023)

Want to add credible, aesthetically-pleasing footnotes without plugins or code? As a WordPress expert, I‘ll walk you through two methods to seamlessly integrate footnotes and citations.

Why Well-Formatted Footnotes Matter

Footnotes make your content more useful and trustworthy for readers.

According to surveys, 78% of readers check footnotes and citations when evaluating if content is reliable and accurately researched. Properly formatted footnotes signal quality.

Other benefits include:

• Clarity: Define terms or provide context without derailing your post‘s flow
• Credibility: Cite reputable sources to validate key facts and quotes
• Professionalism: Increase perceptions of expertise with academic-style references

When done right, elegant footnotes enhance the user experience.

But citation-stuffed walls of text can overwhelm readers. My guide will help implement footnotes seamlessly.

Method 1: Effortlessly Integrate Footnotes with a Plugin (Recommended)

For most users, a dedicated footnote plugin is the easiest way to add clean, accessible footnotes without editing code. I recommend the Footnotes plugin.

Once installed, the plugin intuitively formats footnote numbers and organizes references. Better yet, it offers robust styling and functionality controls absent in manual HTML footnotes.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

Use these best practices to install Footnotes plugin without issues.

Activate the plugin from your dashboard. Default options instantly enable footnote numbering formatting.

Step 2: Customize Presentation Settings (Optional)

For greater aesthetic control, head to Settings > Footnotes:

Number Format: Match numeral style to your theme

Scroll Duration: Set smooth scrolling when jumping to footnotes

Pro tip: Enable Show in Excerpts so footnote previews encourage clicks.

Step 3: InsertFootnote Shortcode and Content

In editor, add this shortcode where you want footnote number to appear:

((Insert formatted citation here))

That‘s it! Footnotes now display and function automatically.

See, I told you it was easy.

Method 2: Code Footnotes Manually with HTML

If you prefer absolute control and standardized HTML for improved accessibility, adding footnotes manually is feasible for small sites.

It takes more effort but sidesteps loading extra plugins.

Step 1: Make Text Superscript for Footnote Number

Highlight text for first footnote number, then click Superscript.

Next, with text still highlighted, edit as HTML by adding ID attribute:

<a href="#fn1" id="ref1">1</a>

Repeat with unique IDs for each footnote.

Step 2: Add Mirrored IDs as Anchors

Wherever you want footnote text to display at bottom, add paragraph tags with matching ID:

<p id="fn1">Footnote text goes here with citation [1]</p>

Update IDs to pair with reference IDs added earlier.

Step 3: Preview and Publish

Preview to validate links between references and footnote content work correctly before publishing.

Manually adding footnotes takes more precision but avoids loading unnecessary plugins.

Comparison Between Methods

Now you can integrate simple yet polished footnotes without coding or plugins!

Have you used footnotes in your WordPress site? I‘d be happy to answer any other questions down below.