Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Change the Font Style for Citations in Microsoft Word

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Illustrated library book shelves with text overlay "How to Change the Font Style for Citations in Microsoft Word"By default, in-text citations created with Microsoft Word’s Citation tool adopt the same font style as the body text. However, today’s tutorial shows how to change the font style for citations in Microsoft Word to any font, size, or color you would like.

First, we will change the font style for all the citations at once. Then, we will change the font style for individual citations.

Are you on a Mac? Please see “How to Change the Font Style for Citations in Word for Mac.”

Table of Contents:

For a complete tutorial about citations, please see “How to Insert Citations in Microsoft Word.”

Watch all the steps shown here in real time!

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The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. In addition, the steps will be similar in older versions of the software. These steps don’t apply to Word for the Web.

How to Change the Font Style for All Citations

Important Note: Complete these steps after you have inserted all the citations into your document. If you add citations later, you will have to repeat these steps because the new citations will not inherit the previously created font changes.
  1. Press Alt + F9 on your keyboard to reveal your field codes. (In Word, citations are inserted as field codes.)

Alternative: If you prefer not to use function keys, you can reveal your field codes by selecting File > Options > Advanced > Show Field Codes instead of their values > OK.

Citation field code in Word 365
Figure 1. Citation field code
  1. Select the Home tab in the ribbon.
Home tab in Word 365
Figure 2. Home tab
  1. Select the Replace button in the Editing group.
Replace button in Word 365
Figure 3. Replace button
  1. Type ^d CITATION into the Find what text box. (Ensure that you have one space between the ^d and CITATION.)
Find What text box in the Find and Replace dialog box in Word 365
Figure 4. Find what dialog box
  1. Place your cursor in the Replace with text box. (Be careful not to type anything.)
Replace With text box in the Find and Replace dialog box in Word 365
Figure 5. Replace with text box
  1. Select the More button.
More button in the Find and Replace dialog box in Word 365
Figure 6. More button
  1. Select the Format button.
Format button in the Find and Replace dialog box in Word 365
Figure 7. Format button
  1. Select Font from the drop-down menu.
Font option in the Format menu in the Find and Replace dialog box in Word 365
Figure 8. Font option
  1. Select your new font, font style, size, font color, underline style, and underline color from the Font tab in the Find Font dialog box.
Font options in the Find Font dialog box in Word 365
Figure 9. Font, Font style, Size, Font color, Underline style, and Underline color options
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Find Font dialog box in Word 365
Figure 10. OK button

Your replacement font choices should appear under the Replace with text box.

Replacement font formatting under the Replace With text box in the Find and Replace dialog box in Word 365
Figure 11. Replacement font formatting
  1. Select the Replace All button.
Replace All button in the Find and Replace dialog box in Word 365
Figure 12. Replace All button
  1. Select the OK button in the dialog box reporting the number of replacements.
OK button in the replacement dialog box in Word 365
Figure 13. OK button
  1. Select the Close button.
Close button in the Find and Replace dialog box in Word 365
Figure 14. Close button
  1. Press Alt + F9 on your keyboard to hide the field codes.

All your citations should now feature your new font style.

Citation with custom formatting in Word 365
Figure 15. Citation with custom font style

How to Change the Font Style for Individual Citations

  1. Select the entire citation, right-click it, and then select Font from the shortcut menu.
Font option in the Citation shortcut menu in Word 365
Figure 16. Font option
  1. Select your new font, font style, size, font color, underline style, and underline color from the Font dialog box.
Font options in the Font dialog box in Word 365
Figure 17. Font, Font style, Size, Font color, Underline style, and Underline color options
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Font dialog box in Word 365
Figure 18. OK button

The individual citation should be changed to your new font style.

Related Resources

How to Create a Citation with Multiple Sources in Microsoft Word

How to Insert Footnotes and Endnotes in Microsoft Word

How to Modify the Style of Footnotes and Endnotes in Microsoft Word