How to Cite Sources in PowerPoint

By Ryan Menezes

Cite your sources to back up your presentation's claims.
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Unlike Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint offers no specific feature for citing sources through footnotes or endnotes. Microsoft suggests that you create footnotes manually through text boxes or using your slides' footers. When you broadcast your slideshow during a meeting or conference, your audience probably won't bother reading the small text at the slide's base. But if you later print the slides or share the file over email, the citations will lend legitimacy to your findings.

Place your cursor in the text box that contains the information you want to cite.

Press "Ctrl-Shift-+" to change to superscript text.

Type "1" to add a superscript number to the text.

Press "Alt-N-H" to open the Header and Footer dialog box.

Click the check box labeled "Footer." Type your citation in the box immediately below the check box.

Click "Apply" to add the citation to the current slide.

Click the citation to select it then place the cursor before the citation's first letter.

Press "Ctrl-Shift-=" to type in superscript. Type "1" to add a number that matches the earlier superscript digit.

Double click the citation to select it, and then press "Ctrl-L" to justify it to the left.

Tips

Do not click "Apply All" when adding footer text. "Apply All" adds the footer text to every slide.

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