Use footnotes and endnotes to explain, comment on, or provide references to something in a document. Usually, footnotes appear at the bottom of the page, while endnotes come at the end of the document or section.
If you’re in Reading View, switch to Editing View by clicking Edit Document > Edit in Word for the web.
Add a footnote
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Click where you want to add the footnote.
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Click Insert > Insert Footnote.
Word inserts a reference mark in the text and adds the footnote mark at the bottom of the page.
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Type the footnote text.
Add an endnote
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Click where you want to add the endnote.
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Click Insert > Insert Endnote.
Word inserts a reference mark in the text and adds the endnote mark at the end of the document.
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Type the endnote text.
Customize your footnotes and endnotes
To customize a footnote or endnote:
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Click the reference number or mark in the body of the text or click Insert > Show Footnotes(for endnotes, click Insert > Show Endnotes).
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In the footnote/endnote view, click Format Footnotes or Format Endnotes to display the Format Options dialog, where you can change the size, font, and indentation of one or all of your footnotes or endnotes.
Note: If you want to convert footnotes to endnotes or the other way around, use the Open in Word command and convert them there. When you save the doc in Word, it’s saved where you opened it in Word for the web.
Need more help?
Word for the web. Use footnotes and endnotes to explain, comment on, or provide references to something in a document. Usually, footnotes appear at the bottom of the page, while endnotes come at the end of the document or section.
Contents
- 1 What is a footnote used for?
- 2 How do you insert footnotes in Word?
- 3 Where do you put footnotes?
- 4 How do you write footnotes?
- 5 What are footnotes example?
- 6 How do you make a footnote reference list in Word?
- 7 How do you convert footnotes to in text citations?
- 8 Can you footnote a footnote?
- 9 Is endnote and footnote same?
- 10 How a footnote should look?
- 11 How do you write footnotes in APA Style?
- 12 What are footnotes in an essay?
- 13 What is the difference between footnotes and bibliography?
- 14 How do you change footnotes?
- 15 How do you footnote in Harvard referencing?
- 16 How do you cite Footnotes in Google Docs?
- 17 Do you quote a footnote?
- 18 What citation uses footnotes?
- 19 Do you put footnote before or after period?
- 20 Are footnotes in text citations?
What is a footnote used for?
Footnotes are superscript numbers (1) placed within the body of text. They can be used for two things: As a form of citation in certain citation styles. As a provider of additional information.
How do you insert footnotes in Word?
How to Add Footnote with Word
- Place your cursor in the body text where you want the footnote superscript to appear.
- Select the References tab in the ribbon toolbar.
- Click Insert Footnote.
- Type your footnote according to style.
- Repeat the process for every additional footnote.
Where do you put footnotes?
Footnote or endnote numbers in the text should follow punctuation, and preferably be placed at the end of a sentence. When citing the source for a quotation, the number should be placed at the end of the quotation and not after the author’s name if that appears first in the text.
How do you write footnotes?
How do I Create a Footnote or Endnote? Using footnotes or endnotes involves placing a superscript number at the end of a sentence with information (paraphrase, quotation or data) that you wish to cite. The superscript numbers should generally be placed at the end of the sentence to which they refer.
What are footnotes example?
Footnotes are notes placed at the bottom of a page. They cite references or comment on a designated part of the text above it. For example, say you want to add an interesting comment to a sentence you have written, but the comment is not directly related to the argument of your paragraph.
How do you make a footnote reference list in Word?
ARCHIVED: In Microsoft Word, how do I convert footnotes to endnotes or vice versa?
- Open the document and select the References tab.
- Click the Footnote & Endnote Dialog Box launcher (it appears as a small square in the bottom-right corner of the tab). Then click Convert….
- Click OK or Apply.
How do you convert footnotes to in text citations?
To convert from in-text style to footnote style:
- Cut each citation placemarker (select and Ctrl+X , Cmd+X on a Mac)
- Insert a footnote (References tab in Word, Insert Footnote, Ctrl+Alt+F , or Cmd+Opt+F on a Mac)
- Paste the placemarker into the footnote ( Ctrl+V , or Cmd+V on a Mac)
Can you footnote a footnote?
Footnotes are a common feature in many types of documents. In some types of documents you may actually need footnotes within footnotes, such that a footnote can be footnoted, with the “sub footnote” appearing in the regular flow of the main footnotes.
Is endnote and footnote same?
Footnotes are found at the bottom of a page (i.e. in the footer) and endnotes are located at the end of a complete document, or sometimes at the end of a chapter or section.Footnotes are used as a citation vehicle for a short citation, while endnotes can contain more text without compromising the format of the paper.
How a footnote should look?
Each footnote should appear at the bottom of the page that includes its numbered in-text reference. For note numbers in the text, use superscript. Indent the first line of each note half an inch like a paragraph in the main text. Use a short line (or rule) to separate footnotes from the main text.
How do you write footnotes in APA Style?
To create a footnote in APA style, you’ll add a superscript number after the punctuation. The exceptions are dashes and parentheses. Place footnote numbers before dashes and inside parentheses. See how this works in the example.
What are footnotes in an essay?
Footnotes are short numbered notes that are placed at the bottom of the page in an essay or article. They are used for a variety of reasons including, citing materials, providing notes on a source or topic, and to acknowledge copyright status.
What is the difference between footnotes and bibliography?
Bibliographies are usually included at the end of your paper. Bibliographies are optional in the Chicago Manual of Style, but be sure to ask your professor for their requirements. Footnotes or endnotes are how you give credit to a source in the text itself.
How do you change footnotes?
To find and remove all footnotes or endnotes, use the Find and Replace tool: Place your cursor at the top of your document, and then open the Advanced Find and Replace dialog box. In Word 2013 or Word 2016, press Ctrl + H. In Word 2016 for Mac, on the Edit menu, click Find > Advanced Find and Replace.
How do you footnote in Harvard referencing?
For the Harvard system, you reference the author’s surname, year of publication, and page number. For the footnote system, you need to write the name of the author, year of publication, article title, newspaper name in italics, date (not just year), and page number.
How do you cite Footnotes in Google Docs?
How to add a footnote in Google Docs
- Place your cursor at the point you want to add a footnote.
- Choose Insert | Footnote, or press Ctrl-Alt-F.
- Type your footnote text.
Do you quote a footnote?
Footnotes. When you summarise or paraphrase an idea from a source or when you use a direct quote from a source you must cite the author or body responsible for the work in a footnote.The footnote number should be placed at the end of the sentence or the end of a clause in a sentence.
What citation uses footnotes?
Chicago
Typically, Oxford, Chicago and Turabian will use footnotes for in-text citations. MLA and APA will also use footnotes but to provide content or copyright information, and not typically for attribution.
Do you put footnote before or after period?
When a footnote must be placed at the end of a sentence, add the number after the period. Numbers denoting footnotes should always appear after punctuation, with the exception of one piece of punctuation3—the dash.
Are footnotes in text citations?
In the Notes and Bibliography system, citations are generally provided in the main text through the use of footnotes or endnotes.
Published on
March 28, 2022
by
Jack Caulfield.
Revised on
June 7, 2022.
Footnotes are notes placed at the bottom of the page in a piece of academic writing and indicated in the text with superscript numbers (or sometimes letters or other symbols). You can insert footnotes automatically in Word or Google Docs. They’re used to provide:
- Citations in certain styles
- Additional information that would disrupt the flow of the main text
Note: Footnotes are a lot like endnotes, which are used in similar ways. The difference is that endnotes appear all together at the end of the text, instead of separately on each page. This gives your text a less cluttered appearance, but it can also be inconvenient for readers.
Table of contents
- How to insert footnotes in Word and Google Docs
- Numbering and placement of footnotes
- Footnotes in Chicago style
- Footnotes in APA Style
- Footnotes in MLA style
- Frequently asked questions about footnotes and endnotes
How to insert footnotes in Word and Google Docs
If you’re writing in Microsoft Word or in Google Docs, it’s easy to insert footnotes automatically using the built-in functionality of the software.
Most style guidelines are flexible enough that these automatically inserted footnotes meet their requirements, so that you don’t have to worry about the specifics of formatting.
Inserting footnotes in Word
It’s straightforward to insert footnotes in Word. Just follow these steps:
- Click on the point in the text where you want the footnote number to appear.
- Select the “References” tab at the top, and then select “Insert Footnote.”
- Type whatever text you want into the footnote that appears.
Inserting footnotes in Google Docs
You can also easily add footnotes in Google Docs. Follow the steps below:
- Click on the point in the text where you want to add a footnote.
- At the top, click on “Insert” and then on “Footnote” in the drop-down menu.
- Type the text you want into the footnote.
Numbering and placement of footnotes
Footnotes should be numbered consecutively in the order they appear throughout your paper. Each note should have a unique number; don’t use the same number again even if you cite the same source repeatedly.
Footnote numbers are usually placed at the end of the relevant clause or sentence. The number appears after any punctuation, except when the clause ends with an em dash, in which case the number appears before it. Don’t add a space before the number.
McGill argues that this method is flawed.1 However, other studies—such as that of Smith and Coulson2—come to the opposite conclusion.
Footnotes in Chicago style
Chicago style uses footnotes for citations (unless you’re following Chicago author-date). Footnotes can also be used to add extra information such as commentary on the source cited, or elaborations on a point you touched on in the main text.
In Chicago footnotes, you place a footnote at the end of the clause or sentence that needs a citation. The footnote contains full information about each source the first time you cite it, and shortened information for subsequent citations of the same source.
1. Tegan George and Jack Caulfield, “Academic Integrity vs. Academic Dishonesty,” March 10, 2022, https://www.scribbr.com/plagiarism/academic-dishonesty/.
2. George and Caulfield, “Academic Integrity.”
Full information about all your sources is usually included in a bibliography at the end, except in very short papers, where footnote citations may be used alone if your institution allows it.
Chicago recommends using your word processor’s built-in footnote function to add footnotes, but a couple of formatting details may need to be changed manually:
- Add an indent at the start of each footnote (before the number).
- Write the number at the start of the note in normal text (not superscript), followed by a period and then a space.
- Leave one blank line between footnotes, and make sure footnotes are single-spaced.
Footnotes in APA Style
APA footnotes are used only for providing extra information, since APA in-text citations appear in parentheses instead.
You can use them to provide supplemental information such as additional examples or clarifications; do this sparingly, as APA warns against including nonessential information. Footnotes are also used to provide copyright attribution when it’s needed.
1 From What Parents Can Expect in Behavior Therapy, by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017 (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/infographics/what-parents-expect.html). In the public domain.
2 A second round of testing was initially planned, but this idea was abandoned due to …
APA recommends using your word processing software to automatically insert footnotes, but add an indent at the start of each footnote if this isn’t done automatically. The footnote begins with the superscript footnote number followed by a space.
Footnotes in MLA style
MLA footnotes are used to provide supplemental information such as extra examples, clarifications of citation practice, or elaborations on ideas.
MLA in-text citations appear in parentheses, not in notes, but where a lot of citations are needed at once, they can be placed in a footnote to avoid cluttering the text.
1 Citations of marginalia refer to George’s edition and include page numbers. Citations of the poem refer to Davis’s edition and include line numbers.
2 This remains a controversial point. Researchers in the field have debated this issue since …
3 See Crittenden 5–11; Kent 17–34; Smith 44–50; and Jones 36.
MLA recommends using your word processor to automatically insert footnotes, styling the number at the start of the citation in superscript, followed by a space. An indent should also be added at the start of the footnote (before the number).
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What’s the difference between footnotes and endnotes?
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Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page they refer to. This is convenient for the reader but may cause your text to look cluttered if there are a lot of footnotes.
Endnotes appear all together at the end of the whole text. This may be less convenient for the reader but reduces clutter.
Both footnotes and endnotes are used in the same way: to cite sources or add extra information. You should usually choose one or the other to use in your text, not both.
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What are footnotes used for?
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Footnotes are notes indicated in your text with numbers and placed at the bottom of the page. They’re used to provide:
- Citations (e.g., in Chicago notes and bibliography)
- Additional information that would disrupt the flow of the main text
Be sparing in your use of footnotes (other than citation footnotes), and consider whether the information you’re adding is relevant for the reader.
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How do I insert a footnote in Word?
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To insert a footnote automatically in a Word document:
- Click on the point in the text where the footnote should appear
- Select the “References” tab at the top and then click on “Insert Footnote”
- Type the text you want into the footnote that appears at the bottom of the page
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Caulfield, J.
(2022, June 07). What Are Footnotes? | Guide with Word Instructions. Scribbr.
Retrieved April 12, 2023,
from https://www.scribbr.com/citing-sources/what-are-footnotes/
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Word for the web. Use footnotes and endnotes to explain, comment on, or provide references to something in a document. Usually, footnotes appear at the bottom of the page, while endnotes come at the end of the document or section.
What is a footnote example?
Footnotes are notes placed at the bottom of a page. They cite references or comment on a designated part of the text above it. For example, say you want to add an interesting comment to a sentence you have written, but the comment is not directly related to the argument of your paragraph.
What is a footnote and how do you use it?
Footnotes are notes that are placed at the end of a page and used to reference parts of the text (generally using superscript numbers). Writers use footnotes for several purposes, including citations, parenthetical information, outside sources, copyright permissions, background information, and more.
Why do we use footnotes in Word?
Footnotes and endnotes are used in printed documents to explain, comment on, or provide references for text in a document. Many people use footnotes for detailed comments and endnotes for citation of sources.
Where do you put footnotes?
Footnote or endnote numbers in the text should follow punctuation, and preferably be placed at the end of a sentence. When citing the source for a quotation, the number should be placed at the end of the quotation and not after the author’s name if that appears first in the text.
33 related questions found
How do I use footnotes in Word?
Add a footnote
Click where you want to add the footnote. Click Insert > Insert Footnote. Word inserts a reference mark in the text and adds the footnote mark at the bottom of the page. Type the footnote text.
How do I make a footnote?
How do I Create a Footnote or Endnote? Using footnotes or endnotes involves placing a superscript number at the end of a sentence with information (paraphrase, quotation or data) that you wish to cite. The superscript numbers should generally be placed at the end of the sentence to which they refer.
How do you write footnote references?
How to insert footnotes
- Place the cursor where you would like the superscript number to appear.
- Click on “Insert Footnote” in the “References” tab. …
- The corresponding number will be automatically inserted in the footer ready for you to add the footnote citation.
- Type in your footnote citation.
How do you read footnotes?
Jump to a footnote or endnote
- After opening a document that has footnotes or endnotes, place the cursor on a footnote or an endnote reference. …
- To move to the footnote reference text at the end of the page, press the SR key+Insert. …
- To read the footnote or endnote, press the SR key+R.
How a footnote should look?
Each footnote should appear at the bottom of the page that includes its numbered in-text reference. For note numbers in the text, use superscript. Indent the first line of each note half an inch like a paragraph in the main text. Use a short line (or rule) to separate footnotes from the main text.
How do I use footnotes in a research paper?
A footnote is a reference placed at the bottom of a page or footer. They are referenced in the text in the same way as a citation i.e. the referenced text is followed by a superscript numeral (1), which corresponds to the numbered footnote at the bottom of the page.
What is the purpose of footnotes in a research paper?
A footnote is a reference, explanation, or comment1 placed below the main text on a printed page. Footnotes are identified in the text by a numeral or a symbol. In research papers and reports, footnotes commonly acknowledge the sources of facts and quotations that appear in the text.
How do you write footnotes in APA Style?
To create a footnote in APA style, you’ll add a superscript number after the punctuation. The exceptions are dashes and parentheses. Place footnote numbers before dashes and inside parentheses. See how this works in the example.
What are Chicago style footnotes?
In Chicago style, footnotes or endnotes are used to reference pieces of work in the text. To cite from a source a superscript number is placed after a quote or a paraphrase. Citation numbers should appear in sequential order.
Can footnotes be used for definitions?
Another great use of footnotes is to define or explain a word or idea that might require further explanation to a general audience. A definition or explanation can be provided within the footnote without any visual or logical disruption in the text.
Why you should read footnotes?
Footnotes can also preserve flow by moving tangential and background information out of the main text where they would interrupt the argument the text is making.
What is the difference between footnotes and bibliography?
Bibliographies are usually included at the end of your paper. Bibliographies are optional in the Chicago Manual of Style, but be sure to ask your professor for their requirements. Footnotes or endnotes are how you give credit to a source in the text itself.
Do footnotes count in word count?
The word count DOES NOT include the bibliography or citations/references in the text (Harvard Style referencing) or in footnotes or endnotes (Chicago Style referencing). ANY OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED IN A FOOTNOTE OR ENDNOTE OTHER THAN A REFERENCE OR CITATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE WORD COUNT.
What referencing styles use footnotes?
Footnotes can be used in several different writing styles. Typically, Oxford, Chicago and Turabian will use footnotes for in-text citations. MLA and APA will also use footnotes but to provide content or copyright information, and not typically for attribution.
How do you footnote in Harvard?
For the Harvard system, you reference the author’s surname, year of publication, and page number. For the footnote system, you need to write the name of the author, year of publication, article title, newspaper name in italics, date (not just year), and page number.
What is the shortcut for footnotes on word?
Windows PC keyboard shortcuts for footnotes and endnotes are: Alt+Ctrl+F to insert a footnote. Alt+Ctrl+D to insert an endnote.
How do you insert notes in Word?
Insert a Comment
- Select the text you want to add a comment to.
- Click the Review tab.
- Click the New Comment button in the Comments group. Right-click in the document and select New Comment.
- Type your comment, then click outside the comment box when you’re finished.
How do I make different footnotes on each page in Word?
Configure headers and footers for different sections of a…
- Click or tap the page at the beginning of a section.
- Select Layout > Breaks > Next Page.
- Double-click the header or footer on the first page of the new section.
How do you do Chicago style footnotes in Word?
How to Use Footnotes in Word
- Place your cursor in the body text where you want the footnote superscript to appear.
- Select the References tab in the ribbon toolbar.
- Click Insert Footnote. …
- Type your footnote according to style.
- Repeat the process for every additional footnote.
Are footnotes important?
Footnotes indicate the authenticity, originality and relevance of the research data. Footnotes give the reader an insight into the research undertaken by the writer and can enables them to further refer to the cited sources for more information.
Last Updated: April 20, 2022 | Author: howto-Trust
Contents
- 1 How do you enter a footnote in Word?
- 2 How do you do footnotes?
- 3 How do you footnote references?
- 4 What is the shortcut key for footnote?
- 5 What are footnotes example?
- 6 What is footnote in MS Word?
- 7 What does Ctrl o do in Word?
- 8 What does Ctrl P do?
- 9 What does Ctrl B do?
- 10 What does Alt enter do in Word?
- 11 What does Ctrl N do?
- 12 What is Ctrl F in Word?
- 13 How do you insert a sound file into a Word document?
- 14 What is Ctrl Alt Shift?
- 15 What is Alt F4?
- 16 What does Ctrl S do?
- 17 What is Ctrl A to Z?
- 18 What does win D do?
- 19 What is Alt F9?
- 20 What is Alt F10?
How do you enter a footnote in Word?
Add a footnote
Click where you want to add the footnote. Click Insert > Insert Footnote. Word inserts a reference mark in the text and adds the footnote mark at the bottom of the page. Type the footnote text.
How do you do footnotes?
Insert footnotes and endnotes
- Click where you want to reference to the footnote or endnote.
- On the References tab, select Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote.
- Enter what you want in the footnote or endnote.
- Return to your place in the document by double-clicking the number or symbol at the beginning of the note.
How do you footnote references?
How to insert footnotes
- Place the cursor where you would like the superscript number to appear.
- Click on “Insert Footnote” in the “References” tab. …
- The corresponding number will be automatically inserted in the footer ready for you to add the footnote citation.
- Type in your footnote citation.
What is the shortcut key for footnote?
Keyboard Shortcut is Ctrl + Alt + F for footnote and Ctrl + Alt + D for endnote.
What are footnotes example?
Footnotes are notes placed at the bottom of a page. They cite references or comment on a designated part of the text above it. For example, say you want to add an interesting comment to a sentence you have written, but the comment is not directly related to the argument of your paragraph.
What is footnote in MS Word?
A footnote is a note that appears at the bottom of a page that is commonly used by writers to cite other authors publication in their document. We will show you how to manage footnotes in Microsoft Word.
What does Ctrl o do in Word?
Open a document: Ctrl + O. Create a new document: Ctrl + N. Save the current document: Ctrl + S. Open the Save As window: F12. Close the current document: Ctrl + W.
What does Ctrl P do?
☆☛✅Ctrl+P is a shortcut key often used to print a document or page. … Also referred to as Control P and C-p, Ctrl+P is a shortcut key often used to print a document or page. Tip. On Apple computers, the shortcut to print may also be the Command key+P keys.
What does Ctrl B do?
In Microsoft Word and other word processor programs, highlighting text and pressing Ctrl+B makes the text bold. If the text is already bold, highlighting the bold text and pressing Ctrl+B un-bolds the text.
What does Alt enter do in Word?
Alt+Enter in Windows
In Windows, press Alt + Enter when any file, shortcut, or other object is highlighted to open the Properties window for that object.
What does Ctrl N do?
What Does Ctrl+N Do? ☆☛✅Ctrl+N is a shortcut key often used to create a new document, window, workbook, or another type of file. Also referred to as Control N and C-n, Ctrl+N is a shortcut key most often used to create a new document, window, workbook, or another type of file.
What is Ctrl F in Word?
What is Ctrl-F? … Also known as Command-F for Mac users (although newer Mac keyboards now include a Control key). Ctrl-F is the shortcut in your browser or operating system that allows you to find words or phrases quickly. You can use it browsing a website, in a Word or Google document, even in a PDF.
How do you insert a sound file into a Word document?
This is done in this manner:
- Position the insertion point where you want the sound inserted.
- Display the Insert tab of the ribbon.
- Click Object in the Text group. …
- Click on the Create from File tab. …
- Use the controls on the dialog box to locate a sound file that you want included with your document.
- Click on OK.
What is Ctrl Alt Shift?
Alt. Shift was an initiative politicising a new generation of activists for social justice and global change. It was a project of UK aid and development charity Christian Aid.
What is Alt F4?
Alt+F4 is a keyboard shortcut most often used to close the currently-active window. For example, if you pressed the keyboard shortcut now while reading this page on your computer browser, it would close the browser window and all open tabs. … Related keyboard shortcuts and keys.
What does Ctrl S do?
In a DOS or Windows PC, holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the S key pauses (stops) the running program. Pressing Ctrl-S again resumes the operation.
What is Ctrl A to Z?
Ctrl + A → Select all content. Ctrl + Z → Undo an action. Ctrl + Y → Redo an action. Ctrl + D → Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
What does win D do?
Press Windows+D again and your application windows will reappear. … Note: Some people like the Windows+M shortcut, which minimizes all applications.
What is Alt F9?
Android Studio – Run to cursor. Free Pascal IDE – Compile the active source file. IntelliJ IDEA (Windows, Linux) – Run to cursor. JetBrains WebStorm – Run to cursor.
What is Alt F10?
“Alt + F10” is a set of shortcut keys to help users of Acer computer to quickly enter into recovery environment of Acer eRecovery Management.