I'm trying to set up footnotes, including their reference, in this case lower-case letters, like a, b, and c, to indent, like a normal paragraph. However, while I can do this one at a time, I can't figure how to make the reference and note indent the first line all the time. This has to be easy because I've seen it work most of the time. Apparently, the template for a new document doesn't include that. I don't know why. The default for a footnote should be CMOS compliant. That's what I want. How can I do this? This has gotten very frustrating. Thanks.

You should modify the Footnote Text Style, giving it the indentation you require.

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Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks. I didn't see a way to simply add to the style. I tried to base it on body text first line indented. Now, if I look at the footnote style for a footnote I just inserted it says, "Based on: Body Text First Indent 2".The indent seems rather wide. Why is it '2'? I only wanted to indent the standard half-inch. Thanks.

I didn't say anything about adding a Style - I said to modify the (existing) Footnote Text Style. See: Customize or create new styles

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks. That is what I thought you meant Alas, there isn't a way to change the formatting indent the first line unless I base it on something like Normal First line indented. In the dialog to update the style, I see no way to add "indent first line." I have to modify "Footnote Text" to be based upon a style that does indenting.

The Footnote Text Style is already a paragraph Style - you don't need for it "to be based upon a style that does indenting". You can do that to the Footnote Text Style itself - the same as you can with any other paragraph Style. When you choose Format|Paragraph via the Edit Style dialogue, you have access to all the standard paragraph formatting options.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]