Skip to Main Content
Midwestern University Homepage

Using EndNote 21: Using Cite While You Write

Instructions for setting up libraries, CWYW and sharing libraries using EndNote 21 by Clarivate.

Cite While You Write Plug-in

Cite While You Write (CWYW) is installed when the desktop product is installed

EndNote's CWYW tab appears in MS Word and it is where you initiate inserting, editing and managing your in-text citation

Screenshot of the EndNote 20 toolbar

CWYW and MS Word

  • Keep the MS Word document on your local drive when you are actively using CWYW. Your document may be corrupted if you keep the document on any shared, network, or cloud drives
  • Turn off track changes when actively adding in-text citations with CWYW. Your document may be corrupted when track changes is turned on

Connecting EN 21 or EndNote Online to Your Document

How to change preferences from desktop to online

  1. Open Word and find the Endnote tab
  2. Select Preferences
  3. Click on the Application tab
  4. Use the drop down menu to select EndNote or EndNote Online.
  5. Enter your login for EndNote Online
  6. Click OK

Using Cite While You Write (CWYW)

Inserting citations using Cite While You Write in your Word document is simple. Use the commands in the EndNote toolbar to make edits to your in-text citations and/or the references at the end.

Setting Journal Styles

In the middle of the Endnote 21 tool bar is the Dropdown Menu next to Style.

  1. Choose Select another style.
  2. Don't see the style you need? Contact the library or download the style from the EndNote download page
  3. Select OK, close the pop up and confirm your style

In-text Citations

Insert Citations

  1. Place your cursor in the document where you would like to insert an in-text citation
  2. Click the Insert Citation button
  3. Search for the author or topic of the reference you want to add, click find
  4. Select the desired reference
  5. Click on Insert

Remove Citations

  1. Highlight the in-text citation in your document
  2. Click Edit & Manage Citation(s) button in the toolbar
  3. Select the citation you want to delete from the pop-up window
  4. Use the drop down menu to select Remove Citation
  5. Click Ok

Edit Citations

  1. Highlight the in-text citation in your document.
  2. Click the Edit & Manage Citation(s) button
  3. Never try to edit the citation in the document itself because the changes will not be saved
  4. Click Edit Reference drop down, select Edit Library Reference
  5. The reference will be highlighted in EndNote 21
  6. Double click on the reference, select Edit and make changes to the fields as necessary
  7. Go back to your Word document, click the small arrow next to Edit Reference
  8. Click Update from my Library. Click insert citation, Ok

Get Help

Please contact a librarian@midwestern.edu if you have questions on using and storing EndNote libraries
Please send an inquiry to Clarivate if you are not finding an answer to your issue

Ask Us

chat loading...
TelephoneDowners Grove, IL (630) 515-6200
TelephoneGlendale, AZ (623) 572-3308
Instagram @mwu_library

EndNote 20 User Guide

Downers Grove Campus Library (630) 515-6200
Littlejohn Hall
555 31st St. Downers Grove, IL 60515

Map and Driving Directions - IL

Glendale Campus Library (623) 572-3308
Sahuaro Hall
19555 N. 59th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85308

Map and Driving Directions - AZ