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Footnote Remover: Remove [1] Reference Marks and Superscripts

This free tool removes footnote and citation marks from pasted text, such as [1], [23], [a], [note 2], [citation needed], superscript digits and numbers in round brackets. Choose which kinds to remove.

By Debmedia Technologies LLP · Kolkata, India · Updated

What Is It and When Do You Need It?

Text copied from encyclopedias and papers carries reference marks. They are useful on the page but get in the way in emails, summaries and word counts.

Paste the text and choose which marks to remove.

How to Use This Tool

  1. Enter or paste your input in the box or boxes above.
  2. Choose the options, if there are any.
  3. Press the button to run the tool.
  4. Read the result and use the copy button where one is shown.

How the Calculation Works

The tool uses patterns for each kind of mark. Square-bracket numbers allow digits, commas, dashes and spaces. Letter marks allow one or two letters, the words note, nb, citation needed, clarification needed, who and when. Superscript digits are in the Unicode range for superscripts. After removal it fixes double spaces and spaces before punctuation.

Worked Example

Paris is the capital[1] of France[a].² becomes Paris is the capital of France. with all three options on.

Common Uses

  • Cleaning encyclopedia text.
  • Preparing quotes.
  • Word counts without citations.
  • Reusing paper text.

Tips and Common Mistakes

  • Do not remove marks from text you must cite.
  • Check formulas, where small superscripts mean powers.
  • Keep the sources somewhere else.
  • Check the first result against a case you already know, so you can trust the tool for the rest.
  • Nothing you type leaves your device. The work is done by your browser, so it also works with a slow connection once the page has loaded.

Next, you may need the HTML tag stripper, Markdown stripper, character counter, text repeater.

Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored or sent to any outside service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Numbers in square brackets, short letters like [a], phrases like [note 3] and [citation needed], and Unicode superscript digits. Round-bracket numbers are removed only if you ask.
It removes only brackets that hold a number, a single letter or a known note phrase, so [optional text] stays.
Those are removed too when the square bracket option is on.
Yes. A space left in front of a removed mark is cleaned up.

Disclaimer: results are calculated in your browser from the numbers you enter. Check important results before you rely on them for money, health, safety or legal decisions.