When you insert references from RefWorks into a Microsoft Word document, the citations would appear inside Content Controls.  

Sometimes, you may need to remove Content Control. 

Important Note 

Removing Content Control breaks the connection between your document and RefWorks. After removal, you won’t be able to refresh, edit, or reformat citations using RefWorks. Please ensure to save a copy of your document first before attempting any of the steps below. 

Below is an example of how a RefWorks citation might look when inserted with Content Control (gray box or field around the reference): 

Steps to Remove Content Control 

Option 1: Remove All Content Controls at Once 

1. Open your Word document and press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select the entire document. 

2. Right-click anywhere in the selected text. 

3. Choose Remove Content Control.  

Option 2: Remove Content Controls Individually 

1. Right-click a citation or section that appears inside a Content Control. 

2. Select Remove Content Control. 

3. Repeat as needed.  

For further assistance, reach out to RefWorks Support at refworks.support@proquest.com

• Article last edited: 14-Oct-2025