Q. Why are my EndNote references in my Word document all appearing as {Author, year, #citation number} on a Mac?

The Mojave Mac OS system includes Security & Privacy functions which can prevent EndNote CWYW (Cite While You Write) from being able to correctly automate, resulting in returning to the EndNote library or an Error message.  To correctly set these options:

• Go into the Apple menu and select System Preferences
• Click Security & Privacy
• Click the Privacy tab (along the top)
• Click the Automation options, along the left.
• Make sure that both "Microsoft Word" and "EndNote" are both turned on. With this automation turned off, the Cite While You Write functions will not work.
• Close and restart EndNote and Word.

If this does not solve the problem, please also see this FAQ: Endnote has now started showing my references like this {Westcott, 2014 #11}. What do I do?

Alternatively, if you are working with the desktop version of Word M365, you may be experiencing the problem discussed in this FAQ: Word M365 (desktop) not talking to EndNote library