diff --git a/class/dashboard/layout.php b/class/dashboard/layout.php
index 4b73596..519f056 100644
--- a/class/dashboard/layout.php
+++ b/class/dashboard/layout.php
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ abstract class MCI_Footnotes_LayoutEngine {
             'mci-footnotes-admin-styles',
             plugins_url('../../css/settings.css', __FILE__),
             '',
-            '2.1.4d2'
+            '2.1.4d3'
         );
         // UPDATE version # when making changes to settings.css, FOR CACHE BUSTING
 
diff --git a/class/init.php b/class/init.php
index 4720164..fd494b7 100644
--- a/class/init.php
+++ b/class/init.php
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ class MCI_Footnotes {
             'mci-footnotes-css-public',
             plugins_url('../css/public.css', __FILE__),
             '',
-            '2.1.4d2'
+            '2.1.4d3'
         );
     }
 
diff --git a/class/task.php b/class/task.php
index ee9e9c9..8090f17 100644
--- a/class/task.php
+++ b/class/task.php
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
  * 2.1.2: options for the other hooks  2020-11-19T1849+0100
  * 2.1.4: fix line wrapping of URLs based on pattern, not link element  2020-11-25T0837+0100
  * 2.1.4: fix issues with link elements by making them optional   2020-11-26T1051+0100
+ * 2.1.4: support appending arrow when combining identicals is on   2020-11-26T1633+0100
  *
- * Last modified:  2020-11-26T1051+0100
+ * Last modified:  2020-11-26T1706+0100
  */
 
 // If called directly, abort:
@@ -638,20 +639,20 @@ class MCI_Footnotes_Task {
         // line breaks for source readability:
         $l_str_Body = "\r\n\r\n";
 
-        // when combine identical is turned on, another template is needed:
+        // when combining identical footnotes is turned on, another template is needed:
         if (MCI_Footnotes_Convert::toBool(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::instance()->get(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::C_BOOL_COMBINE_IDENTICAL_FOOTNOTES))) {
-            // In the combined template, identifiers only are clickable.
+            // the combining template allows for backlink clusters and supports cell clicking for single notes:
             $l_obj_Template = new MCI_Footnotes_Template(MCI_Footnotes_Template::C_STR_PUBLIC, "reference-container-body-combi");
 
         } else {
 
-            // when 3-column layout is turned on (only valid if combining is turned off):
+            // when 3-column layout is turned on (only available if combining is turned off):
             if (MCI_Footnotes_Convert::toBool(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::instance()->get(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::C_BOOL_REFERENCE_CONTAINER_3COLUMN_LAYOUT_ENABLE))) {
                 $l_obj_Template = new MCI_Footnotes_Template(MCI_Footnotes_Template::C_STR_PUBLIC, "reference-container-body-3column");
 
             } else {
 
-                // when switch symbol and index is turned on (only valid if 3-column is disabled):
+                // when switch symbol and index is turned on, and combining and 3-columns are off:
                 if (MCI_Footnotes_Convert::toBool(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::instance()->get(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::C_BOOL_REFERENCE_CONTAINER_BACKLINK_SYMBOL_SWITCH))) {
                     $l_obj_Template = new MCI_Footnotes_Template(MCI_Footnotes_Template::C_STR_PUBLIC, "reference-container-body-switch");
 
@@ -664,6 +665,19 @@ class MCI_Footnotes_Task {
             }
         }
 
+        // SET SWITCH FLAG INDEPENDENTLY
+
+        if (MCI_Footnotes_Convert::toBool(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::instance()->get(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::C_BOOL_REFERENCE_CONTAINER_BACKLINK_SYMBOL_SWITCH))) {
+
+            $l_bool_SymbolSwitch = true;
+
+        } else {
+
+            $l_bool_SymbolSwitch = false;
+
+        }
+
+
         // FILL IN THE TEMPLATE
 
         // loop through all footnotes found in the page
@@ -681,7 +695,7 @@ class MCI_Footnotes_Task {
 
             // INDEX COLUMN WITH ONE BACKLINK PER TABLE ROW
 
-            // Standard behavior appropriate for combine identical TURNED OFF
+            // Standard behavior appropriate for combining identicals turned off
 
             // generate content of footnote index cell
             $l_int_FirstFootnoteIndex = ($l_int_Index + 1);
@@ -692,9 +706,7 @@ class MCI_Footnotes_Task {
 
 
 
-            // SUPPORT FOR COMBINE IDENTICAL: COMPOSING ENUMERATED BACKLINKS
-
-            $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks = "";
+            // SUPPORT FOR COMBINING IDENTICALS: COMPOSE ENUMERATED BACKLINKS
 
             if ( MCI_Footnotes_Convert::toBool(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::instance()->get(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::C_BOOL_COMBINE_IDENTICAL_FOOTNOTES))) {
 
@@ -716,16 +728,24 @@ class MCI_Footnotes_Task {
                 $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks  = $l_str_FootnoteReference;
                 $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= $l_str_BacklinkEvent;
 
-                // finish both single note and notes cluster:
-                $l_str_FootnoteReference .= ">$l_str_FootnoteArrow$l_str_FootnoteId</$l_str_LinkSpan>";
-                $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= ">$l_str_FootnoteArrow$l_str_FootnoteId</$l_str_LinkSpan>";
+                // finish both single note and notes cluster, depending on switch option status:
+                if ($l_bool_SymbolSwitch) {
 
+                    $l_str_FootnoteReference .= ">$l_str_FootnoteId$l_str_FootnoteArrow</$l_str_LinkSpan>";
+                    $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= ">$l_str_FootnoteId$l_str_FootnoteArrow</$l_str_LinkSpan>";
+
+                } else {
+
+                    $l_str_FootnoteReference .= ">$l_str_FootnoteArrow$l_str_FootnoteId</$l_str_LinkSpan>";
+                    $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= ">$l_str_FootnoteArrow$l_str_FootnoteId</$l_str_LinkSpan>";
+
+                }
                 // If that is the only footnote with this text, we’re done.
 
             }
 
 
-            // CHECK IF COMBINE IDENTICAL IS TURNED ON, and
+            // CHECK IF COMBINING IDENTICALS IS TURNED ON, and
             // check if it isn't the last footnote in the array:
             if ($l_int_FirstFootnoteIndex < count(self::$a_arr_Footnotes) && MCI_Footnotes_Convert::toBool(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::instance()->get(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::C_BOOL_COMBINE_IDENTICAL_FOOTNOTES))) {
 
@@ -756,8 +776,11 @@ class MCI_Footnotes_Task {
                         $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= '" class="footnote_backlink" ';
                         $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= 'onclick="footnote_moveToAnchor_' . $l_int_PostId;
                         $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= "('footnote_plugin_tooltip_$l_int_PostId";
-                        $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= "_$l_str_FootnoteId');\"";
-                        $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= ">$l_str_FootnoteArrow$l_str_FootnoteId</$l_str_LinkSpan>";
+                        $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= "_$l_str_FootnoteId');\">";
+                        $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= $l_bool_SymbolSwitch ? '' : $l_str_FootnoteArrow;
+                        $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= $l_str_FootnoteId;
+                        $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= $l_bool_SymbolSwitch ? $l_str_FootnoteArrow : '';
+                        $l_str_FootnoteBacklinks .= "</$l_str_LinkSpan>";
 
                         // this legacy is not used:
                         //$l_str_FootnoteIndex      .= ', ' . MCI_Footnotes_Convert::Index(($l_int_CheckIndex + 1), MCI_Footnotes_Settings::instance()->get(MCI_Footnotes_Settings::C_STR_FOOTNOTES_COUNTER_STYLE));
diff --git a/css/public.css b/css/public.css
index cebe4f7..7431a4b 100755
--- a/css/public.css
+++ b/css/public.css
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
  * Created-Date: 15.05.14
  * Created-Time: 16:21
  * Since: 1.0
- * Version: 2.1.4d2
+ * Version: 2.1.4d3
  *
- * Last modified: 2020-11-26T1050+0100
+ * Last modified: 2020-11-26T1805+0100
  */
 
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ templates/public/footnote-alternative.html
 .footnote_referrer:hover,
 .footnote_referrer a:hover,
 .footnote_plugin_tooltip_text:hover {
-    text-decoration: underline;
+    text-decoration: none;
     font-weight: inherit;
 }
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ when hovered in some themes, not in others:
 .footnote_plugin_link:hover,
 .footnote_plugin_text a:hover {
     text-decoration: unset;
-    text-decoration: underline !important;
+    text-decoration: underline; /*deprioritized to ease customization*/
 }
 .footnote_plugin_index,
 .footnote_plugin_index_combi {
diff --git a/css/settings.css b/css/settings.css
index 50795de..7303da5 100755
--- a/css/settings.css
+++ b/css/settings.css
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
  * Created-Date: 15.05.14
  * Created-Time: 16:21
  * Since: 1.0
- * Version: 2.1.4d2
+ * Version: 2.1.4d3
  *
- * Last modified: 2020-11-26T1050+0100
+ * Last modified: 2020-11-26T1804+0100
  */
 
 
diff --git a/footnotes.php b/footnotes.php
index d081a15..46c9b04 100755
--- a/footnotes.php
+++ b/footnotes.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     Plugin URI: https://wordpress.org/plugins/footnotes/
     Description: time to bring footnotes to your website! footnotes are known from offline publishing and everybody takes them for granted when reading a magazine.
     Author: Mark Cheret
-    Version: 2.1.4d2
+    Version: 2.1.4d3
     Author URI: http://cheret.de/plugins/footnotes-2/
     Text Domain: footnotes
     Domain Path: /languages
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 4971fe7..fec3ffd 100755
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ Visit this swift write-up from a **footnotes** user by the name of **Southwest**
 
 == Changelog ==
 
+= 2.1.4d3 =
+- Bugfix: Reference container: Backlink symbol: support for appending when combining identicals is on
+- Bugfix: Reference container: Backlinks: deprioritize hover underline to ease customization
+- Bugfix: Footnote referrers: disable hover underline
+
 = 2.1.4d2 =
 - Bugfix: Styling: Referrers and backlinks: make link elements optional to fix issues
 - Update: Dashboard: Expert mode: streamline and update description for hooks and priority levels