diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4845cd2..32ab85e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ The plugin offers three simple features at the moment:
 
 1. **Open literature note** (<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>O</kbd>): automatically create or open a literature note for a particular reference. The title, folder, and initial content of the note can be configured in the plugin settings.
 2. **Insert literature note reference** (<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>E</kbd>): insert a link to the literature note corresponding to a particular reference.
-3. **Insert Markdown citation** (no hotkey by default): insert a [Pandoc-style citation][3] for a particular reference. (The exact format of the citation can be configured in the plugin settings.)
+3. **Insert literature note content in the current pane** (no hotkey by default): insert content describing a particular reference into the current pane. (This can be useful for updating literature notes you already have but which are missing reference information.)
+4. **Insert Markdown citation** (no hotkey by default): insert a [Pandoc-style citation][3] for a particular reference. (The exact format of the citation can be configured in the plugin settings.)
 
 ## License
 
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 9413577..12a2f65 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 import {
   InsertCitationModal,
   InsertNoteLinkModal,
+  InsertNoteContentModal,
   OpenNoteModal,
 } from './modals';
 
@@ -128,6 +129,15 @@ export default class CitationPlugin extends Plugin {
       },
     });
 
+    this.addCommand({
+      id: 'insert-literature-note-content',
+      name: 'Insert literature note content in the current pane',
+      callback: () => {
+        const modal = new InsertNoteContentModal(this.app, this);
+        modal.open();
+      },
+    });
+
     this.addCommand({
       id: 'insert-markdown-citation',
       name: 'Insert Markdown citation',
@@ -306,9 +316,6 @@ export default class CitationPlugin extends Plugin {
   async insertLiteratureNoteLink(citekey: string): Promise<void> {
     this.getOrCreateLiteratureNoteFile(citekey)
       .then(() => {
-        // TODO what is the API for this?
-        console.log(this.app.workspace.activeLeaf);
-
         const title = this.getTitleForCitekey(citekey),
           linkText = `[[${title}]]`;
         // console.log(this.app.metadataCache.fileToLinktext(file, this.app.vault.getRoot().path, true))
@@ -317,6 +324,15 @@ export default class CitationPlugin extends Plugin {
       .catch(console.error);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Format literature note content for a given reference and insert in the
+   * currently active pane.
+   */
+  async insertLiteratureNoteContent(citekey: string): Promise<void> {
+    const content = this.getInitialContentForCitekey(citekey);
+    this.editor.replaceRange(content, this.editor.getCursor());
+  }
+
   async insertMarkdownCitation(
     citekey: string,
     alternative = false,
diff --git a/src/modals.ts b/src/modals.ts
index d80d314..bfc5da4 100644
--- a/src/modals.ts
+++ b/src/modals.ts
@@ -232,6 +232,26 @@ export class InsertNoteLinkModal extends SearchModal {
   }
 }
 
+export class InsertNoteContentModal extends SearchModal {
+  constructor(app: App, plugin: CitationPlugin) {
+    super(app, plugin);
+
+    this.setInstructions([
+      { command: '↑↓', purpose: 'to navigate' },
+      {
+        command: '↵',
+        purpose: 'to insert literature note content in active pane',
+      },
+      { command: 'esc', purpose: 'to dismiss' },
+    ]);
+  }
+
+  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
+  onChooseItem(item: Entry, evt: unknown): void {
+    this.plugin.insertLiteratureNoteContent(item.id).catch(console.error);
+  }
+}
+
 export class InsertCitationModal extends SearchModal {
   constructor(app: App, plugin: CitationPlugin) {
     super(app, plugin);