What are Footnotes: a Practical Guide with Illustrative Examples

If you have ever found yourself wondering what footnotes are and how they are used in academic writing, then you are in the right place. You will find out about footnotes in this blog post – these little guys are an essential part of writing academic papers and can really help you slip in some important information without disrupting the rest of your writing. But to get the most out of them, it can be really helpful to have a service that can do homework for you. This blog post will take a close look at the way footnotes are used in academic writing and will provide a bunch of real-life examples and some useful tips to help you get to grips with them.

What are foot notes

Footnotes are a form of citation or some extra information that you can find at the very bottom of the page, set apart from the main text by a line. Students have been using them for ages in academic writing – to add some extra explanation, comments, or references to sources. You might find them useful for adding a bit of personal opinion on some content, just make sure it’s adding value to your paper.

The purpose of footnotes is mainly to clear up any confusion, add some extra details, or add some commentary that’s relevant to the main text. If you want to include references or sources, though, then footnotes just won’t do – that requires in-text citations and a separate list of references instead.

Footnotes VS endnotes: what is the difference?

Both these types of citation seem to be pretty similar, and it’s easy to get them mixed up and wonder where you should use each one. But the real key difference is where they get placed in the document. Like footnote citations, endnotes have the same job – to add some extra details or give some extra insights.

A footnote is a little note you add right where you cite the reference, at the bottom of the same page, while an endnote is a list of all the extra details collected up at the end of the paper. 

Applying footnotes in your text

When you are writing footnotes, follow these guidelines:

1. Placement: When you write footnotes, make sure to put a horizontal line between them and the main text. Use numbers (1, 2, 3, etc) to number them consecutively throughout the document. Add your footnote numbers at the end of the sentence and after punctuation – but not before an em dash, if you can help it. There should be no space between the number and the rest of the text.
2. Formatting: Put them in a smaller font size so they contrast with the main text. You can use a font size of 10 or 11 points. Try to stick to a serif font like Times New Roman.
3. Citation format: If a footnote references a source, make sure it’s in the same citation format as the main text. If you are adding any extra information in the footnote, like explanations or commentary, keep it clear and concise.

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How to properly use footnotes in Word and Google Docs?

You can easily insert notes into your documents using the following steps:

In Microsoft Word:

1. Place your cursor at the end of the word or phrase in the main text;
2. Go to the “References” tab in the top menu, click “Insert Footnote” button;
3. Once words and a superscript number will move to the appropriate section (it happens automatically), type your content in the footnote area.

As for Google Docs, the steps are mostly identical; only the second step differs. When you place your cursor at the end of the word or phrase you need, go to the “Insert” tab in the top menu and select “Footnote.” Once you place your text, all you need is to double-check that the formatting of the footnotes follows the specific guidelines of your desired citation style.

Guide to footnotes in APA style

The explanation of how to write a footnote differs depending on the citation style, so we will cover the most common ones. In APA format, footnotes are typically discouraged in favor of in-text citations. Yet, you may run across two instances when they may be used:

• Content footnotes: These are used to provide additional information or clarification about a specific point in the text. They should be numbered consecutively throughout the paper, using superscript Arabic numerals. The footnote itself should be placed at the bottom of the page on which the reference is made.
• Copyright attribution: You may also want to give credit to sources that require copyright attribution, such as figures, tables, or long quotations. In such cases, the footnote should include the copyright information and the permission statement.

Despite the reason you want to place footnotes in your paper, here is a general guide:

• Place them at the bottom of the same page where the superscript number appears in the main text.
• Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) sequentially to mark footnotes in the order they appear in the main text.
• Format with a left-aligned, plain-text style, without bullets or special formatting.
• Begin writing with the corresponding superscript number followed by a space.

Guide to footnotes in Chicago style

The Chicago Manual of Style relies heavily on footnotes, particularly in its notes-bibliography system, which is commonly used in the humanities. The notes-bibliography system allows authors to choose between footnotes or endnotes, with footnotes being the more common choice.

When we are talking about the notes-bibliography system, there are two types of footnotes: short form and long form. The short form is used when a full bibliography is present and only the basic details of the source are included in the footnote. The long form is used when there is not a full bibliography and the first reference to a source must contain a full citation.

Check out the key rules:

• You’ll want to put a superscript number in the main text where you want the footnote to pop up – you can do this by highlighting the number and then formatting it to superscript or by heading over to the “Insert” menu in your word processor.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page (or if you’re working on a longer document, the very end – that’s going to depend on the style you’re using) and add the corresponding number to whatever reference you used in the main text followed by a period. You then need to add the complete citation details for that source. Although if you’re using footnotes again on the very next page, you can just use “Ibid.” (which is short for “ibidem” – that’s Latin for “in the same place”) followed by the page numbers for any footnotes that come one after the other. Just keep in mind that the rules for using footnotes can vary depending on the field and the institution you’re working for – if you’re ever in doubt, it’s always a good idea to check in with your instructor.

How to create footnotes in MLA style

Now here’s the thing – MLA style doesn’t actually use footnotes that much. They prefer to use parenthetical citations instead, but if you do find yourself in a situation where you need to use footnotes in MLA style, here’s a quick guide:

• You’ll be placing that text at the bottom of the same page where that superscript number showed up in the main text.
• Use Arabic numerals (one, two, three, etc.) to mark the footnotes as they appear in the text – use ’em in the order they pop up.
• Start with the corresponding superscript number, followed by a period.

4 tips for writing footnotes

1. Be selective. The overuse can distract readers from the main content of the paper ─ use footnotes only when necessary.
2. Keep footnotes concise. They should be brief and to the point. Avoid lengthy explanations or digressions there, as it can disrupt the main text flow.
3. Experiment. Footnotes can be a great place to include interesting or intriguing information not directly related to your main argument but adding value to your paper. It could be a fun fact, a relevant anecdote, or a historical context to enhance the reader’s understanding.
4. Engage the reader. Engage your readers by asking thought-provoking questions, providing prompts for further discussion, or inviting them to explore related topics. This can add an interactive and participatory element to your paper.

FAQ

Footnotes or endnotes: which one to choose? 

It depends on the citation style and personal preference ─ just ensure you place them correctly within the paper or a section.

What is the purpose of a footnote?

It can add value to your paper by offering supplementary information, clarification, or citations in a document.

What does a footnote consist of? 

In the case of citations, footnotes must include a relevant information source, such as the author’s last name, title of the work, and page number related to the passage.

Should I place footnotes after the period?

In almost every case, footnotes go after the period at the end of a sentence. The sequence will look next: sentence period, superscript footnote number. The only exception is when you use an em dash; in this case add a footnote before it.