Fotnote

Fotnote is not a standard term in typography. It is most often a misspelling of "footnote" and may appear in informal writing or as a brand name in certain contexts.

In publishing, a footnote is a note placed at the bottom of a page that provides citations, explanations, or supplementary information related to a specific part of the main text. Footnotes help readers locate sources or understand nuances without interrupting the flow of the main narrative.

In the main text, a superscript number or symbol links to the corresponding note at the bottom of the page. Footnotes may contain bibliographic data, commentary, or cross-references. They differ from endnotes, which appear at the end of a chapter or document, and from marginal notes, which sit in the margin and may not be formally linked to a specific point in the text.

Formatting and usage vary by style guide. Chicago style favors full notes with bibliographic details; MLA uses parenthetical citations with a works cited page and can accommodate notes for content or citations. APA emphasizes in-text citations and a reference list, generally using footnotes sparingly for substantive or clarifying information rather than for primary citations.

Historically, footnotes emerged with early printing and became widespread in scholarly writing during the 18th and 19th centuries as a means to provide sources without interrupting the main text. In digital documents, footnotes are often implemented as hyperlinks or anchor links that navigate back to the referenced text.

Note: fotnote, when encountered, is typically a misspelling of footnote or a brand/project name rather than a distinct, recognized term in standard typography.