Sivuhuomautukset

Sivuhuomautukset are notes, comments, or clarifications placed in the margins of a text, intended to supplement the main text without interrupting its narrative flow. They can provide explanations of obscure terms, translations, cross-references, bibliographic details, or editorial commentary. In print and digital texts, sivuhuomautukset may appear as marginalia, side notes, or bordered callouts.

In relation to other annotations, sivuhuomautukset differ from alaviitteet (footnotes) and loppuviitteet (endnotes) in placement and function. Footnotes appear at the bottom of a page and are primarily references or citations; endnotes appear at the end of a chapter or work. Marginal notes, by contrast, reside in the margin and can be more discursive or supplementary, serving readers without breaking the main argument.

Historically, marginal notes have a long tradition in manuscripts and early printed books, where scribes and readers added glosses, clarifications, and commentary directly in the margins. This practice shed light on how texts were read and interpreted in their own time and influenced later editorial conventions.

Today, sivuhuomautukset remain a common feature in scholarly editions, reference works, and educational materials, helping to preserve the continuity of the main text while enriching it with contextual information. In digital formats, they can take the form of sidebars, tooltips, or inline annotations, maintaining accessibility and readability across media. See also marginalia, annotation, footnotes, endnotes.