footnotes

A footnote is a note placed at the bottom of a page that provides supplementary information for a passage in the main text. Footnotes may cite sources, give bibliographic details, offer brief commentary, translations, or clarifications that would disrupt the flow if included in the main text.

In the main text, a reference marker—commonly a superscript number—is placed after the relevant text. The corresponding note appears at the bottom of the page (or at the bottom of an electronic page). Notes are typically numbered sequentially within a chapter or document. Some styles restart numbering on each page, while others continue across chapters or sections.

Content and style guidelines emphasize conciseness and relevance. A full bibliographic citation can appear in the first note; subsequent notes may use a shortened form. Explanatory notes that illuminate meaning or context without citing a source are also common. Footnotes may distinguish between bibliographic notes and content notes, depending on the style guide in use.

Footnotes are distinct from endnotes, which collect notes at the end of a page, chapter, or document rather than at the bottom of each page. Different academic and publishing traditions prescribe specific formats for the markers, punctuation, and layout of notes. In many style guides, footnotes are preferred for citations in humanities disciplines, while sciences and social sciences may favor in-text citations with fewer or no footnotes. Accessibility considerations encourage clear, readable notes and consistent formatting.