fotnoten

Fotnoten, commonly referred to as footnotes in English, are notes printed at the bottom of a page. They provide citations to sources or offer additional information related to a point in the main text without interrupting the narrative flow.

There are two main types of fotnoten: citation notes, which supply bibliographic details for sources cited in the text, and explanatory or content notes, which add clarifications, definitions, or supplementary remarks that might disrupt the main argument if included in the text itself.

In the main text, a superscript number or symbol marks the reference to the corresponding fotnote at the bottom of the page. The notes are typically numbered either continuously throughout the document or reset on each page or chapter, depending on the relevant style guide or publication preference.

Formatting and style for fotnoten vary by guide. Generally, footnotes should be concise, with citation notes including author, title, publication details, and page numbers. Style guides such as Chicago, MLA, or APA specify rules for punctuation, capitalization, and order. In many word processors, fotnoten are generated automatically and linked to the text for easy navigation.

Endnotes are a related device placed at the end of a chapter or document rather than at the bottom of each page. The choice between fotnoten and endnotes depends on publisher preferences, readability considerations, and layout constraints. Fotnoten remain a common tool for providing sources and readers with quick access to supplementary information.