What Are Footnotes – How to Use Them Effectively

What Exactly are Footnotes? 

Footnotes are extended information present at the end of a page. They are represented in the content with superscript numbers like this “1”. However, instead of using numbers, you can see an asterisk (*) or other symbols. 

There are two main purposes of these notes.

• They provide different types of citation styles.  
• They preserve the flow of content while providing additional information. 

So you can say these are the references or helpful comments that keep your writing professional and easy to understand.
 

Best Way to Use Footnotes 

To add footnotes correctly in your content, you need to pay extra attention to placement, numbering, and formatting according to the relevant style guides, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.

Here is the step-by-step guide on how to effectively add footnotes. 
 

Placement in Text

• Add a superscript number only after the sentence, clause, or phrase you want to reference.
• The number should only come after punctuation. 
• Do not add footnotes in the middle of a word or sentence. 

Numbering 

• It is mandatory for you to number the footnotes in a proper manner from the start of the page to the end of the page. 
• Do not reuse any number, even if the source is the same. 

Content of Footnote

• The footnote at the bottom of the page should start with the same number and be followed by a space or period.
• After that, write the source of information. If it is the first time you are mentioning the source, give all the related details such as author, title; however, if you are using the same source again, then you can use the shorter version of it. 

Formatting 

• Footnotes should be single-spaced. 

Common Style Guidelines for Footnotes 

The following are the common guidelines that you must follow for any specific style, such as Chicago, MLA, and APA. 
 

Chicago style 

In this style, the first citation is complete and the remaining are shortened.

Example:

• First citation: John Smith, History of Modern Europe (New York: Harper & Row, 2015), 45.
• Later citation: Smith, History of Modern Europe, 112.

MLA and APA

These styles use parentheses () inside the sentence for citation, but for extra comments or explanation, footnotes are also used.

Example:

Sentence: Climate change is accelerating faster than expected (Johnson 23).

Footnote: 1. For further discussion on early climate models, see Johnson’s appendix in the same book.
 

Legal citations 

In this system, detailed footnote footers are added, which include the name of the author, publication details, and a reference to specific pages according to specialised rules. 

Example:

1. Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137, 180 (1803).
2. Harold J. Krent, “Presidential Powers,” Harvard Law Review 98, no. 3 (1985): 233.

How to Create Footnotes in Microsoft Word? 

Now that we know the purpose of footnotes, it’s time to learn how to add footnotes in Microsoft Word. The process is very simple. 

• First of all, click on the point where you want to add a footnote. 
• Then go to the reference tab present at the top of your screen and click on “insert” and then on “footnote”. 
• And you are almost there, the Microsoft Word will automatically create a superscript number in your content, and will take you to the bottom of the page. 
• Now, finally, you need to type your footnote text at the end of the page, and it will automatically number them. 

How to Add Footnotes in Google Docs? 

• Click on the “insert” present at the top menu and select the footnote. 
• No docx will also create superscript numbers, and you can type footnote information there. 
• The system will automatically manage the numbering, so no need to worry about this. 

What’s the Difference Between Footnotes and Endnotes?

Both footnotes and endnotes are similar in function, but the difference arises in their placement. Footnotes are added at the end of sentences.

However, endnotes are added at the end of a document or a chapter, where the reader has to flip to the end to consult the note. 

Which one you want to choose depends on the preference of your academic style guideline requirements. 
 

How to Convert Footnotes into Endnotes?

You can turn footnotes into endnotes by using Microsoft Word. The only difference between these two features is that they show up at different locations. 

Here is the step-by-step guide on how you convert footnotes into endnotes.

• Make sure to open your file in Google Docs or Microsoft Word. 
• Move your cursor inside any footnote text or number.
• Now you need to find the reference tab for this. Look at the top menu bar, and there you will find a section called reference. 
• Click on the reference tab and search for a small arrow in the group of footnotes. Now click on it, which will lead to footnotes and an endnotes box. 
• There, you will see an option that says convert. And finally, you are there, clicking on it to convert all of your footnotes into endnotes. 
• Click on okay, now all of your footnotes will be shifted to the end of your document page as endnotes. 

Frequently Asked Questions