A footnote is marked in the page text by a superscript icon, usually an asterisk (*) or number (¹), which corresponds to the matching footnote at the bottom of the page. What should be included in a footnote? Often, footnotes are simply extra commentary on a passage that doesn’t fit within the text.
In Chicago footnotes, you place a footnote at the end of the clause or sentence that needs a citation. The footnote contains full information about each source the first time you cite it, and shortened information for subsequent citations of the same source.
When using the footnote function in a word-processing program like Microsoft Word, place all footnotes at the bottom of the page on which they appear. Footnotes may also appear on their own page after the References page in your document.
Place the footnote number after closing punctuation. In most cases, a footnote occurs at the end of the sentence with the information that you want to cite or discuss.
What are footnotes and endnotes? Learn what are footnotes used for and how to use them in a paper. Includes clear footnote citation examples and tips.
Use a full footnote the first time a source is referenced (note that in the footnotes, the author’s first name is listed first, which is the opposite of what is done in the Bibliography).
To write a footnote, place a superscript number on the bottom of the relevant sentence or phrase. Write a corresponding note at the bottom of the page with the same number.
Learn how to write footnotes with a clear, step-by-step guide. Chicago, APA & MLA style footnote examples will help you master it easily!