The information in footnotes is always supplemental, or “extra.” That means if you have something necessary to say in your writing, put it in the text, not in a footnote. Displaying a source citation (depending on the style guide).įootnotes are also used for displaying legal disclaimers or copyright information, especially in advertisements.Sharing additional information or personal commentary about a passage in the text.In most written works, footnotes provide two main services in a text: These superscript figures in text correspond to a small note at the bottom of the page, known as a footnote. If you’ve seen a small number or asterisk written near the top of a line in text, chances are it was a footnote.
Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly What are footnotes?