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How to do APA footnotes

Footnotes are a way for the author to provide additional content to their papers without distracting the reader from the text. The information in footnotes is different from the information provided in APA annotated bibliographies . Footnotes can be content based, providing a little more insight on an idea you raise in the text, or they can be used to provide copyright attribution for long quotes and passages.

Properly formatted APA footnotes can be placed at the bottom of the page. Alternatively, you can put them on their own page after the references. This guide on footnotes, end notes, and parentheticals provides information about the differences between these different types of notes. Either way, it’s important to know how to use footnotes properly.

In this guide, students can learn about the different uses for footnotes as well as how to format footnotes according to APA Style. All of the information here comes straight from the 7th edition of the Publication Manual .

Why use footnotes? What information goes into them?

There are two primary reasons why an author would use footnotes:

1. Using a footnote for content

As mentioned above, there are a few different ways to use footnotes. The more common way is when an author wants to provide extra insight on an idea without disrupting the flow of the text. This is called a content footnote.

In this case, you would write a a couple sentences about the extra insight. For example:

______________________

1 This data refers to the situation in 2010, and it includes emissions from industrial processes. Emissions from the latter are released during the physical and chemical transformation of materials like clinker production. Since these industrial production processes are also consumers of energy, here we made the choice to combine them with CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

2. Using a footnote for copyright attribution

When you are reproducing a portion of a copyrighted work, like an extended passage from a book or journal, it is necessary to provide copyright attribution. This can be done inside a footnote. The footnote is used instead of a parenthetical in-text citation, and you will still need to add the source as an entry in the reference list.

If it is an image or graph you are reproducing, copyright attribution can go in the figure note or table note.

A copyright footnote should start with “ From ” or “ Adapted from ” and the format will change slightly depending on the source.

Here is a template for copyright attribution for a website followed by two examples:

1 From  Webpage title , by Group Author OR Author FirstMiddleName Initials. Author Surname. Year Published, Website Name (URL).

*Note: If the Group Author and Website Name are the same, omit the Website Name slot.

2 From  First images from the James Webb Space Telescope , by National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2022 (https://www.nasa.gov/webbfirstimages).

3 From  Question of what now for Syria remains as vexed as ever , by M. Chulov. 2022, The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/19/question-of-what-now-for-syria-remains-as-vexed-as-ever).

Endnotes vs. footnotes: What’s the difference?

According to APA Style, the author may choose to place the footnotes on the bottom of the page on which the callout appears or at the end of the paper on their own page(s).

“Endnotes” is a function on many word processors that inserts callouts and place the notes at the end of the document. While this is the same idea as footnotes, APA calls for a specially-formatted footnotes page.

To place the footnotes at the end of your document, check the preferences of the footnote function. You should be able to select “End of Document” instead of “End of Page.”

How to format APA footnotes

Always use the footnotes function of your word processor to insert footnotes. This will make it much easier to keep track of everything even as page content changes.

How to format footnotes correctly:

• Always use the footnotes function.
• The callout should be in superscript, like this. 1
• The callout should come after the punctuation, like this. 2
• If there’s a dash 3 —the callout comes before the punctuation, not after.
• All callouts should appear in numerical order, like this. 4

APA footnotes example

Now let’s have a look at what properly formatted APA footnotes look like in action.

Here is an example of a concise, relevant, and properly formatted footnote from “The role of renewable energy in the global economy transformation,” published in Energy Strategy Reviews.

. . . A transition away from fossil fuels to low-carbon solutions will play an essential role, as energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions represent two-thirds of all greenhouse gases (GHG). 1

In this example, the footnotes function automatically created a dividing line at the bottom of the document. It has also reduced the font size by 1pt, which is neither required nor discouraged by APA.

The reason this is a good example, however, is because the footnote provides supplemental information that is both relevant and substantive.  The information would have been too distracting to appear in the main text, but it provides helpful insight on the author’s research method.

Published October 28, 2020.

APA Formatting Guide

APA Formatting

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Citation Examples

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You can include more than one footnote on the same page in APA style. There is no restriction on the number of footnotes to be included on a page. Depending upon the number of footnotes on the page, the text area of the page will be automatically adjusted to fit the footnotes.

Footnotes in APA are used to provide the reader some additional information about the idea or the element being discussed. Footnotes are used in all types of publications such as journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers.

Two types of footnotes are used in APA style: content footnotes and copyright attribution footnotes. A content footnote provides additional explanation or information about something mentioned in the text, while a copyright attribution footnote provides copyright information for lengthy content that has been reprinted in the text. For both types, the in-text citation remains the same. Remember the following guidelines when you want to cite a footnote:

• Footnotes (whether content footnotes or copyright attribution footnotes) are numbered consecutively in the order in which they appear in the text.
• Use superscript Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) to designate a footnote callout.
• This is a footnote. 1
• In this footnote, 2 the author tries to clarify the idea.
• A footnote callout—unlike in-text reference citation 3 —is simple to add.
• You should not add space before the footnote callout.
• If you want to refer to the same footnote again in the text, do not add any superscript Arabic numeral. Instead, write “see Footnote 3.” In this case, the footnote description need not be given again.

Note that a footnote should have only one idea. If you want to add more information, it is advisable to add the content in the text or create an appendix.

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Footnotes in APA With Format Tips and Examples

Generally, using footnotes is associated with Chicago notes-biblio style. Even so, other styles do use them sometimes. With APA 7 style, you should use footnotes only when you absolutely must. Ask your instructor for clarification. The purpose of footnotes is to add to or clarify a point. Footnotes are also used to add copyright information.

Types of APA Footnotes

There are two types of footnotes used in APA format : content footnotes and copyright footnotes.

Content Footnotes

Content footnotes are used to provide the reader with some extra information about the source. For example, you may want to direct the reader to another chapter in the book. Try to avoid footnotes in APA 7, but if you must use one, keep it short and simple. For more complex ideas, add an appendix or try to incorporate it into the text itself. Another option is to direct the reader to online supplemental materials, if needed.

3   See Lessing (2018), chapter 5, for statistical tables on cultural diversity.

Copyright Footnotes

If, for some reason, you need to include copyright material that exceeds fair use guidelines , you need to obtain permission from the copyright holder. Include that permission in a copyright permission footnote. If you’ve obtained permission to use a table or infographic, then you should include the credited source in the caption. Don’t use a footnote in that case.

Format – Journal Article

1  From [or The data in column 1] “Title of Article,” by A. A. Author and B. B. Author, year, Title of Journal , Volume, p. xx. Copyright year by the Name of Copyright Holder. Reprinted [or adapted] with permission.

Format – Book

2  From [or The data in column 1] Title of Book , (p. xxx), by A.A. Author and B.B. Author, year, Place of Publication: Publisher. Copyright year by the Name of Copyright Holder. Reprinted [or adapted] with permission.

Numbering Footnotes

Number all footnotes consecutively in the order in which they appear in the manuscript with superscript Arabic numerals.

Placement of superscript footnote numbers follow these rules:

• Format like this, 1 following any punctuation except a dash.
• The footnote number precedes a dash 2 –– like so.
• Place the footnote number (if it applies only to material within the parentheses 3 ) like this.

Sociologists examined—over eighteen months 1 —the effects of cultural diversity. 2  (But only on elementary students. 3 )

For any subsequent references to the same footnote, include a parenthetical note.

(see Footnote 1).

Place the footnote at the bottom of the page on which it’s discussed. Also, double-check your footnote numbers to make sure they match the correct footnote. Footnotes can also be placed on a separate page after the reference page.

Atypical for APA Style

Since APA style does not typically use footnotes, ask your instructor for direction. For a school paper, it is best to avoid having to ask copyright permissions as it may take too long for the copyright holder to respond.

Creating an Endnote in a Research Paper

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How is the reference list arranged in apa, apa citation examples for peer reviewed articles, how to do in-text citations in apa format.

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Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process, apa footnotes.

• © 2023 by Jennifer Janechek - IBM Quantum
• Use footnotes to insert additional, related information into an APA-style document.
• Use Content Footnotes to concisely provide further information on a topic that is not directly related to the text.
• Use Copyright Permission Footnotes to cite adapted or reprinted materials such as data sets or particularly lengthy extracts of text from another author.

When should footnotes be used?

The APA suggests two instances in which footnotes may be used:

• Content Footnotes:  to offer further information on a topic that is not directly related to the text. As content footnotes should be concise, avoid writing lengthy paragraphs or including extraneous information.
• Copyright Permission Footnotes:  to cite adapted or reprinted materials in the paper, especially data sets, tables, and quotations that exceed 400 words. Consult the APA Publication Manual (6th ed.) for more information about copyright permissions.

It is recommended to refrain from extensive usage of footnotes as this practice may distract or confuse readers. When applicable, incorporate additional information in the main text of the paper, but avoid inserting irrelevant material. Footnotes should briefly present the reader with meaningful information that enhances your argument.

How should footnotes be formatted?

Footnotes may be displayed in one of two ways:

• Listed at the bottom of the relevant page
• Assembled altogether on a new page, following the References page(s)

If the footnotes are compiled on a separate page, the title “Footnotes” should be centered at the top of the page. Avoid formatting the title with bold, italics, underlining, or quotation marks. Indent the first line of each footnote five spaces from the left margin, and double-space the entire page. Each footnote number should be formatted as a superscript, and should be situated after all punctuation marks excluding a long dash (—).

Let’s look at some examples of using footnotes in a sentence:

• Example 1 – Content Footnote : “Under the DSHEA (1994), dietary supplements no longer receive approval from the FDA before being marketed unless the supplement contains a new dietary ingredient. 1 ”

1 A new dietary ingredient is defined as dietary ingredients that were not marketed in the United States in a dietary supplement prior to October 15, 1994.

• Example 2 – Content Footnote : “The questionnaire (see Supplementary material 3 ) was comprised of 4 parts: student perception regarding content of nutrition education; duration of time spent on nutrition education; preferred education approach to nutrition; and demographics.”

3 Supplementary data are available on the journal Web site ) or may be purchased from the Depository of Unpublished Data, Document Delivery, CISTI, National Research Council Canada, Building M-55, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada. DUD 5396.

• Example 3 – Copyright Permission Footnote : “ Trust in authority was measured using four items drawn from models of motive-based trust (Tyler & Huo, 2002). 2 ”

2 From the chapters “Motive-Based Trust and Decision Acceptance” and “Societal Orientations: Legitimacy and Connections With Society” in Trust in the Law: Encouraging Public Cooperation With the Police and Courts , by Tom R. Tyler and Yuen J. Huo, 2002, New York: Russell Sage Foundation. Copyright 2002 by the Russell Sage Foundation, 112 East 64th Street, New York, NY 10021. Reprinted with permission.

Compiling footnotes at the end of your paper

Below is an example of how you might format your footnotes if you compile them on a separate page at the end of your paper.

For more information about referencing sources in APA:

• Formatting In-text Citations (APA)
• Formatting the References Page (APA)

[1] Dodge, T., & Kaufman, A. (2007). What makes consumers think dietary supplements are safe and effective? The role of disclaimers and FDA approval. Health Psychology , 26(4), 513-517. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.26.4.513

[2] Gramlich, L. M., Olstad, D., Nasser, R., Goonewardene, L., Raman, M., Innis, S., & … Roy, C. (2010). Medical students’ perceptions of nutrition education in Canadian universities. Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism , 35(3), 336-343. doi:10.1139/H10-016

[3] De Cremer, D., & Tyler, T. R. (2007). The effects of trust in authority and procedural fairness on cooperation. Journal of Applied Psychology , 92(3), 639-649. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.92.3.639

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A footnote is a brief note that provides additional content or copyright attribution.  Any type of paper may include footnotes.  They are not used for references in APA style.

Content footnotes

• Supplement information in the text
• Should be included only if they strengthen the discussion

Copyright attribution

• Copyright attribution is required in a footnote when reproducing lengthy quotations or test/scale items in text
• Copyright attribution is used instead of in-text citation, but a reference list entry is required
• Format and examples: Concise guide to APA style , p. 209-210

For further information see the APA Manual p. 40.

Appendices can be used to supplement the paper's content.  Include an appendix only if it helps readers understand, evaluate or replicate the study or theoretical argument.

Appendices are added after the reference list.

For more information see the APA Manual p. 41.

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In academia, bibliographies are graded on their accuracy against the official APA rulebook, so it is important for students to ensure their citations are formatted correctly. Special attention should also be given to ensure the entire document (including main body) is structured according to the APA guidelines. Our complete APA format guide has everything you need know to make sure you get it right (including examples and diagrams).

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APA Footnotes – Formatting, Copyright & Examples

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One of the most common citation style guide manual for research papers or academic papers is the APA style . A significant part of this citation style guide are in-text citations and references in author-date style. However, sources can also be formatted as footnotes based on APA 7th edition. APA footnotes allow researchers to add supplementary information to their work without interrupting the flow of the text. This article delves into the format and proper use of APA footnotes.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 APA footnotes — In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: APA footnotes
• 3 Formatting APA footnotes
• 4 APA footnotes: Copyright footnotes
• 5 APA footnotes: Content footnotes

APA footnotes — In a Nutshell

• APA footnotes are not mandatory. However, you can use them to provide additional information and copyright attribution.
• APA footnotes have different formatting rules, depending on where you place them.
• You can place them at the end of a specific page or on a separate page after the reference page at the end of your paper.

Definition: APA footnotes

APA Footnotes are notes placed at the bottom of a page in a research paper that includes sources that have to be referenced properly. They also serve as comments on a designated part or section of the text on the page. Typically, the APA style is a citation formatting style in research that mostly demands in-text citations in author-date style. APA footnotes use superscript numbers that typically appear in consecutive order and should follow any punctuation except a dash.

Formatting APA footnotes

You can format footnotes in APA style by using superscript numbers and placing them in consecutive order. Also, the footnote numbers should appear at the end of the sentences or clauses on which they are intended to provide more content. They come after the period or other punctuation (except the dashes ). If the text   ends with a dash , the   footnote   should come   before the   dash .

Note: if the footnote relates to the content in the parentheses , the footnote must be placed enclosed by the parentheses.

• Footnote at the end of the sentence:  The data from the samples is consistent with the information in the literature review. 2
• Footnote within parentheses: (Whose daily exercise schedule does not relate to each other 3 )
• Footnote before a dash: While the productivity levels were significantly low – the data was measured using several methods 3 – like.

APA footnotes should not be repeated . Therefore, if you need to refer to a source that is already cited as a footnote, you should write “see footnote 10” or something similar in the text or parentheses.

Footnotes can appear at the bottom of the relevant page or at the end of the paper on a separate page designated for footnotes:

Footnotes at the end of the essays

This is where you place the footnotes on a designated page at the end of your paper. When doing so, the APA footnotes page should appear after the reference page. Other mandatory formatting requirements are:

• The title of the footnotes page should be centered and bold .
• The first line of each footnote should be indented .
• A single space should appear between the superscript number and the footnote .
• Footnotes at the end of the text should be double-spaced .
• The footnotes should be reported in the order of their figures in the text .

Footnotes at the end of the page

Your word processor can help you automatically insert footnotes at the page’s bottom. This technique helps you ensure that all the superscript numbers correspond to the right footnote. Additionally, it helps you separate the footnotes from the primary text.

Footnotes at the end of essays should ALWAYS be single-spaced. Also, there should be a single space between the superscript number of the APA footnote.

APA footnotes: Copyright footnotes

If you use copyright resources that go beyond the fair use guidelines in your project, you may require copyright footnotes. The role of copyright footnotes is to acknowledge that you have permission to include the copyrighted material in your research.

For instance, you can reproduce an image or infographic with the received permission and include the copyright note in the relevant caption instead of the footnote.

9 From Man and his Vision: A Comprehensive Analysis (p.62), by Jamal H. Anu and John K. Manuel, 2005, Routledge. Copyright 2005 by Marc & Joburg. Reprinted with permission.

APA footnotes: Content footnotes

Content footnotes in APA help you provide additional data about your content to readers.

For instance, you can use them to clarify a point or direct readers to the sources containing more information on a specific topic or detail in your text.

2 See Miranda (2015), Chapter 16, for a detailed report on this study.

Are footnotes required in APA?

APA footnotes are not mandatory for certain papers in APA. However, adding them to your paper would not hurt.

How can you use APA footnotes?

You can use footnotes in APA to provide additional information or copyright attribution .

When should APA footnotes appear?

You can write APA footnotes at the bottom of relevant pages in your paper. However, you can also group them and place them on a separate page at the end of your research paper .

What are footnotes?

Footnotes are a way for authors to provide additional content to their papers without diverting readers from the text.

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Footnotes provide additional information for a term, phrase, or sentence mentioned in the text. The information added in the footnote should not be a continuation of the text being discussed in the text. Such information should be included in the text and not as a footnote. Include only information that provides supplementary details as a footnote.

The advantage of using a footnote is that it does not hinder the reader from the main topic discussed in the text.

You can follow either footnote style or endnote style.

In addition to providing additional information, footnotes also act as citations in some styles. For example, Chicago, Turabian, and Oscola citation styles follow footnote citation instead of the author–date citation.

Footnotes are used in two ways:

• To provide additional information
• To act as citations of references

What is the difference between a footnote and an endnote?

A footnote appears at the end of each page on which it is cited. An endnote, on the other hand, appears at the end of the paper under the heading “Notes.” In most citation styles, footnotes are used to provide additional information. Any supplementary information about the topic being discussed in the text can be added in the footnote. The following sections will explain how to add callouts in the text and add footnotes in the footer. A footnote will act as a short citation, whereas an endnote may act as a bibliography and provide full details of the source. You can use both footnotes and endnotes in your paper, but use different numbering styles to distinguish them.

Do footnotes need a bibliography?

If footnotes provide a short citation of the source (e.g., Chicago style), they need the bibliography to be added to allow the reader to see the full information of the source.

Do MLA, APA, and Chicago use footnotes?

All three citation styles use footnotes. While MLA and APA use footnotes to provide additional information, Chicago uses footnotes in one of its systems of citing the sources (notes–bibliography system).

Using and formatting footnotes

In most citation styles, footnotes are used to provide additional information. Any supplementary information about the topic being discussed in the text can be added in the footnote. The following sections will explain how to add callouts in the text and adding footnotes in the footer.

Citing footnotes in the text

Footnotes are cited as superscript numerals in the text. You can follow either Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) or lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.) as citations. However, use them consistently in your paper. One footnote should have only one idea. Footnotes should not be overused, as having more footnotes will affect the layout of the paper. If you want to add more information, it is advisable to add the content in the text or create an appendix.

When you want to insert a footnote citation, you need to follow some basic rules of punctuation:

1. Number footnote citations consecutively according to their order of presentation in the text.

2. Add the callout of the footnote after the punctuation mark. See the below examples for your understanding:

This is a text footnote citation. 1

In this work, 2 the author tries to clarify the idea.

3. Place the footnote citation before the dash:

A footnote citation—against the citations 3 —provides an extension to the text.

4. The footnote callout should immediately follow the text or any punctuation mark without any space.

5. If you want to cite the same footnote again in the text, simply add “see Footnote #.” “#” denotes the footnote number. Note that the details of the footnote need not be added again.

Adding footnotes in the footer

Footnote text is included on the same page on which the callout appears. It is included at the end of the page as a footer. The footnote number is given in superscript. The footnote text follows the number. Do not leave any space between the number and the text. Avoid using many footnotes, as it will affect the layout and look of the page. If the content added as a footnote is part of the main text, include it in the text. As adding many footnotes is not recommended, avoid repeating the same footnotes with a new number. If you want the reader to refer to the already provided footnote, please mention the footnote number in the text.

This is an example of a sentence in the text. Do not use long sentences to avoid confusing the reader. State your ideas in simple, clear sentences. 1 It is important that you avoid using too many footnotes, as using many footnotes will affect the layout of your paper.

The content you add in footnotes should only provide additional information of the word, phrase, or clause discussed in the paper and should not have points related to the main topic discussed in the text. 2

_________________________________

1 This is the first footnote.

2 Note that the footnote callout is given after the period.

Key takeaways

• Footnotes can provide additional information or act as citations.
• Use superscript Arabic numerals or lowercase Roman numerals as callouts.
• Follow consecutive numbering for callouts.
• Avoid adding many footnotes to your work.

Popular Citation Examples

• Citing archive material
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• Citing a court case
• Citing a database
• Citing a dictionary entry
• Citing a dissertation
• Citing an eBook
• Citing an edited book
• Citing an email
• Citing an encyclopedia article
• Citing a government publication
• Citing an image
• Citing an interview
• Citing a journal article
• Citing legislation
• Citing a magazine
• Citing a meme
• Citing a mobile app
• Citing a movie
• Citing a newspaper
• Citing a pamphlet
• Citing a patent
• Citing a play
• Citing a podcast
• Citing a poem
• Citing a presentation
• Citing a press release
• Citing a pseudonym
• Citing a report
• Citing Shakespeare
• Citing social media
• Citing a song
• Citing software
• Citing a speech
• Citing translated book
• Citing a TV Show
• Citing a weather report
• Citing a website
• Citing Wikipedia article
• Citing a YouTube video

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