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  • Evan John Evan John
  • 10 min read

Difference Between Footnotes and Endnotes

We will briefly examine the difference between footnotes and endnotes, which appear at the bottom of the page.

The End notes appear at the end of the text. Normally, they seem just at the end of the page before the bibliography and reference list.

You can either use one of them at a time in the document. You either use a footnote or do not use end notes. They do not mix. You choose one, and you use it consistently.

What are Footnotes

Footnotes are short notes placed at the bottom of a page in a document. They provide extra information, explanations, or citations for something mentioned in the main text. They are marked with small numbers (like this¹) in the text, and the corresponding note appears at the bottom of the same page. Footnotes are commonly used in academic writing, books, and research papers to give credit to sources or add details without interrupting the flow of the text.

What are Endnotes 

Endnotes are notes at the end of a document, chapter, or book. Like footnotes, they provide additional information, explanations, or citations for references in the main text. They are marked with small numbers in the text (like this¹), but instead of appearing at the bottom of the page, the corresponding notes are grouped at the end of the document. Endnotes are often used to keep the main text clean and are common in academic writing, books, and research papers.

Difference between footnotes and endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes are used in the referencing style. Mostly in Chicago, referencing is done using footnotes or endnotes. Footnotes and endnotes provide additional information or citations but differ in placement and use.

Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page where the reference is made, offering immediate access to brief notes or citations, which is convenient but can make the page messy and untidy.

Furthermore, endnotes are grouped at the end of a document or chapter, keeping the text clean and suitable for longer notes, though they require readers to flip to the end. Footnotes are ideal for quick references, while endnotes work better for extensive or less urgent information.

Both footnotes and endnotes serve similar functions, but their placement and usage distinguish them:

  • Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page where the citation or explanation occurs, making references immediately accessible to readers.
  • Endnotes are compiled at the end of a chapter or document, reducing distractions in the main text but requiring readers to navigate to another section for references.

    8 Key Differences Between Footnotes and Endnotes

Footnotes Endnotes
Placement Bottom of the page End of the document or chapter
Readability Easily accessible Requires navigating to the end
Clutter in Text It can make pages look crowded Keeps main text clean
Usage Preferred for frequent citations Used for lengthy explanations and less frequent citations
Academic Preference Used in humanities, legal, and historical writing Common in literary and long-form academic texts
Reference Checking Easy to verify sources immediately Requires flipping pages or scrolling to locate citations
Formatting Complexity Requires more formatting adjustments per page Keeps formatting consistent across pages
Disruptiveness Can interrupt the reading flow Allows uninterrupted reading experience

Citation Styles and Their Preferences

Different academic disciplines and citation styles have distinct conventions regarding using footnotes and endnotes.

1. Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) – Notes and Bibliography System

  • Common in history, literature, and humanities.
  • Prefers footnotes for citations but allows endnotes for longer works.
  • Example (Footnote):

    ¹ John Paul, History of Ancient Civilizations (New York: Academic Press, 2020), 45.

2. Modern Language Association (MLA)

  • Primarily uses in-text citations (author-page style) rather than footnotes or endnotes.
  • Allows endnotes for additional commentary, not for routine citations.
  • Example (Endnote):

    ¹ For a deeper analysis of this topic, see John paul’s research in Historical Perspectives.

3. American Psychological Association (APA)

  • Uses in-text author-date citations instead of footnotes or endnotes for references.
  • Footnotes and endnotes are occasionally used for explanatory content.
  • Example (Explanatory Footnote):

    ¹ This conclusion is based on a survey conducted in 2022 with 500 participants.

4. Turabian (Student Version of Chicago Style)

  • Used in theses and dissertations.
  • Allows both footnotes and endnotes, following Chicago formatting.

5. Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA)

  • Common in legal writing.
  • Uses footnotes exclusively for referencing case law and legal texts.
  • Example (Legal Footnote):

    ¹ R v John [1992] UKHL 12.

6. Harvard Referencing

  • Uses in-text citations (author-date format) rather than footnotes or endnotes.
  • Footnotes are occasionally used for additional information.
  • Example (In-text citation):

    (Paul, 2020, p. 45)

Choosing Between Footnotes and Endnotes

The choice between footnotes and endnotes depends on the discipline, readability, and publisher or institutional guidelines:

  • Use footnotes when frequent citations are needed for easy reference (history, law).
  • Use endnotes when minimizing distractions in the main text is preferred (literary analysis, long reports).
  • Use in-text citations when conciseness and direct referencing are required (science, social sciences).

Comparison of Referencing Styles That Use Footnotes vs. Endnotes

Citation Style Uses Footnotes? Uses Endnotes? Remark
Chicago (Notes & Bibliography) ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Preferred in history & humanities
MLA (Modern Language Association) ❌ No ✅ Sometimes Uses parenthetical citations but allows endnotes for extra info
APA (American Psychological Association) ❌ No  Rarely Uses in-text citations instead of notes
Turabian (Student version of Chicago) ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Used for student papers and theses
OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for Legal Citation) ✅ Yes ❌ No Standard in legal writing
Harvard Referencing ❌ No ❌ No Uses in-text author-date citations

When to use footnotes and endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes can be used in technical writing to provide additional information or clarification for the reader. They can also be used to cite sources or provide references for the information presented in the text.

How to Use Footnotes and Endnotes

  • Use footnotes and endnotes sparingly and only when necessary to provide additional information or cite sources.
  • Keep the text for footnotes and endnotes concise and to the point.
  • Be consistent in formatting and numbering footnotes and endnotes throughout the document.
  • Ensure that the footnote or endnote information is relevant to the main text and adds value for the reader.
  • Use footnotes and endnotes to clarify complex ideas or technical terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader.

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How to format footnotes and endnotes

In technical writing, footnotes and endnotes should be formatted according to the style guide or formatting guidelines used by the publisher or organization. Some general guidelines include:

  • Footnotes should be placed at the bottom of the page where the information appears, while endnotes should be placed at the end of the chapter or document.
  • Footnotes and endnotes should be numbered consecutively throughout the text, starting with the number 1.
  • The number for the footnote or endnote should be placed after the punctuation mark at the end of the sentence or clause.
  • The text for the footnote or endnote should be single-spaced and in a smaller font than the main text.
  • Footnotes and endnotes should be indented and separated from the main text with a horizontal line.

Examples of footnotes and endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes are used in academic writing to provide additional information, citations, or commentary without interrupting the flow of the main text. Below are examples of how footnotes and endnotes might appear in a document.

Footnotes

Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page where the reference occurs. They are typically numbered sequentially throughout the document.

Example in Text:
“The concept of gravity was first described by Isaac Newton in his seminal work, Principia Mathematica.”¹

Footnote at the Bottom of the Page:
¹ Isaac Newton, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (London: Royal Society, 1687), 45.

Endnotes

Endnotes appear at the end of a chapter or document rather than at the bottom of each page. They are also numbered sequentially.

Example in Text:
“Shakespeare’s Hamlet explores themes of revenge, madness, and mortality.”²

Endnote at the End of the Document:
² William Shakespeare, Hamlet, ed. Harold Jenkins (London: Arden Shakespeare, 1982), Act III, Scene I.

Footnotes and Endnotes: Pros and Cons

Footnotes and endnotes are commonly used in academic writing to provide additional information and sources that may not fit the text’s main body. Let’s check some pros and cons of using footnotes and endnotes:

Pros:

  1. Organized Information: Footnotes and endnotes organize and separate additional information from the main text. This can help readers focus on the main arguments and ideas presented in the body of the text while still having access to supplementary material if needed.
  2. Credibility: Including footnotes and endnotes can improve the credibility of your work by showing that you have done research and can support your claims with evidence from credible sources.
  3. Conciseness: Footnotes and endnotes help you to keep your main text concise by allowing you to include additional information without cluttering the main body of the text. This can make your writing easier to read and more accessible to your audience.

Cons:

  1. Disruption of Reading: Footnotes and endnotes can disrupt the reading flow, as readers may have to refer to them constantly while reading the main text.
  2. Formatting Challenges: Formatting footnotes and endnotes can be time-consuming, especially if you are working with a large document or have specific formatting requirements.
  3. Accessibility: Footnotes and endnotes may not be accessible to all readers, especially those with visual impairments or those using screen readers. To ensure your work is accessible to everyone, consider alternative ways of presenting information.

While footnotes and endnotes can be useful tools for organizing and presenting additional information in academic writing, they can also have drawbacks regarding reading disruption and accessibility. It’s important to consider these factors when deciding whether or not to use footnotes and endnotes in your work.

Footnotes vs Endnotes: Which One Should You Use?

Footnotes and endnotes are both ways of providing additional information and sources in academic writing. The choice between using footnotes and endnotes depends on various factors, including personal preference, the requirements of your publisher or institution, and the nature of your writing.

Let us go through the factors to consider when deciding whether to use footnotes or endnotes:

  1. Length: If your document is shorter, footnotes may be a better choice because they allow readers to access additional information without having to flip back and forth to the end of the document. However, endnotes are more practical if your document is longer because they can reduce clutter and make your writing more readable.
  2. Formatting: Some publishers or institutions may have specific requirements for formatting footnotes or endnotes. Follow these guidelines to ensure that your work meets their requirements.
  3. Accessibility: Footnotes may be more accessible to readers with visual impairments or those using screen readers, as they do not require them to flip back and forth between different document parts. However, this may vary depending on your audience’s specific needs.
  4. Type of information: Footnotes are typically used for brief comments, while endnotes are used for more extensive explanations or sources. Consider the information you are including and whether it is more appropriate to include it in a footnote or an endnote.

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