Footnote facts for kids

A note is like a little extra message or explanation you find at the bottom of a page, or sometimes at the very end of a book or chapter. Think of it as a helpful side comment from the author. Notes can give you more details about something mentioned in the main text, or they can show where the author got their information from.

What Are Notes For?

Notes are super useful! They can do a few things:

• They might give you more details about something mentioned in the main text. This helps to explain things without making the main story or article too long or complicated.
• They can also show where the author got their information from. This is called a citation. It's like giving credit to the original source, whether it's another book, a website, or a research paper. This helps readers know the information is reliable and allows them to find the original source if they want to learn more.

Footnotes and Endnotes: What's the Difference?

There are two main types of notes you'll often see:

Footnotes

Footnotes are notes that appear right at the bottom, or "foot," of the page you are reading. If you see a small number or symbol next to a word in the main text, you can look down to the bottom of that same page to find the matching note.

Advantages of Footnotes

• They are very convenient for readers. You don't have to flip pages to find the extra information. It's right there!
• They are great for quick definitions or short explanations that are important for understanding the text right away.

Disadvantages of Footnotes

• Sometimes, if there are many footnotes, they can take up a lot of space at the bottom of the page. This can make the page look a bit crowded.
• They might affect how the main text is laid out on the page.

Endnotes

Endnotes are notes that are collected together and placed at the end of a chapter, at the end of a whole book, or at the end of an entire article. If you see a small number or symbol in the main text, you'll need to go to the very end of the section to find the note.

Advantages of Endnotes

• They keep the main pages looking clean and uncluttered. The notes don't interfere with the layout of the main text at all.
• They are good for longer explanations or lists of sources, as they have plenty of space at the end.

Disadvantages of Endnotes

• They can be less convenient for readers. You have to flip back and forth between the main text and the endnotes to read them. This can sometimes interrupt your reading flow.