The following information is an abridged version of the style and formatting guidelines found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed. (2019). This sheet is to serve as a ready-reference; more in-depth descriptions can be found in the handbook.
What are Endnotes and Footnotes?
- Endnotes and footnotes can be used to supplement research (content notes) and to give credit to copyright attributions when necessary (copyright notes). They are indicated at the end of a word or sentence using small superscript numerals.
- The difference between footnotes and endnotes is determined by the location of the notes in the document and sometimes by the type of document.
- Footnotes appear at the bottom of each page of the main text.
- Endnotes appear together at the end of the main text of the paper.
- If you use more than one notation within a page or paper, place the numerals in an order (¹, ², ³) that corresponds consequently with the respective footnotes or endnotes. APA requires the first line of every note to be indented one half inch, just like the first line of a paragraph.
- It is important to note that they should be used in addition to (not instead of) parenthetical citations.
Content Notes
- Notes can be used to supplement an APA paper with extra information. They contain expanded research to help clarify the topic. Notes can also refer readers to other pages or other sources of information regarding the topic. This information is generally too lengthy to fit reasonably into a parenthetical citation or an aside, such as a sentence within parentheses. These notes are meant to clarify the topic, not to be used as a formal documentation method.
- Supplementary (or content) notes are generally no more than one or two sentences, thought they can be longer if necessary. The general rule is to include as much information about a source as possible, so that the reader can follow up on the research. Like endnotes for documentation, APA requires supplementary notes to be numbered consecutively, with superscript numerals at the end of a word or sentence. APA requires the first line of every note to be indented one half inch, just like the first like of a paragraph.
Example
Text
Whatever the historical inaccuracies,…14
Note
14See Hollinger (1995), for an explanation on the lack of honesty in propositions regarding the
assimilation of immigrants.
Text
Scientists, over many years, have observed and studied the fossils of the Tyrannosaurus Rex.15
Note
15While the method of study of the Tyrannosaurus Rex provides insights to the research, this paper
does not further elaborate on this species.
Copyright Notes for Documenting Sources
- Notes can be used to give credit to copyright attributions when reproducing:
- Lengthy quotations
- Test or scale items
- Tables or figures (appears in the table or figure note)
- See sections 12.14 to 12.18 for more information about seeking permission to reproduce material and appropriate wording for the copyright attributions.
Example
Example copyright attribution for reprinted tables and figures from a journal, magazine, newspaper, or blog:
- From “Title of Article,” by Author’s first initial followed by last name, Year Published, Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), Page number (DOI or URL.). Copyright Status or Permission Statement.
- Example: ¹From “Romantic Relationship Development: The Interplay Between Age and Relationship Length,” by A. Lantagne and W. Furman, 2017, Developmental Psychology, 53(9), p. 1744 (https://doi.org/10/1037/dev0000363). Copyright 2017 by the American Psychological Association