APA footnotes and endnotes add brief extra details or copyright notes without interrupting your main argument.
When you write in APA style, notes sit in the background. In most papers, in-text citations and the reference list carry the load, while footnotes or endnotes only step in when extra clarification or copyright details would distract inside a paragraph. Learning how APA treats notes saves you marks, keeps your layout tidy, and reassures your reader that every detail follows the same standard.
Footnotes And Endnotes APA Basics For Students
The phrase footnotes and endnotes apa can feel confusing because the APA manual mostly talks about footnotes, even when the notes sit at the end of the paper. In APA style, both formats share the same goal: provide extra information or a copyright statement in a way that stays out of the main flow of your text. The choice between the two is about location and length, not different citation systems.
According to the Purdue OWL guide to APA footnotes and endnotes, notes appear only when they genuinely help readers. That means each note should add value that does not belong in the middle of a sentence and is not needed for every reader. Most writers need only a handful of notes per paper, if any.
| Feature | Footnotes (Bottom Of Page) | Endnotes (End Of Paper) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Bottom margin on the same page as the callout number | New page after the reference list, usually titled “Footnotes” |
| Main Use | Short clarifications or copyright notes that relate closely to one page | Sets of notes that would crowd page footers or appear many times |
| Label In Text | Arabic numeral in superscript, after punctuation | Same superscript numbers; notes listed in numeric order |
| Spacing | Single spaced within each note, blank line between notes | Double spaced like the rest of the paper text |
| Heading On Notes Page | Not needed; notes sit under a horizontal line at page foot | Centered, bold heading “Footnotes” at the top of the notes page |
| Use For Copyright | Short statement that permission was granted for quoted or reprinted material | Same content, but grouped if many items need similar notes |
| Frequency | Used sparingly; many APA papers have none | Even less common, often reserved for long manuscripts |
What APA Means By Footnotes And Endnotes
APA 7th edition uses the word footnote for notes at the bottom of a page and also for notes that appear on a separate page at the end of the paper. That means endnotes in APA are technically a special kind of footnote page. Scribbr’s overview of APA footnotes points out that this page sits after the reference list and before any appendices.
For that endnotes style page, you create a new page titled “Footnotes,” center the title in bold, and list each note in the order its callout number appears in the text. Each note starts with its number in superscript, followed by a single space and the note text as an indented paragraph.
When To Use Notes In An APA Paper
The APA Publication Manual limits notes to a small set of situations. The idea is simple: the main argument should stay in the body text, not in the notes. Notes step in only when extra detail would interrupt the flow for most readers or when permission information needs a visible home.
Content Notes For Extra Explanation
Content notes provide extra explanation or a brief digression that only some readers need. You can use a content note to define an uncommon term, give a short translation, or mention reading that goes beyond your main list of references. The note should be short, usually one paragraph, and it should not carry information that every reader must see to follow your argument.
The best test is simple: if leaving the note out would confuse most readers, place that information in the main text instead. If skipping the note would only bother a small part of your audience, a content note might be the right home.
Copyright Notes For Permission Statements
APA also allows notes to record copyright permission. When you reproduce a table, figure, test item, or long excerpt that needs permission, a note can tell the reader who granted that permission and how the material first appeared. In many cases the permission statement sits directly in the figure or table note, but a general note can also appear as a footnote if your instructor or publisher prefers that placement.
How To Format APA Footnote Callouts
All APA notes, whether they appear at the page foot or on a notes page, start with a callout number in your main text. That number links the sentence to the note so that a reader can move back and forth without trouble.
Superscript Numbers In The Text
Use Arabic numerals in superscript format: 1, 2, 3, and so on. Place the number after the punctuation mark at the end of the sentence or clause that the note relates to. The only common exception is the dash, where the superscript number comes before the dash so that the break in the sentence stays clear.
Number notes in the order they appear from the start of the paper to the end. Do not restart numbering with each page or section, because APA expects one continuous sequence.
Formatting The Note Text
On the page, draw a short horizontal line above the first note if you are using footers. Word processors such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs insert this line and the superscript number automatically when you add a footnote. In the note itself, type the matching number in superscript, add a space, and then write the sentence or short paragraph that explains your point.
APA student papers usually single space within each footnote at the bottom of the page and leave a blank line between notes. On a separate “Footnotes” page, though, the notes follow normal double spacing like the rest of the manuscript.
Designing An APA Footnotes Page
When you choose end-of-paper notes, APA treats them as a special page of footnotes. The layout looks simple but has small details that teachers notice. A clean notes page shows that you understand how APA separates the main argument, reference list, and extra material.
Page Order And Heading
The notes page comes after the reference list and before any appendices. Start on a new page with the word “Footnotes” centered and bold at the top. Do not number this heading as a section title. Instead, treat it as a label for the notes that follow.
Below the heading, start each note as an indented paragraph, double spaced. The first line begins with the superscript number, a space, and then the text of the note. Notes appear in the same order as the callout numbers in the body of the paper.
Example Structure For Notes
Here is a simple pattern you can adapt:
- Note 1 might explain a term that only appears once.
- Note 2 might provide a short translation of a foreign phrase.
- Note 3 might give a copyright statement for a reprinted table.
If you feel tempted to add many more notes, stop and recheck your draft. Long lists of notes suggest that some content belongs in the main text or in an appendix instead.
Table Of APA Footnote Formatting Checks
| Item To Check | APA Expectation | Quick Reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Notes | Only for extra detail or permission information | If readers must see it, put it in the main text |
| Numbering | Arabic numerals in one continuous sequence | Do not restart numbers with each page |
| Callout Placement | After punctuation at the end of the sentence or clause | Place superscript after the period or comma |
| Note Length | Short paragraph or sentence, no long blocks | Move long material to an appendix |
| Spacing | Single space in page footers; double space on notes page | Match your instructor’s request if it differs |
| Notes Page Title | Centered, bold “Footnotes” heading | Place after references and before appendices |
| Citations | Use normal APA author–date citations inside notes if needed | Do not replace the reference list with notes |
Choosing Between Notes, In-Text Detail, And Appendices
Because APA already uses author–date citations in the text, many students never need notes at all. When you have extra material, decide first whether readers truly need it to follow your point, whether it belongs in the main paragraph, or whether it would work better as an appendix.
Short side comments, narrow definitions, or brief translations often suit a content footnote. Extended survey questions, long data tables, or detailed methodological notes usually fit better in an appendix, where readers who care about those details can read them without crowding the main argument.
When a detail feels central to your thesis or topic sentence, place it in the body paragraph instead of the note. Your core reasoning and evidence should live in the main text, with notes taking on a secondary role only when needed.
Common Mistakes With APA Footnotes And Endnotes
Writers sometimes treat notes as a second reference system or as a place to hide material that feels hard to integrate into the main text. That habit conflicts with APA guidelines, which treat notes as rare additions instead of the center of the paper.
Using Notes As Citation Substitutes
In APA style, every source still appears as an in-text author–date citation and in the reference list. If you move full citations into notes, your reader has to scan the page foot instead of following a clear pattern in the text. Notes can mention sources, but they do not replace the main citation system.
Overusing Content Notes
Another problem is the overuse of content notes for thoughts that should sit in the paragraph itself. If every page has multiple long notes, your reader has to jump up and down the page repeatedly. When you finish a draft, skim through the notes and ask whether each one could merge into the main text or into an appendix instead.
Inconsistent Formatting
Small formatting slips add up: mixing footers and end-of-paper notes, shifting from single to double spacing without reason, or changing where you place the callout numbers. A quick pass with the checklist above, along with a quick read of a recent sample from the APA student paper setup guide, helps align your layout with current expectations.
Bringing APA Notes Rules Into Your Writing
When you draft a paper, start with clear author–date citations and a thorough reference list. After that step, read through your paragraphs and mark places where a short side comment, translation, or permission statement would help only some readers. Those are your best candidates for footnotes at the bottom of the page or an end-of-paper notes page.
Use the phrase footnotes and endnotes apa in your assignment only when you truly need notes, keep each entry brief, and follow the same formatting pattern from start to finish. That steady pattern shows care for both APA rules and your reader’s time, which is exactly what good academic style intends.