Formatting Footnotes and Endnotes (Chicago/Turabian Notes and Bibliography System)

In the Chicago/Turabian Notes and Bibliography (NB) system, footnotes or endnotes are used to cite sources and occasionally to provide additional commentary that doesn't fit neatly into the main text. Proper formatting of these notes is essential for clarity and academic rigor.

1. Footnotes vs. Endnotes: What's the Difference?

• Footnotes: Appear at the bottom (the "foot") of the same page where the corresponding superscript number appears in the text. Readers can quickly glance down to see the citation or comment.
• Endnotes: Are compiled in a list at the end of a chapter or, more commonly for student papers, at the end of the entire document before the bibliography. They are titled "Notes."
• The choice between footnotes and endnotes often depends on the requirements of your instructor, publisher, or the length and nature of your work. The formatting of the content within the note itself is the same for both. Many word processing programs can easily switch between footnotes and endnotes.

2. Creating Notes in Your Document

• Superscript Number in Text:
  • When you cite a source or make a comment, insert a superscript number (e.g., ¹, ², ³) in your main text.
  • This number should be placed after the word, phrase, or quotation it refers to.
  • It should also be placed after any punctuation mark (like a period, comma, or quotation mark), with the exception of a dash (—).
  • Example: The theory was groundbreaking,¹ but it faced criticism.²
  • Note numbers should run consecutively throughout your paper (or, in some longer works like books, they may restart with each chapter).
• Word Processor Function:
  • Use your word processor's built-in "Insert Footnote" or "Insert Endnote" function (usually found under a "References" or "Insert" tab). This will automatically:
  • Insert the correct superscript number in the text.
  • Create a corresponding numbered space at the bottom of the page (for footnotes) or in the endnotes section.
  • Manage the sequential numbering for you.

3. Formatting the Notes Area (Whether Footnotes or Endnotes)

• Note Number:
  • In the note itself (at the bottom of the page for footnotes, or in the endnotes list), the note begins with its corresponding number.
  • This number is full-sized (not superscript) and is followed by a period and a space.
  • Example: 1. Author Name, Title of Work...
• Indentation:
  • The first line of each note (footnote or endnote) should be indented from the left margin, typically by 0.5 inches (the same as a standard paragraph indent).
  • Subsequent lines of the same note should be flush with the left margin of the note area (not hanging indent).
• Spacing:
  • Within a single note: Notes are generally single-spaced.
  • Between separate notes: A blank line (or a standard single line space provided by the word processor between paragraphs) should appear between one note and the next. This helps distinguish them clearly. (This is a common practice for student papers and aligns with Turabian guidance.)
• Font:
  • Use the same font as your main text (e.g., Times New Roman, Calibri).
  • The font size is typically the same as the main text (e.g., 12-point), though some guidelines allow for a slightly smaller font for notes (e.g., 10-point) if preferred by the instructor or publisher. For consistency, using the same size as the main text is a safe default unless specified otherwise.

4. Content of Notes – A Brief Overview

The specific elements and their order within a note depend on the type of source being cited (e.g., book, journal article, website). Detailed formats for different source types will be covered in subsequent sections. However, here are general principles:

• Full Note (First Citation of a Source):
  • The first time you cite a particular source, the note should contain the complete bibliographic information. This typically includes the author's full name (in normal order: First Name Last Name), the title of the work, publication details (place of publication, publisher, and year for books; journal title, volume, issue, year, and page numbers for articles), and the specific page number(s) being cited.
• Shortened Note (Subsequent Citations of the Same Source):
  • After a source has been cited in full once, any subsequent notes referring to the same source should use a shortened format.
  • This usually consists of the author's last name, a shortened version of the title (if the title is more than about four words), and the page number(s).
  • "Ibid.": The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition and later) and Turabian (9th edition) discourage the use of "ibid." (from the Latin ibidem, meaning "in the same place") for consecutive citations of the same source. Shortened citations are preferred for clarity, especially in electronic formats.
  • Example of a shortened note: 2. Smith, Shortened Title, 45.
  • If citing the same work immediately after a shortened note, you might further shorten it to just the author's last name and page number if no ambiguity arises: 3. Smith, 52.
• Discursive Notes (Substantive Notes):
  • Notes are not just for citations. You can also use them to provide additional commentary, explanations, clarifications, or to refer readers to other sources or related discussions.
  • These substantive comments can be included in the same note as a citation or can be standalone notes. Use them judiciously to avoid distracting the reader too much from the main text.

5. Placement of Endnotes (If Used)

• If you are using endnotes instead of footnotes:
• They should appear on a separate page (or pages) at the end of your document, before the bibliography.
• The page should be titled "Notes" (centered, no bold, italics, or quotation marks, unless part of a larger heading style for chapters).

6. Visual Consistency

Strive for consistency in formatting all your notes throughout your paper. This contributes to the professionalism and readability of your work.