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Revision as of 17:01, 15 April 2004 by 198.208.6.35 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A footnote is a reference which leads readers to other works. A footnote is usually flagged in the main text in the form of a superscript number -- superscript 1 for the first footnote on a note, superscript 2 for the second footnote on the page, etc. Sometimes a number of regular height and position, demarcated by brackets or parentheses, is used instead .
All of a page's footnote numbers lead to bibliographical information at the bottom of the page, each source prefixed by its linked number.
See also:doctoral thesis.
If this were a printed publication, the superscript 1 would have been rendered as shown above, and the footnote would have been shown at the bottom (the foot) of the printed page. See header and footer
If this were the editorial style, the footnote would have been rendered, thus.
When specifing another source a footnote adds authority. Sometimes this is a very slick illusion. Only by looking at this other source can one discover if things have been taken out of context or made-up completely. Sourcing others only means you "may" have looked at the work of others. Are you going to check it out?