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Q. Are there guidelines for setting footnotes?

A. Footnotes and their cousin, endnotes, are explanatory notes or references that provide additional information about a point made in the main text. Footnotes appear at the bottom of a page, while endnotes are grouped together at the end of a chapter, article, document, or book.

Text to be footnoted is usually indicated with a superscript numeral or other symbol placed immediately after it. The same numeral or symbol also precedes the footnoted reference at the bottom of the page. When there are just one or two footnotes on a page, you can indicate them with a dagger, asterisk, or other symbol. But when there are several, it's best to use numerals. Endnotes, which are grouped together at the end of a section, should always have numerals to allow for easy reference to the main text.

You should set footnotes and endnotes slightly smaller than the body text -- usually about two points smaller, as long as they remain readable. The line spacing can be a bit tighter than that of the body text, but this will vary based on the legibility and proportions of the typeface you use to set them. Set footnotes and endnotes in the same type family as the body text. In some instances, you can use a heavier weight or even an italic for better legibility, readability, and fit.

Figure 1. Footnotes can be indicated with a superscript numeral (upper), an asterisk (middle), or a dagger (lower). Set in TypeCulture’s Expo Serif Pro. Note: I enlarged the size of these examples so you can see them easily on your monitor. I don't recommend this size for footnotes in your projects.

Unless the job or client in question has specific guidelines for footnotes and endnotes -- often the case with academic and legal documents -- use your judgment with respect to maintaining the overall readability of footnotes and endnotes.

Love type? Want to know more? Ilene Strizver conducts her acclaimed Gourmet Typography workshops internationally. For more information on attending one or bringing it to your company, organization, or school, go to her site, call The Type Studio at 203-227-5929, or email Ilene at info@thetypestudio.com. Sign up for her e-newsletter at www.thetypestudio.com.