Guide to Using APA Footnotes Effectively in APA 7th Edition
APA footnotes often trip up even seasoned writers - they're those pesky details that professors expect but rarely explain properly. While most papers don't need them, knowing when and how to use footnotes can bump up your grade, especially when you're dealing with complex research data or additional explanations that don't belong in your main text.
This practical guide cuts through the confusion of APA formatting rules. You'll learn exactly when footnotes make sense, how to format them correctly, and real examples that show you what professors are actually looking for in academic papers.
<CTA title="Simplify Your Academic Writing Process" description="Use Jenni AI to organize your ideas, structure your essay clearly, and handle APA footnotes with confidence." buttonLabel="Try Jenni Free" link="https://app.jenni.ai/register" />
Step 1: Decide if you need footnotes
Figuring out whether to use a footnote isn't rocket science, but it does need some thought. APA 7th edition makes it clear - don't throw everything into footnotes. Your regular citations still belong in the text with author and date.
When footnotes are appropriate
Two main situations where footnotes make sense:
Content footnotes - these are for those extra bits of info that would mess up your paragraph if you stuck them in the middle
Copyright stuff - when you're quoting big chunks of text or using someone else's material and need to show proper permission
When footnotes are not appropriate
Don't waste a footnote on normal citations - that's what your in-text citations and reference list are for
Got more than a paragraph of extra info? That's what appendices are for - dump it there instead
<ProTip title="💡 Pro Tip:" description="Keep footnotes concise, one short paragraph is usually enough for clarification or copyright notes." />
Step 2: Choose where to place them
Once you’ve concluded that a footnote is appropriate, you need to decide whether you’ll use bottom-of-page footnotes or a separate footnotes page (like endnotes).
Option A: Bottom of the page
Insert a superscript callout number in the text at the appropriate location.
The footnote itself appears at the bottom (footer) of the same page.
This is straightforward for shorter papers or when you only have a few notes.
Option B: Footnotes page at end
Place all of your notes in numeric order on a new page after the References list.
Label the page Footnotes (bold and centered).
Referring to Purdue Online Writing Lab, each footnote is an indented paragraph, double-spaced, with the superscript number and then a space and the note text.
How to decide
If you have many footnotes (say more than 3-4) or the footer would become crowded, a separate page might work better.
For shorter assignments with just one or two extra notes, page footers are acceptable.
Always check your instructor’s or publisher’s guidelines: some institutions may require one format.
<ProTip title="💡 Pro Tip:" description="If a footnote is too long, consider moving the content to an appendix instead." />
Step 3: Insert and format the callout number
Let’s get into the mechanics of how to place footnote callouts correctly in your text.
Superscript numbering
Use Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3, … in superscript.
Number them in sequence as they appear in text. Do not reuse numbers.
Example: “The sample size was small.¹”
Placement rules
Generally place the callout after the punctuation mark (period, comma) at the end of the sentence or clause.
If the callout refers to material inside parentheses, place the number inside the closing parenthesis: (see Table 1¹)
If the sentence uses a dash to offset text, place the callout before the dash: “… – like this¹ – continuing…”
Do not place a callout in a heading level.
Avoiding mistakes
Don’t leave a space before the superscript number.
Don’t skip numbers or repeat them.
If you refer to the same note again, write “see Footnote 3” rather than repeating the content.
<ProTip title="💡 Pro Tip:" description="Place superscript numbers after punctuation marks, except inside parentheses or before dashes when required." />
Step 4: Write the footnote text
Now to the content of the footnote itself, it’s not just a mechanical insertion. The text should follow certain rules of brevity, clarity and purpose.
Content footnotes
Should be brief: ideally no longer than one short paragraph
Should focus on one idea. If you have several ideas, either fold them into the main text or create an appendix.
Should not duplicate material you already have in your main text. Use the footnote only for supplemental or clarifying content.
Must still follow citation rules: if the footnote includes a citation to a source, that source must still appear in your reference list.
Example of a content footnote:
“…the participants were recruited from three urban sites.¹”
¹Urban sites were defined as cities with populations above 100,000.
Copyright/permission footnotes
Use these when you include lengthy quotations, test items, or scales, or when the material is beyond fair use and you’ve obtained formal permission.
Format often begins with “From” or “Adapted from”: e.g.:
²From Theories of Human Development: A Comparative Approach (p. 155), by M. G. Green & J. A. Piel, 2010, Routledge. Copyright 2010 by Taylor & Francis. Reprinted with permission.
Note: This footnote is instead of placing the material in your main text, but you still include the source in the reference list.
Formatting specifics
On bottom-of-page: indent the note ½-inch (about one tab) from left margin. Single-space within each note; double-space between notes if more than one.
On a separate page: title “Footnotes” (bold & centered). Each footnote is indented ½-inch, double-spaced.
Step 5: Integrate into your APA paper workflow
Using footnotes should feel seamless within your broader document preparation process. Here are practical steps to integrate them.
Use your word-processor’s footnote tool
In Microsoft Word: Insert → References → Insert Footnote.
In Google Docs: Insert → Footnote.
Using the built-in tool ensures automatic numbering and pairing.
If you're using a separate page for footnotes, change the “footnote placement” to end-of-document (or manually move and format the section).
Check order and numbering
Before submitting: scroll through and verify numbers appear in ascending order.
If you deleted or inserted content mid-draft, check that the numbering adapted correctly.
If your instructor asks for “see Footnote X” rather than repeating the note, follow that.
Align with your reference list and in‐text citations
Footnotes do not replace your reference list. Every source you cite in the text or in a footnote must be in the reference list.
In in-text citations you still use (Author, Year) format for standard source attribution. Footnotes don’t change that.
Use appendices for long supplementary content
If you find that your footnotes are getting long (more than a paragraph) or you have data/tables/charts that need explanation, think appendix instead. Footnotes are for short, refined pointers or clarifications.
<ProTip title="💡 Pro Tip:" description="Use your word processor built-in footnote tool to maintain correct numbering automatically." />
Step 6: Proofread and apply best practices
Before you hit “Submit”, review your document specifically for footnote issues.
Checklist for accuracy
Superscript numbers in correct sequence.
Callouts placed correctly (after punctuation, before dash if applicable, inside closing parenthesis if needed).
Footnote text indented, spaced correctly, placed either bottom of page or on the separate page titled “Footnotes”.
No repeated footnotes; if referring back, use “see Footnote X”.
Font size/style consistent with footnote formatting (often the default).
Each footnote that cites a source appears in the Reference list.
Keep the note content concise and relevant — if you feel it’s becoming lengthy, move to the main text or an appendix.
Common mistakes & how to avoid them
Mistake: Using footnotes for standard source citations instead of in-text citations. → Avoid by remembering APA’s author–date system.
Mistake: Placing the number after a dash (—) rather than before. → Use correct placement guidelines.
Mistake: Forgetting to include the superscript number in the footnote text itself. → Always start the note with the superscript number then a space.
Mistake: Mixing footnote numbering with other numbering in the document and causing confusion. → Keep numbering dedicated to footnotes only.
Mistake: Writing overly long, verbose footnotes. → Keep them short; move extended content elsewhere.
Why this matters
Using footnotes well does more than just satisfy formatting rules. It keeps your main text clean and focused, gives readers optional deeper dives without distraction, and shows you understand the nuances of academic writing in APA style, which is especially important in social and behavioural sciences.
<ProTip title="💡 Pro Tip:" description="Check numbering and references before submission to ensure each footnote matches the reference list." />
Mastering APA Footnotes Effectively
Using APA footnotes effectively is about balance, enough detail to clarify, but never so much that it distracts. When done right, each superscript note becomes a quiet helper, guiding readers toward context or credit without breaking the flow. Writers who learn to handle this balance often find their papers read smoother and feel more professional, especially in APA 7th Edition where minimalism and readability matter.
<CTA title="Write APA-Ready Papers with Confidence" description="Let Jenni AI guide your structure, citations, and formatting so you can focus on writing strong, well-supported arguments." buttonLabel="Start Writing for Free" link="https://app.jenni.ai/register" />
Mastery comes with practice, revising, proofreading, and checking each note’s purpose before submission. Treat footnotes as punctuation with a purpose: precise, informative, and disciplined. Once you internalize those habits, APA formatting turns from a rulebook into a rhythm, one that keeps your ideas clear and your research easy to trust.