How to Write Footnotes in MLA Style

Many students or scholars in the fields of art, dance, english, history, music, religion, theater and theology use footnotes as one way to document sources. The most common methods used to notate sources are endnotes and footnotes. Endnotes, as their title suggests, are placed at the end of the document, on a new page. Footnotes, however, appear at the bottoms of pages.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers by Joseph Gibaldi (always get the latest edition) Word Software (from Microsoft Office)

Learn how to Insert a Footnote

1. Review the Word processing you currently utilize to find out about how to insert footnotes. You must first be concerned about how to initiate the text of a footnote, before you can actually write the footnote. The insertion process may differ according to what software you use and what version you have. Most versions of Word (from Microsoft Office), simply require you to place your cursor right after the text next to which you want to place a footnote, guide your cursor to the top of the screen and click on "Insert," select "Reference" from the drop-down menu box and then select "Footnotes." A menu box will now appear. Click on "Help" if you experience any problems.

2. Elect to place your footnote at the bottom of the page. This conforms to MLA (Modern Language Association) standards. Customarily, the menu box is pre-programmed with placement for the bottom of the page, as well as the standard 1, 2, 3...numbering format. Do not change any of this. According to MLA standards, your footnotes should be inserted at the bottom of the page.

3. Click "Ok." Your cursor will then automatically take you to the bottom of the page. You will notice a line above the footnote that you just created. Your cursor will also be next to a "1." The "1" is there because you have just created your first footnote.

Compose Your Footnote, According to the MLA Style

4. Review the MLA style for the type of source for which you need to add a footnote. A myriad of possibilities exist: Books by Single Authors, Anthologies or Compilations, Books by Two or More Authors, A Work in an Anthology, An Article in a Reference Book, An Anonymous Book, A Translation, a Multivolume Work, A Book Published in a Second or Subsequent Edition, A Book in a Series, A Republished Book, A Government Publication, An Unpublished Dissertation, A Published Dissertation and more. Stylistically, the format for each of those sources may differ. Consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (the latest edition) by Joseph Gibaldi, to verify how you should structure your particular footnote. You can find this online or have a local bookstore order it.

5. Type the footnote, according to the MLA style for the type of publication you are referencing. Many of your footnotes will reference books by a single author. These footnotes are composed as follows: Author First and Last Name, Title of Book (City of Publication: Publisher, year of publication) page number or number(s) referenced in text.

6. Review the footnote for accuracy. Double check the information. You can never be too careful when citing an academic source. Check the spelling of the author's name, the book (or anthology or dissertation) title, the city of publication, year of publication and page numbers.

Check Final Formatting

7. the visual layout of your final footnote. If your footnote continued onto the following page, you should add a solid line across the new page two lines (one double space) below the last line of the text and continue the note two lines below the solid line.

8. Make sure that the footnotes on the new page automatically followed the note continued from the previous page, after the double space.

9. Double check the content and structure of your footnote one last time. Make sure you check both the text and the visual layout. You have now written a footnote in MLA style!

Tips & Warnings

• Always use the "Help" option in your software if you get confused. Type in "Footnotes." Help should appear! If you feel unsure abour your MLA style footnotes, check with your professor.