Help:Explanatory notes
Explanatory or content notes are used to add explanations, comments or other additional information relating to the main content but would make the text too long or awkward to read. Such notes may include supporting references.
Please read Help:Footnotes and Help:Shortened footnotes first, as this guide builds upon the methods described on those help pages. WP:REFGROUP is of particular importance.
Note formats
There are several ways to include notes:
Footnotes mixed with explanatory notes
The Sun is pretty big.[1] But the Moon[2] is not so big.[3] The Sun is also quite hot.[4]
- ^ Miller, The Sun, Oxford, 2005, p. 23. But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.
- ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example Jones, The Solar System, MacMillan, 2005, p 623.
- ^ Brown, The Moon, 2006, Penguin, p. 46. Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example Peterson, Astronomy, MacMillan, 2005, p 623.
- ^ Smith, The Universe, Random House, 2005, p. 334.
Footnotes with separate explanatory notes
The Sun is pretty big.[1][Note 1] But the Moon[Note 2] is not so big.[2][Note 3] The Sun is also quite hot.[3]
Shortened footnotes mixed with explanatory notes
The Sun is pretty big.[1] But the Moon[2] is not so big.[3] The Sun is also quite hot.[4]
- ^ Miller, p. 23. But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.
- ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example Jones, The Solar System, MacMillan, 2005, p 623.
- ^ Brown, p. 46. Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example Peterson, Astronomy, MacMillan, 2005, p 623.
- ^ Smith, p. 334.
- Brown, The Moon, Penguin. 2001.
- Miller, The Sun, Oxford, 2005.
- Smith, The Universe, Random House, 2005.
Shortened footnotes with separate explanatory notes
The Sun is pretty big.[1][Note 1] But the Moon[Note 2] is not so big.[2][Note 3] The Sun is also quite hot.[3]
- ^ But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.
- ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example Jones, The Solar System, MacMillan, 2005, p 623.
- ^ Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example, Peterson, Astronomy, MacMillan, 2005, p 623.
- Brown, The Moon, Penguin. 2001.
- Miller, The Sun, Oxford, 2005.
- Smith, The Universe, Random House, 2005.
Shortened footnotes with separate explanatory notes using {{sfn}}
The Sun is pretty big.[1][a] But the Moon[b] is not so big.[3][c] The Sun is also quite hot.[4]
- ^ a b Miller 2005, p. 23.
- ^ Brown 2001, p. 63.
- ^ Brown 2001, p. 46.
- ^ Smith 2005, p. 334.
- Brown (2001), The Moon, Penguin
- Miller (2005), The Sun, Oxford
- Smith (2005), The Universe, Random House