ORDER YOUR PAPER

15% off today

from a verified trusted writer

total: $11.23
Footnotes in a History Paper

The Secrets of Doing Footnotes for History Paper

It's thought that styling and formatting rules depend on the formatting style that's used, but it's only partly true. The discipline also defines the rules. For example, when you write a biology report, you shouldn't consider how to include this or that table in your paper, format equations, and so on. At the same time, working on an essay in humanities implies that you know how to include quotations properly. If you're assigned to write a history paper, be ready to face a unique set of demands. History departments in colleges and universities often require students to include footnotes and endnotes in their papers, so be ready to face this requirement.

Note: The information below was taken from the Chicago Manual of Style 16th edition because this style is most widely used in history papers. If your teacher required you to use another formatting guide (MLA, APA), note that the rules will differ, and you may need additional information.

Footnotes VS. Endnotes

Footnotes are necessary for an academic paper because they are the means of citing. It's a number inserted into the text that directs the reader's attention to another location in the paper where they can find more information about what they've just read. In history papers, footnotes serve as a way to cite sources, and the note is usually a bibliographic entry that details the source material for a quote or idea. However, these notes can also be used to expand on ideas in your paper.

Ok, but what's the difference between foot- and endnotes? The first ones are usually placed at the bottom of a page, whereas the latter is placed in a separate section at the very end of your paper. History teachers opt for using footnotes because it's more convenient for readers. They don't need to open the end of the paper again and again to check the note. This option is suitable only if the number of notes isn't huge and they won't take half of the page. Anyway, you can contact your professor and get a consultation on what notes you should use. It's better to ask a question in advance than to get a poor grade and rewrite the paper. The information we'll discuss below will relate mainly to footnotes, but it also applies to endnotes.

What Is Included in Footnote?

Bibliographic Citation

By far, the most common type of information provided in a footnote will be citations - information about the sources you use in your text. The number of citations in history papers is huge, so each time you refer to a paper done by others, it should be added in a footnote. The right note is the one containing all the necessary information a reader needs to find the source.

What information should be cited: It's hard enough to choose what to cite. On one side of this spectrum, you've got direct quotations-material typed word-for-word from the source text-that should always list the source. On the other hand, you have your own personal arguments and ideas; obviously, these won't have any source. Then you have everything else in between. Often it can be difficult to find the line of demarcation between the source of information and your own ideas. Moreover, a fact or idea can be considered common enough to skip the footnote. When you're in this gray area, it's a matter of personal discretion, but there are a few guidelines that can help:

  • Direct quotes. Material that is copied word for word from another source should always include a citation. Note that direct quotations should be used sparingly. Unless the writer's language is of interest or you feel they expressed an idea in a way that you can't paraphrase, it's better to summarize it.
  • Paraphrasing. If you're paraphrasing someone else's ideas, you're not quoting word-for-word, but you're restating an original idea that came from another person's work-then you need to cite it.
  • Controversial ideas. If it's difficult to identify the source of your idea and it can be considered controversial, you must cite it.
  • General knowledge. General facts (for example, dates and names) don't require citations. Likewise, the citation isn't necessary if it's possible to find them in any book or website.
  • Everything else. If you're unsure, it's always better to play it safe and provide a citation. Remember, anything that doesn't have a citation you're taking credit for will be better off if your paper has too many citations than if it looks like you're intentionally plagiarizing somebody else's work.

Footnotes can also include additional information about a certain source. If you want to tell your readers a description of the book's or paper's background, you can add it to your footnote. It's not obligatory, and it should be used only when necessary to answer potential questions the reader might have that would lead them to question your work.

Other Data

You can use footnotes to add some additional information relevant to the issue you're describing. Let's imagine that your paper is devoted to any historical figure. If you consider a fact, story, or even anecdote useful for your readers or even your research, don't hesitate to include it in a footnote. It's a perfect place to include details that can't be added to the text but are still necessary. Remember that this technique is good only if you don't overdo it. Please, think twice before adding this kind of paragraph to your paper.

The Secrets of Using Footnotes

Footnotes should be marked in the paper with a superscript number like this.1 The corresponding notes should be numbered at the bottom of each page under a line separating them from the main text.

1 Footnote one.

Footnotes should always be placed at the end of a sentence, never in the middle, and should come after the sentence's ending punctuation.

Incorrect

Jefferson was unable to complete the requirements of the will due to legal complications 1, but he never commented on the matter directly.

Correct

Jefferson was unable to complete the requirements of the will due to legal complications, but he never commented on the matter directly.

Incorrect

Adams claimed the affair to be "an injustice of the most heinous sort.

Correct

Adams claimed the affair to be "an injustice of the most heinous sort.

More than one footnote should never be included side-by-side. If you must include a few sources, include them all to one and the same note, avoid using multiple footnotes. In fact, it's often a good idea to cite several sources, particularly when writing on a controversial topic: the more evidence you can provide for your argument, the more credible your paper will be.

Incorrect

Jefferson never publicly acknowledged the paternity of his children with Hemings, and they were only freed after his death

2 Source 1., 3 Source 2.

Correct

Jefferson never publicly acknowledged the paternity of his children with Hemings, and they were only freed after his death.

The Difference Between 2 Source 1 and Source 2.

Citing one and the same source several times is allowed, but you'd better put one footnote at the end of the paragraph. Sometimes it's required to use a shortened bibliographic entry for this purpose. Ibi abbreviation must be used for citing one and the same research paper, book, or another source in two footnotes in succession. Here is a reference for you to understand how should it look:

3 Tracy Olleps, "Jefferson and Adams: A Political Friendship," Journal of American History 59, no. 2 (2001), 59.

4 ibid, 37.

5 Alice Brown-Hilt, Master of Monticello: The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson (New York: Knopf, 2006), 119.

6 Olleps, Jefferson and Adams, 351.

Citation style

Below are the rules of formatting common sources for footnotes citing.

One author book (print)

1 Alice Brown-Hilt, Master of Monticello: The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson (New York: Knopf, 2006), 119.

Book with more than one author (print)

2 Michael Holmes and Samantha S. White, Jefferson and France (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996), 263.

Journal article (print)

3 Tracy Olleps, "Jefferson and Adams: A Political Friendship," Journal of American History 59, no. 2 (2001), 59.

Newspaper or Magazine article (print)

4 Stuart Meijck, "Can Jefferson's Image Be Restored?," New York Times, 12 June 1993, A4.

One author book (online)

5 Alice Brown-Hilt, Master of Monticello: The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson (New York: Knopf, 2006), 119. http://www.universitylibrary.edu/history/2165 (accessed 26 Aug 2011).

Journal article (online)

6 Tracy Olleps, "Jefferson and Adams: A Political Friendship," Journal of American History 59, no. 2 (2001), par. 4, http://www.JAH.org/59-2/Jefferson (accessed 24 Feb 2010).

Website (original content)

7 Juliet Ethelmann, "Who Was Thomas Jefferson?," Society of Jefferson Scholars, http://www.SJS.com/mainsite/Jefferson (accessed 12 Jan 2011).

Remember that your paper must have a bibliography page: this section is usually located at the very end of your paper and serves for enumeration of all the sources you cited in footnotes. These references will look slightly different: page numbers aren't included, and the order of names is changed. For example:

Brown-Hilt, Alice. Master of Monticello: The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson. New York: Knopf, 2006.

The list should be alphabetized by the author's last name.

Our TOP writers

TOP 10
Writer 155864
ID 155864

Master's in Project Management, PMP, Six Sigma

Rating 97.2%
(97.2%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (8) about writer 155864

1259 written pages

315 orders

299 a+ papers

My Master’s degree and comprehensive writing experience allow me to complete any order fast and hit the nail on the head every time.

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 121526
ID 121526

MBA, PMP, ITIL

Rating 99.3%
(99.3%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (7) about writer 121526

3560 written pages

509 orders

473 a+ papers

I am experienced writer with an MBA, PMP, ITIL, that consistently delivers unique, quality papers. I take pride in my experience and quickness.

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 47072
ID 47072

MS in Human Resource Management

Rating 99.2%
(99.2%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (9) about writer 47072

19383 written pages

3877 orders

3528 a+ papers

I hold a MS degree in Human Resource and my goal is to help students with flawless, unique papers, delivered on time.

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 106387
ID 106387

RN, MSN, PCN, PHN

Rating 99%
(99%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (6) about writer 106387

5609 written pages

561 orders

539 a+ papers

As Registered Nurse (RN, PCN), I can quickly deal with any medical paper. My expertise and writing skills are perfect for this job.

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 128170
ID 128170

MPA, MHA

Rating 99.5%
(99.5%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (8) about writer 128170

3787 written pages

758 orders

690 a+ papers

I have MPA, MHA degrees but, most importantly, experience and skills to provide unique, well-written papers on time.

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 99022
ID 99022

DNP, BA, APN, PMHNP-BC

Rating 97.1%
(97.1%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (9) about writer 99022

7168 written pages

897 orders

807 a+ papers

I can write about multiple areas and countless topics, as I have a DNP and BA degrees. High-quality writing is my second name.

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 117750
ID 117750

PhD in American History

Rating 97.4%
(97.4%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (8) about writer 117750

18265 written pages

2610 orders

2349 a+ papers

A PhD in American history comes handy. Unique papers, any topics, swift delivery — helping with academic writing is my passion.

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 99423
ID 99423

MA, PsyD, LMFT

Rating 98.5%
(98.5%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (7) about writer 99423

21748 written pages

2417 orders

2344 a+ papers

Incredibly fast PsyD writer. Efficient paper writing for college. Hundreds of different tasks finished. Satisfaction guaranteed.

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 85466
ID 85466

MEd, NCC, LPC, LMFT

Rating 97.6%
(97.6%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (9) about writer 85466

6853 written pages

2287 orders

2173 a+ papers

Top-ranked writer with tons of experience. Ready to take on any task, and make it unique, as well as objectively good. Always ready!

hire writer
TOP 10
Writer 124685
ID 124685

MSW, LICSWA, DSW-C

Rating 98.8%
(98.8%)
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (8) about writer 124685

2522 written pages

316 orders

294 a+ papers

Experienced Social Work expert focused on good writing, total uniqueness, and customer satisfaction. My goal — to help YOU.

hire writer

Buy your papers from the best writing service

Have your tasks done by our professionals to get the best possible results.

total: $11.23
Confidentiality

NO Billing information is kept with us. You pay through secure and verified payment systems.

Quality

All papers we provide are of the highest quality with a well-researched material, proper format and citation style.

Communication

Our 24/7 Support team is available to assist you at any time. You also can communicate with your writer during the whole process.

Authorship

You are the single owner of the completed order. We DO NOT resell any papers written by our expert

Originality

All orders are done from scratch following your instructions. Also, papers are reviewed for plagiarism and grammar mistakes.

Samples

You can check the quality of our work by looking at various paper examples in the Samples section on our website.

Special price $11.23/page
Place an order
63,000
more than 63,000 times students trusted us to write their papers
9/10
9 out of 10 customers recommend us*
92%
92% of our customers have placed more than 7 orders
*data is based on 6,568 customers' feedback received from Jan 1, 2017 till Jan 1, 2018.
Special price $11.23/page
Place an order
Customer #5677

I got a B without any effort, what else can I dream of? Finally, I can forget about chasing the deadlines and immerse myself into the things I really like! Thanks for professional assistance!

Customer #4501

I'm not exactly what you'd call an exemplary student. Yeah, I like reading and things like that, but when it comes to essays - it's like I forget how to put words together. It's not the first time I'm asking your writers for help, and they've yet to let me down!

Estimated Deadline: Wednesday, Apr 10 7:50 AM in Your timezone
Total price: $11.23
Price starts from $11.23
Regular discounts and offers
Excellent results guaranteed
Professional 24/7 support

Free samples of our work

There are different types of essays: narrative, persuasive, compare\contrast, definition and many many others. They are written using a required citation style, where the most common are APA and MLA. We want to share some of the essays samples written on various topics using different citation styles.

services
Hey, you...Yes, you! Don’t you want to get your Discount?
binder1
binder2
Your discount will be
sent to the email!

I have read and agree to the Terms of Use, Money Back Guarantee, Privacy and Cookie Policy of BestCustomWriting.com

  • dmca_logo
  • safecharge
  • trustpilot

Use your opportunity to get a discount!

To get your special discount, write your email below

  • dmca_logo
  • safecharge
  • trustpilot

Best papers and best prices!

Want to get quality paper done on time cheaper?

  • dmca_logo
  • safecharge
  • trustpilot