Explanatory notes edit

Shortened footnotes can be placed inside explanatory notes in several ways. Explanatory or content notes add explanations, comments, or other information relating to the main content and often require their own citation. There are two technical approaches to using both types of footnotes. A shortened footnote can be placed inside an explanatory note; on Wikipedia, this is referred to as a nested footnote. There are also several ways to combine the contents of a short citation and explanatory note within a single footnote.

Nesting footnotes is typically done with the {{efn}} or {{refn}} templates. Because of a technical limitation, some standard Wikipedia markup elements will not work within a set of <ref>...</ref> tags, including a second "nested" set of <ref>...</ref> tags. For example, <ref>Explanatory footnote<ref>Brown 2001</ref></ref> will generate an error.[i] Because the templates allow nesting, the same example written as {{efn|Explanatory footnote{{sfn|Brown|2001}} }} works as expected.

Nested footnotes edit

The methods in this section can nest footnotes because the explanatory notes use templates designed to support nesting.

Nesting within {{efn}} edit

This method uses {{efn}} to create the explanatory notes and {{sfn}} to create footnotes nested in the explanatory notes.

Markup Renders as
The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Muller|2005|p=23}}{{efn|But Muller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.{{sfn|Muller|2005|p=23}}}} But the Moon{{efn|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.{{sfn|Braun|2001|p=63}}}} is not so big.{{sfn|Braun|2001|p=46}}{{efn|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Schmidt|2005|p=334}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |last=Braun |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |year=2001}}
* {{citation |last=Muller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005}}
* {{citation |last=Schmidt |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005}}
{{refend}}

The Sun is pretty big.[1][a] But the Moon[b] is not so big.[3][c] The Sun is also quite hot.[4]

Notes
  1. ^ But Muller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.[1]
  2. ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.[2]
  3. ^ Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.
Citations
  1. ^ a b Muller 2005, p. 23.
  2. ^ Braun 2001, p. 63.
  3. ^ Braun 2001, p. 46.
  4. ^ Schmidt 2005, p. 334.
References
  • Braun (2001), The Moon, Penguin
  • Muller (2005), The Sun, Oxford
  • Schmidt (2005), The Universe, Random House

Nesting within {{refn}} edit

This method uses {{refn}} to create the explanatory notes and {{sfn}} to create footnotes nested in the explanatory notes.

Markup Renders as
The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Millerd|2005|p=23}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|But Millerd points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.{{sfn|Millerd|2005|p=23}}}} But the Moon{{refn|group=lower-alpha|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.{{sfn|Browne|2001|p=63}}}} is not so big.{{sfn|Browne|2001|p=46}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Smithe|2005|p=334}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |last=Browne |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |year=2001}}
* {{citation |last=Millerd |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005}}
* {{citation |last=Smithe |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005}}
{{refend}}

The Sun is pretty big.[1][a] But the Moon[b] is not so big.[3][c] The Sun is also quite hot.[4]

Notes
  1. ^ But Millerd points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.[1]
  2. ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.[2]
  3. ^ Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.
Citations
  1. ^ a b Millerd 2005, p. 23.
  2. ^ Browne 2001, p. 63.
  3. ^ Browne 2001, p. 46.
  4. ^ Smithe 2005, p. 334.
References
  • Browne (2001), The Moon, Penguin
  • Millerd (2005), The Sun, Oxford
  • Smithe (2005), The Universe, Random House

Combined footnotes edit

Explanatory notes containing shortened citations edit

This example creates a separate notes section using the {{sfn}} and {{efn}} templates. Because the explanatory footnotes do not contain footnote references, there are no technical hurdles.

Markup Renders as
The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Miller|2005|p=23}}{{efn|But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.}} But the Moon{{efn|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena – see, for example Jones, ''The Solar System'', MacMillan, 2005, p. 623.}} is not so big.{{sfn|Brown|2001|p=46}}{{efn|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example, Peterson, ''Astronomy'', MacMillan, 2005, p. 623.}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Smith|2005|p=334}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Brown |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |date=2001}}
* {{cite book |last=Miller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |date=2005}}
* {{cite book |last=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |date=2005}}
{{refend}}

The Sun is pretty big.[1][a] But the Moon[b] is not so big.[2][c] The Sun is also quite hot.[3]

Notes
  1. ^ But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.
  2. ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena – see, for example Jones, The Solar System, MacMillan, 2005, p. 623.
  3. ^ Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example, Peterson, Astronomy, MacMillan, 2005, p. 623.
Citations
  1. ^ Miller 2005, p. 23.
  2. ^ Brown 2001, p. 46.
  3. ^ Smith 2005, p. 334.
References
  • Brown (2001). The Moon. Penguin.
  • Miller (2005). The Sun. Oxford.
  • Smith (2005). The Universe. Random House.

When the explanatory notes and shortened footnotes are separate and not nested, they can still be created using standard reference tags. This example creates a separate notes section by using <ref> and <ref group=>.

Markup Renders as
The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/><ref group=Note name=Note01/> But the Moon<ref group=Note name=Note02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot02/><ref group=Note name=Note03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot03/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=
<ref name=Note01>But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.</ref>
<ref name=Note02>The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena – see, for example Jones, ''The Solar System'', MacMillan, 2005, p. 623.</ref>
<ref name=Note03>Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example, Peterson, ''Astronomy'', MacMillan, 2005, p. 623.</ref>
}}

==Citations==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>Miller, p. 23</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>Brown, p. 46</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>Smith, p. 334</ref>
}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* Brown, ''The Moon'', Penguin. 2001.
* Miller, ''The Sun'', Oxford, 2005.
* Smith, ''The Universe'', Random House, 2005.
{{refend}}

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]

Notes
  1. ^ But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.
  2. ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena – see, for example Jones, The Solar System, MacMillan, 2005, p. 623.
  3. ^ Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example, Peterson, Astronomy, MacMillan, 2005, p. 623.
Citations
  1. ^ Miller, p. 23
  2. ^ Brown, p. 46
  3. ^ Smith, p. 334
References
  • Brown, The Moon, Penguin. 2001.
  • Miller, The Sun, Oxford, 2005.
  • Smith, The Universe, Random House, 2005.

The example below uses only basic wikitext syntax and single list of footnotes. Because the explanatory footnotes do not contain footnote references, there are no technical hurdles.

Markup Renders as
The Sun is pretty big.<ref>Miller, p. 23. But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.</ref> But the Moon<ref>The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example Jones, ''The Solar System'', MacMillan, 2005, p 623.</ref> is not so big.<ref>Brown, p. 46. Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example Peterson, ''Astronomy'', MacMillan, 2005, p 623.</ref> The Sun is also quite hot.
<ref>Smith, p. 334.</ref>

==Notes==
<references />

==References==
* Brown, ''The Moon'', Penguin. 2001.
* Miller, ''The Sun'', Oxford, 2005.
* Smith, ''The Universe'', Random House, 2005.

The Sun is pretty big.[1] But the Moon[2] is not so big.[3] The Sun is also quite hot. [4]

Notes
  1. ^ Miller, p. 23. But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.
  2. ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example Jones, The Solar System, MacMillan, 2005, p 623.
  3. ^ Brown, p. 46. Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example Peterson, Astronomy, MacMillan, 2005, p 623.
  4. ^ Smith, p. 334.
References
  • Brown, The Moon, Penguin. 2001.
  • Miller, The Sun, Oxford, 2005.
  • Smith, The Universe, Random House, 2005.

Explanatory notes containing parenthetical citations edit

This method uses {{sfn}} to create the main footnotes, {{efn}} to create the explanatory notes and {{harv}} to create the parenthentical references in the explanatory notes. The use of inline parenthetical referencing has been deprecated for an article's body text.

Markup Renders as
The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Mahler|2005|p=23}}{{efn|But Mahler points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars {{harv|Mahler|2005|p=23}}.}} But the Moon{{efn|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena {{harv|Brauner|2001|p=63}}.}} is not so big.{{sfn|Brauner|2001|p=46}}{{efn|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Ferrero|2005|p=334}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |last=Brauner |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |year=2001}}
* {{citation |last=Mahler |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005}}
* {{citation |last=Ferrero |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005}}
{{refend}}

The Sun is pretty big.[1][a] But the Moon[b] is not so big.[2][c] The Sun is also quite hot.[3]

Notes
  1. ^ But Mahler points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars (Mahler 2005, p. 23).
  2. ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena (Brauner 2001, p. 63).
  3. ^ Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.
Citations
  1. ^ Mahler 2005, p. 23.
  2. ^ Brauner 2001, p. 46.
  3. ^ Ferrero 2005, p. 334.
References
  • Brauner (2001), The Moon, Penguin
  • Mahler (2005), The Sun, Oxford
  • Ferrero (2005), The Universe, Random House

List-defined explanatory notes containing citations edit

This method uses {{sfn}} to create the main footnotes, {{efn}} to create list-defined explanatory notes using {{notelist}} in the "Notes" appendix, and {{harv}} to create links nested within the explanatory notes:

Markup Renders as
The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Mailer|2005|p=23}}{{efn|name="sun size"}} But the Moon{{efn|name="Selena"}} is not so big.{{sfn|Brawn|2001|p=46}}{{efn|name="moon size"}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Smythe|2005|p=334}}

===Notes===
{{notelist |refs=

{{efn|name="sun size"|But Mailer points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars. {{harv|Mailer|2005|p=23}}}}

{{efn|name="Selena"|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena. {{harv|Brawn|2001|p=63}}}}

{{efn|name="moon size"|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.}}

}}
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===References===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |last=Brawn |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |year=2001}}
* {{citation |last=Mailer |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005}}
* {{citation |last=Smythe |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005}}
{{refend}}

The Sun is pretty big.[1][a] But the Moon[b] is not so big.[2][c] The Sun is also quite hot.[3]

Notes
  1. ^ But Mailer points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars. (Mailer 2005, p. 23)
  2. ^ The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena. (Brawn 2001, p. 63)
  3. ^ Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.
Citations
  1. ^ Mailer 2005, p. 23.
  2. ^ Brawn 2001, p. 46.
  3. ^ Smythe 2005, p. 334.
References
  • Brawn (2001), The Moon, Penguin
  • Mailer (2005), The Sun, Oxford
  • Smythe (2005), The Universe, Random House


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-roman> tags or {{efn-lr}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-roman}} template or {{notelist-lr}} template (see the help page).