Footnotes
Bench & Bar Kentucky, Vol. 68, No. 2, pp. 41-50, March 2004
2 Pages Posted: 8 Aug 2006
Abstract
Academics footnote everything. Brief writers footnote nothing. Each has something to learn from the other. Overusing footnotes can distract the reader; lengthy or "walking" footnotes cause the reader to lose the point of the main text before the footnote ends. On the other hand, excessive textual citation makes prose very difficult to read; textual citations often substitute for transitions and make for poorly-written paragraphs. This essay offers tips for helping writers strive for a happy medium.
Keywords: Footnote, cite, citation, transition, legal writing
JEL Classification: K00
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation