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APA 7th edition (2020) recognises two kinds of footnote: a content note that adds a short piece of extra information, and a copyright note that credits reproduced material such as a long quotation or a test item. Footnotes are not how APA cites sources. Citations go in the text and the reference list, and a footnote never replaces a reference-list entry. This guide shows the format of each kind, fictitious examples, the in-text number, and the mistakes that most often appear in manuscripts and theses.
The format
Each footnote has the same moving parts, whichever kind it is.
- Callout: a superscript numeral in the text. Number footnotes in order of appearance.
- Note: the footnote itself, carrying the same number, placed either at the bottom of the page where the callout appears or on a separate footnotes page after the reference list.
- Content note: one focused point. Purdue OWL advises that footnotes should detail a focused subject and that lengthier material belongs in the body paragraphs.
- Copyright note: credits the copyright information for reproduced material. Purdue OWL describes using “from” for directly copied material and “adapted from” for modified material, and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez guide gives the closing wording “Reprinted with permission” or “Adapted with permission”. For the exact element order, check the APA Publication Manual or its Concise Guide.
Layout depends on the placement you choose. The Puerto Rico guide describes bottom-of-page notes as single-spaced and made with the word processor’s footnote function. On a separate footnotes page, Purdue OWL says to centre and bold the label “Footnotes” and to record each footnote as a double-spaced, indented paragraph.
Content notes versus copyright notes
| Question | Content note | Copyright note |
|---|---|---|
| What is it for? | A brief extra detail that supports the text. | Crediting reproduced or adapted material, such as lengthy quotations or test and scale items. |
| Does it replace an in-text citation? | No. Cite sources in the text as usual. | Yes, the attribution stands in for the in-text citation. |
| Is a reference-list entry still needed? | Yes, for any source you cite. | Yes, the source must still appear in the reference list. |
A quick test before you add a note
- Is it a source? Put it in the text and the reference list, not a footnote.
- Is it essential to the argument? Move it into the body.
- Is it a brief aside that would interrupt the sentence? A content note may fit, but only if it strengthens the discussion.
- Are you reproducing a long quotation or a test or scale item? Add a copyright note and keep the reference-list entry.
Examples
These examples are fictitious illustrations. The studies, authors and publishers are invented to show the pattern and do not refer to real works.
Example of a content note
In the text: “The response rate did not differ between the two delivery modes.1“
Footnote: 1 A homogeneity-of-variance test showed no significant difference in response-rate variance between the two modes across the first three years.
The pattern, a short statistical aside that would clutter the sentence, is the kind of content note the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez library guide uses to illustrate APA 7.
Example of a copyright note
Footnote pattern (fictitious source, details abbreviated): 2 From Example Inventory of Study Habits [full source and copyright details as the APA manual requires]. Reprinted with permission.
Use “from” for directly copied material and “adapted from” for material you modified, and close with “Reprinted with permission” or “Adapted with permission” as the situation requires. The same source also needs a reference-list entry.
Example of a later mention of the same note
If you refer again to a point already made in a footnote, write “see Footnote 2” in the text. Do not repeat the callout number or repeat the note.
In-text callout version
The callout is a superscript numeral placed in the sentence the note belongs to.
- Put the number after punctuation, except dashes and parentheses.
- Number notes in the order they appear in the manuscript.
- Do not put a callout in a heading.
Correct: “The scale was administered twice.3” Incorrect: “The scale was administered twice3.” (the number sits before the full stop).
Common errors
- Using a footnote as a citation. AUT University Library states that footnotes are not used for references in APA style. Sources belong in the text and the reference list.
- Dropping the reference-list entry after a copyright note. The attribution is used instead of an in-text citation, but AUT University Library notes that a reference-list entry is still required.
- Number before punctuation. The superscript follows the punctuation, except for dashes and parentheses.
- Callouts in headings. Purdue OWL says footnote callouts should not be placed in headings.
- Long or tangential notes. If a note runs to paragraphs, it belongs in the body or should be cut.
- Repeating a callout. Refer back with “see Footnote 4” instead of numbering the same note twice.
For manuscripts and theses
Journals and graduate schools often layer their own template on APA. If a journal’s author instructions or a university thesis handbook states how notes are placed (bottom of page or a notes page), follow that, because the choice between the two placements is yours only when no one else sets it. Whichever you choose, keep it the same throughout the document. For appendix numbering and labels, see our guide on APA appendices, and for how the whole paper is laid out see research paper format.
Style-guide edition
This guide describes APA 7th edition (2020), the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association as of 2026-10. The details above were checked on 2026-10-29 against Purdue OWL and two university-library guides to APA 7 (listed under Sources). Where a detail comes from one guide, such as the layout of the footnotes page, it is attributed to that guide.
FAQ
Does APA use footnotes?
Yes, but only for content notes and copyright attributions. APA 7 cites sources in the text and the reference list. See parenthetical citation and how to write a research paper in APA style.
Do footnotes go in the reference list?
No. A footnote is not a reference. A source you credit in a copyright note still needs its own reference-list entry.
Does the footnote number go before or after punctuation?
After punctuation, except for dashes and parentheses.
Where do APA footnotes go on the page?
At the bottom of the page where the callout appears, or on a separate footnotes page after the reference list.
How do I refer to a footnote I already used?
Write “see Footnote” plus its number rather than repeating the callout. For the wider topic of citation formats, see citation styles and referencing formats.
Sources
- Purdue Online Writing Lab, “Footnotes and Appendices” (APA 7 formatting and style guide), https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/footnotes_appendices.html. Checked 2026-10-29.
- University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Library, “Footnotes – APA 7 Guide”, https://libguides.uprm.edu/APA7/en/footnotes (page shows last updated Oct 27, 2026). Checked 2026-10-29.
- AUT University Library, “Footnotes and appendices – APA 7th”, https://aut.ac.nz.libguides.com/APA7th/footnotes (page shows last updated Aug 7, 2026). Checked 2026-10-29.
