References notes and floats/Footnotes/How-to guides/Formatting footnotes

1. Goal

Control the visual presentation of ordinary footnotes without changing their logical structure.

This guide shows how to configure:

• the body font used for note entries;
• local formatting inside note text;
• interline spacing;
• alignment and hyphenation;
• the position of note numbers;
• the distance between the number and note text;
• multi-column note blocks;
• paragraph-form footnotes;
• the independent presentation of several note series.

2. Distinguish note settings from notation settings

Footnote formatting mainly involves two related setup commands:

Command	Main role
\setupnote[footnote][...]	Configures the note series, including its placement, body font, alignment, columns, paragraph form, and composition behaviour.
\setupnotation[footnote][...]	Configures the visible structure of each note entry and the presentation of its printed number.

Some typographical results depend on settings from both commands. Test combinations in the actual page layout before applying them to a complete document.

3. Change the footnote body font

Use the bodyfont key:

3.1. MWE: smaller note text

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \setupbodyfont
    [libertinus,10pt]
  
  \setupnote
    [footnote]
    [bodyfont=small]
  
  \starttext
  
  The main text uses the normal body-font size.\footnote
    {This note is typeset with the smaller body font.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

The value small selects the smaller size defined by the current body-font environment. It is not an absolute point size.

4. Apply local formatting inside a note

Ordinary ConTeXt formatting commands may be used inside note text.

4.1. MWE: local emphasis and font changes

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \starttext
  
  This sentence has a formatted footnote.\footnote
    {The note may contain \emph{emphasized text},
     {\bf bold text}, titles in \emph{italics},
     and other local formatting commands.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

Apply emphasis, boldface, quotation marks, and titles according to the same editorial rules used in the main text.

5. Change interline spacing

A named setup can modify interline spacing only while note entries are being composed.

5.1. MWE: independent interline spacing

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \setupbodyfont
    [libertinus,10pt]
  
  \startsetups[footnote:interlinespace]
    \setupinterlinespace
      [line=2.8ex]
  \stopsetups
  
  \setupnote
    [footnote]
    [bodyfont=small,
     setups=footnote:interlinespace]
  
  \starttext
  
  This sentence contains a longer footnote.\footnote
    {This note extends over several lines so that its independent
     interline spacing can be observed in the resulting note entry.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

The value 2.8ex is illustrative. Adapt it to the selected font, note size, and page width.

6. Control alignment and hyphenation

Footnote entries may use alignment and hyphenation settings different from those of the main text.

6.1. MWE: independent note alignment

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \setupnote
    [footnote]
    [align={normal,hyphenated}]
  
  \starttext
  
  \setupalign
    [nothyphenated,
     stretch,
     tolerant]
  
  The main paragraph is composed without hyphenation.\footnote
    {The note uses its own alignment settings and may therefore
     be hyphenated independently of the main paragraph.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

The exact result depends on:

• the document language;
• the available hyphenation patterns;
• the width of the text area;
• the selected font;
• the tolerance and stretch settings.

7. Position the note number

The printed number within each note entry can be positioned with \setupnotation.

7.1. Reserve space for the number

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \showframe
  
  \setupnotation
    [footnote]
    [location=left,
     width=1cm]
  
  \starttext
  
  A sentence with a footnote.\footnote
    {The note number is placed in a reserved area to the left of the note text.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

The width key reserves horizontal space for the number.

7.2. Control the distance between number and text

The distance key controls the horizontal space between the printed number and the note text.

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \setupnotation
    [footnote]
    [location=left,
     width=broad,
     distance=.75em]
  
  \starttext
  
  This sentence contains a footnote.\footnote
    {The distance between the note number and the note text is increased.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

Choose a distance that separates the number clearly without creating an excessive gap.

The effect of distance depends partly on the selected notation alternative and number location.

7.3. Apply a custom command to the note number

A command may be used to add typographical material to the printed number.

\define[1]\MyFootnoteNumber
  {\hbox to 1.5em{#1.\hss}}

The argument #1 contains the printed note number.

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \define[1]\MyFootnoteNumber
    {\hbox to 1.5em{#1.\hss}}
  
  \setupnote
    [footnote]
    [command=\MyFootnoteNumber]
  
  \setupnotation
    [footnote]
    [location=left,
     hang=1]
  
  \starttext
  
  A sentence with a customized footnote number.\footnote
    {The number is followed by a full stop and placed in a fixed-width box.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

8. Set footnotes in several columns

When a page contains many short notes, the note block may be divided into columns.

8.1. MWE: two-column footnotes

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \setupnote
    [footnote]
    [n=2]
  
  \starttext
  
  First statement.\footnote{First short note.}
  
  Second statement.\footnote{Second short note.}
  
  Third statement.\footnote{Third short note.}
  
  Fourth statement.\footnote{Fourth short note.}
  
  Fifth statement.\footnote{Fifth short note.}
  
  Sixth statement.\footnote{Sixth short note.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

The setting:

n=2

requests two columns in the footnote block.

The result also depends on the available page width and the amount of note material.

9. Set footnotes in paragraph form

Successive note entries can be composed as a continuous paragraph rather than as separate blocks.

This is useful for compact textual notes and critical apparatuses.

9.1. MWE: paragraph-form footnotes

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \setupnote
    [footnote]
    [paragraph=yes]
  
  \setupnotation
    [footnote]
    [alternative=serried,
     width=broad,
     distance=.5em,
     display=no]
  
  \starttext
  
  First statement.\footnote{First compact note.}
  
  Second statement.\footnote{Second compact note.}
  
  Third statement.\footnote{Third compact note.}
  
  Fourth statement.\footnote{Fourth compact note.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

The settings have complementary roles:

Setting	Function
paragraph=yes	Composes successive note entries in paragraph form.
alternative=serried	Uses a compact arrangement suited to consecutive entries.
width=broad	Provides flexible space for the printed number.
distance=.5em	Controls the distance between the number and note text.
display=no	Prevents each note entry from behaving as a separate displayed block.

Paragraph form is especially useful for:

• textual notes;
• compact apparatuses;
• short bibliographical references;
• editions with many brief annotations.

10. Format several note series independently

Each custom note series may have its own body font, number conversion, and notation style.

This section concerns only presentation. For the creation and management of several series, see:

• Defining and managing multiple note series .

10.1. MWE: three independently formatted series

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \definenote
    [EdNote]
    [footnote]
  
  \definenote
    [TradNote]
    [footnote]
  
  \setupnote
    [footnote]
    [bodyfont=small]
  
  \setupnotation
    [footnote]
    [numberconversion=numbers]
  
  \setupnote
    [EdNote]
    [bodyfont=small]
  
  \setupnotation
    [EdNote]
    [numberconversion=characters,
     alternative=serried]
  
  \setupnote
    [TradNote]
    [bodyfont=small]
  
  \setupnotation
    [TradNote]
    [numberconversion=romannumerals,
     alternative=serried]
  
  \starttext
  
  A bibliographical reference appears here.\footnote
    {Author, \emph{Title}, p. 25.}
  
  An editorial comment appears here.\EdNote
    {The wording follows the first edition.}
  
  A translator's explanation appears here.\TradNote
    {The source term has no exact equivalent.}
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

The visual differences express the distinct function of each note series while preserving their structural independence.

11. Common mistakes

11.1. Applying a setting at the wrong level

Body font, columns, alignment, and paragraph form belong primarily to \setupnote.

Number position, number conversion, spacing, and notation alternatives belong primarily to \setupnotation.

11.2. Making note text too small

A smaller body font must remain readable at the final printed size.

Always assess the result on paper as well as on screen.

11.3. Reserving too little width for numbers

Test the layout with the largest expected note number.

A document with hundreds of notes requires more space than a short example.

11.4. Combining columns with long notes

Columns may create narrow measures, awkward breaks, and fragmented reading when the notes are discursive.

11.5. Using paragraph form without suitable spacing

Paragraph form usually works best with a compact notation alternative and carefully chosen spacing between numbers, note text, and successive entries.

11.6. Formatting a custom series under the wrong name

Use exactly the same series name in:

\definenote
  [EdNote]
  [footnote]

\setupnote
  [EdNote]
  [...]

\setupnotation
  [EdNote]
  [...]

12. Complete example

The following MWE combines a restrained set of commonly useful formatting choices:

• a smaller body font;
• independent interline spacing;
• paragraph-form notes;
• serried notation;
• consistent spacing between numbers and note text.

12.1. MWE: a compact and readable footnote block

• \setuppapersize[A6]
  
  \setupbodyfont
    [libertinus,10pt]
  
  \startsetups[footnote:interlinespace]
    \setupinterlinespace
      [line=2.8ex]
  \stopsetups
  
  \setupnote
    [footnote]
    [bodyfont=small,
     paragraph=yes,
     setups=footnote:interlinespace]
  
  \setupnotation
    [footnote]
    [alternative=serried,
     width=broad,
     distance=.5em,
     display=no,
     numberconversion=numbers]
  
  \starttext
  
  \startsection[title={A compact note block}]
  
  The first statement gives a short bibliographical reference.\footnote
    {Author, \emph{Title}, p. 25.}
  
  The second identifies an editorial decision.\footnote
    {The punctuation follows the first edition.}
  
  The third explains a translation choice.\footnote
    {The source term has no exact English equivalent.}
  
  The fourth records a concise cross-reference.\footnote
    {See also the discussion in the following section.}
  
  \stopsection
  
  \stoptext
  

• 

Compile the example and check that:

1. the note entries use the smaller body font;
2. the notes have independent interline spacing;
3. successive entries are composed in paragraph form;
4. the notation remains compact;
5. the spacing between numbers and note text is consistent;
6. the resulting block remains readable.

13. What this guide has established

To format footnotes:

1. use \setupnote for series-wide composition settings;
2. use \setupnotation for the visible arrangement of note entries and numbers;
3. use bodyfont to change the note-text size;
4. apply a named setup for independent interline spacing;
5. configure alignment and hyphenation separately when needed;
6. reserve sufficient width for the largest expected number;
7. use n to request several columns;
8. use paragraph=yes with suitable notation settings for paragraph form;
9. configure each custom note series independently.

The central principle is to separate editorial structure from typographical presentation.

Formatting should clarify the note system without obscuring the relation between note marks, note text, and note entries.

14. Next steps

14.1. Continue with the next guide

• Place footnotes at the end of a section or chapter

14.2. Continue with related tasks

• Define and manage multiple note series
• Place numbered notes in the margin
• Use local notes in tables, floats, and boxes
• Produce annotated and unannotated versions

14.3. Consult the documentation

• Consult the note-command reference
• Understand the note mechanism
• Check the terminology used in the footnote documentation