Footnotes

[Jaime Lync]

I am currently reviewing a book with tons of footnotes. It is my opinion that I have to read them all because I am reviewing the book. However, I usually don't read footnotes.
Do you read footnotes? You know those footnotes that may be associated with a quote on the page that has a number to specify the footnote...do you read the footnotes as their relevant portions in the book pop up or do you read them all together at the end of the chapter/page?

[gali]

I don't like footnotes, but read them if they relevant to the tale. I don't like it when footnotes are placed at the end of the book and tend to skip them in that case.

[Manang Muyang]

In my experience, footnotes are used so as not to clutter the page or distract from the narration/story. They are used to clarify the word or phrase referred to (where the footnote number is attached). I read them immediately so I can better understand whatever is referred to. Footnotes may also be used to name the original author of the quote or sentence to give due credit. Otherwise, the writer may be accused of plagiarism.
I also think footnotes are troublesome but they keep both reader and writer out of trouble.

[AliceofX]

Always, since they usually have interesting information in them. I read them immediately because by the end of the page or chapter I would probably forget entirely what they are referencing.

[IsabelMay]

I despise them, to be frank. It reminds me of scientific researches I worked on that had very little text and a whole load of footnotes. The tricky thing is that some are actually crucial for later understanding. If there are few of them, it's fine, but if it takes more than five lines... it just takes away from the book.

[Storygamer88]

I like them if they're relevant, but some can go into too much detail. I guess I also think writers for a story should write in a way that footnotes arent needed.

I dont mind them in academic texts though.

[Pm7lucas]

I read footnotes as they come up...I like to have the best understanding of the material.

Paula

[Ama Idim]

I don't like footnotes but I guess I have to read them if I must understand the book properly.

[PABS]

I read them as they come up. If I waited until the end, I'm sure I would not remember the referent. This is another reason why I prefer physical books over digital ones. It's so much easier to mark where the footnotes begin and flip to and from them.

[DATo]

I am currently on volume 2 of Edward Gibbon's The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. I would estimate that (believe it or not) about 1/4 or more of the book is footnotes. Much of the reason for this is that Gibbon is citing his sources and often there are contradictory views and language interpretations by ancient as well as modern chroniclers. One of the reasons that this work is held in high esteem is precisely because Gibbon was extremely thorough in citing his evidence for virtually everything he put into the books. This is all well and good and since I am not interested in the scholarly aspect of the work I could simply ignore the footnotes ... EXCEPT .... that often there is something of great interest regarding the actual events being described in the text proper and in order to know if this is the case one is forced to at least peruse every footnote. It is very frustrating because only one in about ten to twenty footnotes actually has something worth reading, but it is usually something fascinating that one would want to know.

[Taekwondoqueen]

Personally, I don’t like or read footnotes. Feel that they are distracting and take away from the story. Maybe this is only my opinion, who knows.

[Jennifer Fernandez]

I read them if they clarify something I don't understand. If they just mention authors that said the same thing, I ignore them.

[Sharill Rasowo]

I am used to reading footnotes as the academic papers I read always have them and even worse hide important information in them.

[lisalynn]

Footnotes have their place. They are important to cite references or to make additional comments on the text. I expect them in a more academic setting, but I found the book I'm Keith Hernandez to be full of footnotes. One on almost every page. For a memoir like that, most of the footnoted information could have been included as part of the story. The footnotes became a distraction from an otherwise pretty good book.

[car-mbz]

I don't love footnotes but I read them anyway. I think if they are used creatively can add exciting energy to a story.