What does endnote mean?
An endnote is a note of citation, explanation, or supplementary commentary that appears at the end of a document, chapter, or book rather than at the bottom of the page. In academic writing and scholarly publishing, authors mark points in the text with superscript numbers or symbols that correspond to sequentially numbered endnotes, allowing readers to consult sources or additional remarks without interrupting the flow of the main text. The term exists in contrast with "footnote," which refers to a note printed at the foot of the same page on which its marker appears. Endnotes are favored when notes are long or numerous, since collecting them together keeps each page visually uncluttered; their chief drawback is that readers must flip back and forth to consult them. Style manuals such as the Chicago Manual of Language conventions treat endnotes as a fully legitimate alternative to footnotes, and the choice between the two often comes down to a publisher's design preferences.
nounA note placed at the end of a chapter, section, or entire book, used to cite sources or supply commentary, as opposed to a footnote at the bottom of the page.
- A note of citation, comment, or supplementary information placed at the end of a document, chapter, or book rather than at the bottom of a page.
"The author relegated all her citations to endnotes so the pages would remain uncluttered."
"Readers who wanted to check her sources had to flip to the endnotes gathered after the final chapter."
"The historian tucked his wittiest asides into endnotes, rewarding anyone patient enough to reach them."
The plural is the more common form in practice, since works typically contain multiple endnotes grouped together.
"The dissertation ran to nearly two hundred endnotes."
An endnote can run for pages — some scholarly books devote hundreds of final pages to them, making the 'end' of the book only the beginning of its notes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of endnote
The word "endnote" is a straightforward English compound formed from "end" (from Old English "ende") and "note" (from Latin "nota," meaning a mark or sign, which entered English via Old French). It arose in modern publishing practice, alongside "footnote," to describe the physical placement of scholarly apparatus in printed books. Its cognates are essentially the many English derivatives of Latin "nota," such as "notation," "annotate," and "denote."
How endnote is actually used
Endnotes are characteristic of formal, academic, and scholarly publishing. They are typically numbered consecutively and paired with superscript numerals in the text. Writers choose them over footnotes when they want to keep body text clean or when notes are lengthy; style guides such as Chicago treat endnotes as a standard alternative to footnotes.
Easily confused with endnote
A footnote appears at the bottom of the page where the reference occurs, while an endnote is collected at the end of a chapter, article, or the whole work.