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Help:explanatory notes

{{shortcut|H:NOTES}}

Explanatory or content notes are used to add explanations, comments or other additional information relating to the main content but would make the text too long or awkward to read. Such notes may include supporting references.

Please read Help:Footnotes and Help:Shortened footnotes first, as this guide builds upon the methods described on those help pages. WP:REFGROUP is of particular importance.

Note formats

There are several ways to include notes:

=Footnotes mixed with explanatory notes=

This example uses list-defined references mixed with explanatory notes.

{{markup

|The Sun is pretty big. But the Moon is not so big. The Sun is also quite hot.

Notes

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book |author=Miller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |page=23 |mode=cs2}}. But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.

The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example {{cite book |author=Jones |title=The Solar System |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

{{cite book |author=Brown |title=The Moon |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin |page=46 |mode=cs2}}. Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example {{cite book |author=Peterson |title=Astronomy |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

{{cite book |author=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |page=334 |mode=cs2}}.

}}

|The Sun is pretty big. But the Moon is not so big. The Sun is also quite hot.

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book |author=Miller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |page=23 |mode=cs2}}. But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.

The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example {{cite book |author=Jones |title=The Solar System |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

{{cite book |author=Brown |title=The Moon |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin |page=46 |mode=cs2}}. Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example {{cite book |author=Peterson |title=Astronomy |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

{{cite book |author=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |page=334 |mode=cs2}}.

}}

}}

=Footnotes with separate explanatory notes=

This example creates a separate notes section by using group names.

{{markup

|The Sun is pretty big. But the Moon is not so big. The Sun is also quite hot.

Notes

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=

But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.

The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.

Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.

}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book |author=Miller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |page=23 |mode=cs2}}.

{{cite book |author=Brown |title=The Moon |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin |page=46 |mode=cs2}}.

{{cite book |author=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |page=334 |mode=cs2}}.

}}

|The Sun is pretty big. But the Moon is not so big. The Sun is also quite hot.

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=

But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.

The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.

Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.

}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|References}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book |author=Miller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |page=23 |mode=cs2}}.

{{cite book |author=Brown |title=The Moon |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin |page=46 |mode=cs2}}.

{{cite book |author=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |page=334 |mode=cs2}}.

}}

}}

=Shortened footnotes mixed with explanatory notes=

{{markup

|The Sun is pretty big. But the Moon is not so big. The Sun is also quite hot.

Notes

{{reflist|refs=

{{harvnb|Mills|2005|p=23}}. But Mills points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.

The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example {{cite book |author=Johns |title=The Solar System |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

{{harvnb|Browne|2001|p=46}}. Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example {{cite book |author=Petersen |title=Astronomy |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

{{harvnb|Smithe|2005|p=334}}.

}}

References

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |author=Browne |title=The Moon |year=2001 |publisher=Penguin |mode=cs2}}.
  • {{cite book |author=Mills |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |mode=cs2}}.
  • {{cite book |author=Smithe |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |mode=cs2}}.

{{refend}}

|The Sun is pretty big. But the Moon is not so big. The Sun is also quite hot.

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{harvnb|Mills|2005|p=23}}. But Mills points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.

The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example {{cite book |author=Johns |title=The Solar System |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

{{harvnb|Browne|2001|p=46}}. Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example {{cite book |author=Petersen |title=Astronomy |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

{{harvnb|Smithe|2005|p=334}}.

}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|References}}

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |author=Browne |title=The Moon |year=2001 |publisher=Penguin |mode=cs2}}.
  • {{cite book |author=Mills |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |mode=cs2}}.
  • {{cite book |author=Smithe |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |mode=cs2}}.

{{refend}}

}}

=Shortened footnotes with separate explanatory notes=

This example creates a separate notes section by using group names.

{{markup

|The Sun is pretty big. But the Moon is not so big. The Sun is also quite hot.

Notes

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=

But Milner points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.

The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example {{cite book |author=Jonas |title=The Solar System |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example, {{cite book |author=Peters |title=Astronomy |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

}}

Citations

{{reflist|refs=

{{harvnb|Milner|2005|page=23}}

{{harvnb|Braun|2001|p=46}}

{{harvnb|Smyth|2005|p=334}}

}}

References

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |author=Braun |title=The Moon |year=2001 |publisher=Penguin |mode=cs2}}.
  • {{cite book |author=Milner |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |mode=cs2}}.
  • {{cite book |author=Smyth |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |mode=cs2}}.

{{refend}}

|The Sun is pretty big. But the Moon is not so big. The Sun is also quite hot.

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=

But Milner points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.

The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena - see, for example {{cite book |author=Jonas |title=The Solar System |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large, see, for example, {{cite book |author=Peters |title=Astronomy |publisher=MacMillan |year=2005 |page=623 |mode=cs2}}.

}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|Citations}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{harvnb|Milner|2005|page=23}}

{{harvnb|Braun|2001|p=46}}

{{harvnb|Smyth|2005|p=334}}

}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|References}}

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |author=Braun |title=The Moon |year=2001 |publisher=Penguin |mode=cs2}}.
  • {{cite book |author=Milner |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |mode=cs2}}.
  • {{cite book |author=Smyth |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |mode=cs2}}.

{{refend}}

}}

=Shortened footnotes with separate explanatory notes with references=

This method uses {{tl|sfn}} to create the main footnotes, {{tl|refn}} to create the explanatory notes and {{tl|sfn}} to create footnotes in the explanatory notes.

{{markup

|The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Muller|2005|p=23}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|But Muller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.{{sfn|Muller|2005|p=23}}}} But the Moon{{refn|group=lower-alpha|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.{{sfn|Broun|2001|p=63}}}} is not so big.{{sfn|Broun|2001|p=46}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Smiths|2005|p=334}}

Notes

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

Citations

{{reflist}}

References

{{refbegin}}

  • {{citation |last=Broun |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |year=2001}}
  • {{citation |last=Muller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005}}
  • {{citation |last=Smiths |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005}}

{{refend}}

|The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Muller|2005|p=23}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|But Muller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.{{sfn|Muller|2005|p=23}}}} But the Moon{{refn|group=lower-alpha|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.{{sfn|Broun|2001|p=63}}}} is not so big.{{sfn|Broun|2001|p=46}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Smiths|2005|p=334}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|Citations}}

{{reflist|close}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|References}}

{{refbegin}}

  • {{citation |last=Broun |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |year=2001}}
  • {{citation |last=Muller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005}}
  • {{citation |last=Smiths |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005}}

{{refend}}

}}

This method uses {{tl|sfn}} to create the main footnotes, {{tl|efn}} to create the explanatory notes, {{tl|sfn}} to create footnotes in the explanatory notes and {{tl|notelist}} to create the notes list.

{{markup

|The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Mueller|2005|p=23}}{{efn|But Mueller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.{{sfn|Mueller|2005|p=23}}}} But the Moon{{efn|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.{{sfn|Braune|2001|p=63}}}} is not so big.{{sfn|Braune|2001|p=46}}{{efn|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Schmidt|2005|p=334}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

Citations

{{reflist}}

References

{{refbegin}}

  • {{citation |last=Braune |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |year=2001}}
  • {{citation |last=Mueller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005}}
  • {{citation |last=Schmidt |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005}}

{{refend}}

|The Sun is pretty big.{{sfn|Mueller|2005|p=23}}{{efn|But Mueller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.{{sfn|Mueller|2005|p=23}}}} But the Moon{{efn|The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.{{sfn|Braune|2001|p=63}}}} is not so big.{{sfn|Braune|2001|p=46}}{{efn|Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.}} The Sun is also quite hot.{{sfn|Schmidt|2005|p=334}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}

{{notelist|close}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|Citations}}

{{reflist|close}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|References}}

{{refbegin}}

  • {{citation |last=Braune |title=The Moon |publisher=Penguin |year=2001}}
  • {{citation |last=Mueller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005}}
  • {{citation |last=Schmidt |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005}}

{{refend}}

}}