Introduction
Today’s post will deal with the exciting world of footnotes! 
I know, I know, it seems as if I’m dredging the bottom of the content barrel, but it’s not like that.
In truth, I have many ideas for posts or even a series but I haven’t had time to write them (e.g. “How I use my bibliographic software?” or “Choosing a dissertation topic: A personal case study”) These will have to wait for another day. (Besides, what have you got against footnotes?)
For now, as I’ve gotten more into the actual writing phase of my PhD project, I wanted to share a few tips on these important mini-statements.
Tip #1 – Don’t create your footnotes too early
One of the temptations as you write (or at least it’s a temptation as I write), is to try to slot your finished footnotes in too early.
This doesn’t seem like a big deal, unless you’ve got one of those monster footnotes that takes 45 minutes to create (you know, because in order to impress your supervisor it must include every obscure author who ever wrote about the structure of the Miletus Speech!) Ahemm…hypothetically speaking, of course.
The problem with this scenario is that even with a fairly good outline, the flow of your argument and ideas can change as you write. Thus, you may end up killing that literary masterpiece you slaved over because you didn’t need it (like for example, if you bring it up into your main text). Again, hypothetically speaking. 🙂
So, as you write, try to stay back from completing those footnotes until the end. My suggestion is to make a reference next to the sentence (Bruce, Acts, 25) and move on. Make it a different color if needed, but don’t spend any more of your precious time until you know that citation (or mini-tome) is there to stay.
Tip #2 – Dealing with those blasted numerical ranges
If you’re like me, having to put in a page number or scriptural reference range in a footnote can sometimes drive you batty (Is it 32-9 or 32-39?)
I have seen it written in different ways, so, after years of aimless research, I finally decided to consult the expert. Here’s what she says (Turabian, 7th ed., 327).
| First Number | Second Number | Examples |
| 1-99 | Use all digits | 3-10, 71-72, 96-117 |
| 100 or multiples of 100 | Use all digits | 100-104, 1100-1113 |
| 101 through 109, 201 through 209, etc. | Use changed part only | 101-8, 1103-4 |
| 110 through 199, 210 through 299, etc. | Use two or more digits as needed but if three digits change in a four-digit number, use all four | 245-48, 498-532, 1929-94
but 1894-1986, 2787-2816 |
From now on, there is no excuse for not making perfect numerical ranges. (By the way, the technical term for this digit range is “inclusive numbers.”)
Tip #3 – Use a bibliographic software to insert footnotes
This is not really a tip as much as a strongly worded encouragement. Get thee a bibliographic software if you haven’t jumped into the 21st century. Don’t go old school on this!
I’ve written about this before (Bibliographic software – A researcher’s dream). Thus, I won’t say much more other than to tell you it is an efficiency beast when it comes to inserting footnotes.
Conclusion
Well, that’s about all for this post. I’d love to hear some of your best practices when it comes to the exciting world of footnotes. (Hey…honestly, “you can’t live with ’em, you can’t live without ’em!)
As always your comments are greatly appreciated.
Happy researching!
