Like MLA, APA discourages the use of footnotes unless absolutely necessary. Even then, the guide recommends that footnotes only be used to provide content notes (such as providing brief, supplemental information about the text or directing readers to additional information) and to denote copyright permissions.

What is a footnote used for?

Footnotes are notes placed at the bottom of a page. They cite references or comment on a designated part of the text above it. For example, say you want to add an interesting comment to a sentence you have written, but the comment is not directly related to the argument of your paragraph.

When should I use footnotes or endnotes?

Endnotes have the same purpose as footnotes, which is why you don't need to use them together in most cases. Use an endnote wherever you would normally add an internal citation in APA or MLA or any extra information you want to include.