View source for 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
|<nowiki>The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/> But the Moon<ref name=Foot02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot04/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>{{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.</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>{{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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot04>{{cite book |author=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |page=334 |mode=cs2}}.</ref>
}}</nowiki>
|The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/> But the Moon<ref name=Foot02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot04/>

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>{{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.</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>{{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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot04>{{cite book |author=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |page=334 |mode=cs2}}.</ref>
}}
}}

===Footnotes with separate explanatory notes===
This example creates a separate notes section by using group names.
{{markup
|<nowiki>The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/><ref group=Note name=Note01/> But the Moon<ref group=Note name=Note02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot02/><ref group=Note name=Note03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot03/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=
<ref name=Note01>But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.</ref>
<ref name=Note02>The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.</ref>
<ref name=Note03>Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.</ref>
}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>{{cite book |author=Miller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |page=23 |mode=cs2}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>{{cite book |author=Brown |title=The Moon |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin |page=46 |mode=cs2}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>{{cite book |author=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |page=334 |mode=cs2}}.</ref>
}}</nowiki>
|The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/><ref group=Note name=Note01/> But the Moon<ref group=Note name=Note02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot02/><ref group=Note name=Note03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot03/>

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=
<ref name=Note01>But Miller points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.</ref>
<ref name=Note02>The Moon goes by other names, such as Selena.</ref>
<ref name=Note03>Historically the Moon was not always considered to be large.</ref>
}}

{{fake heading|sub=3|References}}
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>{{cite book |author=Miller |title=The Sun |publisher=Oxford |year=2005 |page=23 |mode=cs2}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>{{cite book |author=Brown |title=The Moon |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin |page=46 |mode=cs2}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>{{cite book |author=Smith |title=The Universe |publisher=Random House |year=2005 |page=334 |mode=cs2}}.</ref>
}}
}}

===Shortened footnotes mixed with explanatory notes===
{{markup
|<nowiki>The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/> But the Moon<ref name=Foot02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot04/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>{{harvnb|Mills|2005|p=23}}. But Mills points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>{{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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot04>{{harvnb|Smithe|2005|p=334}}.</ref>
}}

==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}}</nowiki>
|The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/> But the Moon<ref name=Foot02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot04/>

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>{{harvnb|Mills|2005|p=23}}. But Mills points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>{{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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Foot04>{{harvnb|Smithe|2005|p=334}}.</ref>
}}

{{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
|<nowiki>The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/><ref group=Note name=Note01/> But the Moon<ref group=Note name=Note02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot02/><ref group=Note name=Note03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot03/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=
<ref name=Note01>But Milner points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.</ref>
<ref name=Note02>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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Note03>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}}.</ref>
}}

==Citations==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>{{harvnb|Milner|2005|page=23}}</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>{{harvnb|Braun|2001|p=46}}</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>{{harvnb|Smyth|2005|p=334}}</ref>
}}

==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}}</nowiki>
|The Sun is pretty big.<ref name=Foot01/><ref group=Note name=Note01/> But the Moon<ref group=Note name=Note02/> is not so big.<ref name=Foot02/><ref group=Note name=Note03/> The Sun is also quite hot.<ref name=Foot03/>

{{fake heading|sub=3|Notes}}
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=
<ref name=Note01>But Milner points out that the Sun is not as large as some other stars.</ref>
<ref name=Note02>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}}.</ref>
<ref name=Note03>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}}.</ref>
}}

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

{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Foot01>{{harvnb|Milner|2005|page=23}}</ref>
<ref name=Foot02>{{harvnb|Braun|2001|p=46}}</ref>
<ref name=Foot03>{{harvnb|Smyth|2005|p=334}}</ref>
}}

{{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
|<nowiki>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}}</nowiki>
|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
|<nowiki>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}}</nowiki>
|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}}
}}