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Typothalamus
Typothalamus
Known Participant
January 29, 2023
Answered

Footnote reference number size in smaller point size block quotations

  • January 29, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 530 views

Laying out a text which features numerous footnotes (given as sidenotes/margin notes) and many block quotations. When a footnote appears within the block quotation (which is a point size smaller), is it standard practice or recommended to keep the same size superscripted reference number as all other footnotes reference numbers in the body text, or scale it down to the block quotation point size? Or is the latter a type crime? Perhaps that's reserved for situations where the block quotation contains footnotes in the original source and when they are to be included with the excerpt in the new publication. 

 

All responses appreciated. 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Peter Kahrel

> keep the same size superscripted reference number as all other footnotes reference numbers in the body text, or scale it down to the block quotation point size?

 

Standard practice is to scale down. Superscript (and subscript) items are set proportinally to the full-size text. In secondary text that's set in a smaller size, superscripts scale down by the same proportion.

 

2 replies

P
Peter KahrelCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 29, 2023

> keep the same size superscripted reference number as all other footnotes reference numbers in the body text, or scale it down to the block quotation point size?

 

Standard practice is to scale down. Superscript (and subscript) items are set proportinally to the full-size text. In secondary text that's set in a smaller size, superscripts scale down by the same proportion.

 

    Typothalamus
    TypothalamusAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 3, 2023

    Perfect. Thank you again, Peter. 

    E
    Eugene Tyson
    Community Expert
    January 29, 2023

    You control the superscript position within the Preferences - and it's generally set to be a percentage of the type size, and position a percentage away from the height.

     

    You can increase or decrease this using character styles - but I tend to go with the overall preference setting and set it as a superscript in the style.

     

     

     I tend to adjust these settings rather than hardwire them into character style settings. 

    Then it's easier to manipulate all superscript text across the entire document by changing it in the preferences.

     

    But whatever works for you.

     

    It could be aesthetically more pleasing to adjust it to the same size across all text frames - or it might be best to let the software scale and position in the preferences. 

     

    I don't think there's any hard and fast rules - whatever works for you and looks good.

     

      Typothalamus
      TypothalamusAuthor
      Known Participant
      February 3, 2023

      Thank you for the detailed response and advice Eugene. 

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