Footnote reference number size in smaller point size block quotations

[Typothalamus]

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. 

[Eugene Tyson · Accepted solution]

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]

Thank you for the detailed response and advice Eugene. 

[Peter Kahrel · Accepted solution]

> 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]

Perfect. Thank you again, Peter.