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Footnote issues in Mentur and how to fix them

Correct callouts, correspondence, numbering, text format, order, and use of footnotes.

Updated August 9, 2026

By Equipo Mentur

On this page

How to review a footnote

Each footnote connects a callout in the text with the note content. First confirm that both exist and share the same number. Then review callout position, superscript, sequence, and spacing before the note text.

If notes are collected on a separate page, also check the label, order, line spacing, and indentation. When they appear at the foot of the page, preserve the appropriate settings without turning them into body paragraphs.

Read Footnotes in APA Style to decide when to use them and where to present them.

Issues Mentur may show

Find the same title shown in your report. Each explanation helps you understand the result, apply the correction, and consult the related APA rule.

Warning

Footnote line spacing is incorrect

What we found

This footnote does not have the expected space between lines. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote line spacing is incorrect” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

Automatic footnote at the bottom of a page: Word's default settings Footnote on a separate page: 0.5-inch indent and 2.0 line spacing

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Footnote callout has an extra preceding space

What we found

There is an unnecessary space before the note number. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote callout has an extra preceding space” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

Sentence text.¹

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Footnote callout appears in a heading

What we found

This heading includes a footnote callout. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote callout appears in a heading” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

Section Heading Paragraph text with the callout.¹ ¹ Footnote text.

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Footnote callout position is incorrect

What we found

This note number appears in an unclear position. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote callout position is incorrect” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

Sentence text.¹

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Footnote callout has no matching footnote

What we found

This note number has no matching note text. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote callout has no matching footnote” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

Sentence text.¹ ¹ Footnote text.

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Footnote numbering is not consecutive

What we found

The note numbers do not follow a continuous order. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1Review every related label or number in order of appearance, not only the first case shown in the report. Identify where the sequence first repeats, skips, or moves backward.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

First callout: ¹ Second callout: ² Third callout: ³

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Footnote number should be superscript

What we found

This note number should appear raised above the text. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote number should be superscript” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

¹ Footnote text.

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Footnote number needs spacing

What we found

A space is missing between the note number and its text. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote number needs spacing” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

¹ Footnote text.

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Footnote paragraph missing indentation

What we found

This footnote paragraph needs an indent. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote paragraph missing indentation” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

¹ Footnote text. First-line indent: 0.5 inches

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Footnote section format is incorrect

What we found

The heading for the notes section needs an adjustment. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote section format is incorrect” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

Footnotes (centered and bold)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Footnote section is in the wrong order

What we found

The notes page appears in the wrong place. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote section is in the wrong order” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

References Footnotes

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Footnote text has no matching callout

What we found

This note has no number connecting it to the text. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Footnote text has no matching callout” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

It should look like this:

Sentence text.¹ ¹ Footnote text.

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Minor

Extensive footnote use needs review

What we found

There are many footnotes, or some are too long. A footnote has two connected parts: a small number in the text, called a callout, and the note that expands on that point. Readers should be able to move between them without confusing the note with a reference entry or information that belongs in the main paragraph.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Extensive footnote use needs review” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check that footnote callouts and notes correspond, use consecutive numbering, and follow APA formatting expectations.
  3. 3Read the full sentence or element after the change and review nearby elements of the same type so punctuation, numbering, and formatting remain consistent.

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.: footnotes should be used sparingly, numbered correctly, and formatted consistently.

Read the rule in the APA guide

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