as a footnote

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a footnote" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an additional comment or point related to something that has just been mentioned in the text. For example: He had achieved success in his career, though his father had always been critical - as a footnote, his father only recently expressed admiration for his son's accomplishments.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"The blog serves as a footnote, essentially.

The New York Times - Tech

Her legacy was as a footnote to royal events.

The New York Times

Doing little work other than journalism, he skirted the possibility of ending up as a footnote.

The New Yorker

As a footnote, Floyd died in September this year, just before his memoirs were published.

Independent

Sansa needs to tread carefully to avoid joining Rhaegar as a footnote in Westeros' bloody history.

Independent

Chung Ki Jang has spent most of his life as a footnote to history.

The New York Times

Passed by, in every sense, it lingers as a footnote on a footnote of history.

The Guardian

Still, as a footnote to American art history, Cos Cob deserves some recognition.

The New York Times - Arts

Still, as a footnote to American art history, Cos Cob deserves recognition.

The New York Times - Arts

Compared with the Rocker ruckus, this story has not been so much as a footnote.

The New York Times - Sports

Almost as a footnote, each film is also available (without extras) on videocassette for $9.98.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a footnote" to introduce supplementary details or context that isn't crucial to the main argument but enriches understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "as a footnote" too frequently, as it can make your writing seem disorganized or distract from the main points. Use it sparingly for truly secondary information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a footnote" functions as a transitional phrase or conjunctive adverbial. It serves to introduce supplementary information, a secondary point, or an aside that is related to the main topic but not essential to the core argument. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase adds extra detail.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a footnote" is a versatile phrase used to introduce supplementary information or asides, as explained by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, but also in science and formal business settings. To enhance your writing, use it sparingly to add context without disrupting the flow of your main points. Be aware of alternative phrases like "incidentally" or "by the way" for variety. As Ludwig's examples show, this phrase helps enrich your writing by providing non-essential but related details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as an aside

Indicates a departure from the main topic to make a related comment.

in passing

Indicates a brief or casual mention of something.

by the way

Signals the introduction of a related but not necessarily essential point.

parenthetically

Refers to inserting additional information within parentheses.

incidentally

Introduces a related piece of information that is not central to the main topic.

on a secondary note

Highlights that the information is of secondary importance.

in parenthesis

Similar to 'parenthetically' but emphasizes the physical insertion.

for the record

Used when something is being said for future reference or clarity, but may not be vital.

as supplementary information

Directly states the function of providing extra details.

in addition

This alternative refers to adding some extra information.

FAQs

How can I use "as a footnote" in a sentence?

You can use "as a footnote" to introduce supplementary information or an aside. For example, "The project was successful, and "as a footnote", the team received an award for their innovative approach."

What is a good alternative to "as a footnote"?

Alternatives include "incidentally", "by the way", or "as an aside". These can provide similar functions of adding secondary information without repeating the same phrase.

When is it appropriate to use "as a footnote" in academic writing?

It's appropriate to use "as a footnote" in academic writing when you want to add a minor point or additional context that is relevant but not essential to the central argument. Be sure to use it sparingly to avoid distracting from your main thesis.

Is there a difference between "as a footnote" and "in parenthesis"?

"As a footnote" introduces related but less critical information, whereas "in parenthesis" signals that the enclosed information is explanatory or supplementary. You can use "in parenthesis" when you need to include an additional context to a sentence.