riddled with footnotes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "riddled with footnotes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a text or document that contains many footnotes, often indicating extensive references or commentary. Example: "The academic paper was so thorough that it was riddled with footnotes, providing detailed explanations for every claim made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

His books are also riddled with footnotes.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Riddled with indecision.

The New Yorker

She is riddled with tension.

Independent

Chile is riddled with cartels.

The Economist

It was riddled with errors.

The New York Times - Style

His were riddled with unfairness.

The New York Times

It was riddled with holes.

The Economist

It is riddled with wastefulness.

The Economist

Riddled with it.

The Guardian - Books

The image of the footnote, below, gives a sense of both the scope of what went wrong and what we still don't know; it is riddled with redactions.

The New Yorker

He was riddled with ball bearings.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "riddled with footnotes" when you want to emphasize the extensive and perhaps overwhelming presence of footnotes in a text, often suggesting a high level of detail or scholarly rigor. Make sure the tone fits the context; it can sometimes imply the footnotes are excessive.

Common error

Avoid using "riddled with footnotes" in informal or casual writing where a simpler description of many references would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "riddled with footnotes" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (e.g., "text", "document"). It indicates a state of being permeated or excessively filled with footnotes. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is often used in academic or journalistic contexts to describe detailed works.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "riddled with footnotes" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, primarily functioning as an adjective phrase to describe a text or document. According to Ludwig, its main purpose is to emphasize the extensive presence of footnotes, often implying a high level of detail or scholarly work. It appears most frequently in News & Media, suggesting a formal register. While perfectly acceptable, its use should be considered carefully in informal contexts to avoid sounding pretentious. Alternatives like "replete with footnotes" or "extensively footnoted" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. In summary, "riddled with footnotes" is a valuable phrase for describing heavily annotated texts, best suited for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

replete with footnotes

This alternative emphasizes abundance, similar to "riddled", but uses "replete" to highlight completeness.

laden with footnotes

This alternative suggests the text is heavily burdened with footnotes, similar to "riddled", but uses a more metaphorical term.

awash with footnotes

This phrase conveys an image of footnotes overflowing the text, similar to "riddled", emphasizing quantity.

teeming with footnotes

This alternative suggests the text is full of footnotes, with a connotation of activity or abundance.

thick with footnotes

This suggests a dense concentration of footnotes throughout the text.

extensively footnoted

This directly describes the level of footnoting, rather than implying it through a descriptive verb.

heavily annotated

This focuses on the annotation aspect, emphasizing the presence of explanatory notes.

thoroughly referenced

This highlights the comprehensive referencing via footnotes in the document.

densely documented

This emphasizes the detailed nature of the documentation, including footnotes.

overflowing with references

This alternative implies an excessive amount of references, akin to "riddled", with a slightly exaggerated tone.

FAQs

How can I use "riddled with footnotes" in a sentence?

You can use "riddled with footnotes" to describe a text that contains many footnotes. For example, "The academic paper was "riddled with footnotes", providing detailed explanations for every claim made."

What are some alternatives to "riddled with footnotes"?

Alternatives include phrases like "replete with footnotes", "laden with footnotes", or "extensively footnoted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to say a document is "riddled with footnotes"?

Yes, it is appropriate, particularly in academic or formal contexts. It suggests that the document contains a significant number of footnotes, often indicating thorough research or detailed explanations.

What does it imply when a text is described as "riddled with footnotes"?

It implies the text is heavily annotated, suggesting either a comprehensive approach to referencing or, potentially, an excessive reliance on footnotes that might interrupt the reading flow.