Notes on notes

The present paper explores the functions of endnotes and footnotes in Swedish research articles in the fields of history and philosophy. The results of the study show that the notes not only contain the reference, but they also give the writer the opportunity to digress from the line of thought without breaking the thematic flow of the text. In the historical articles references to the material used play a central role, while in philosophy notes are more often used to activate the reader into a discussion.