The first thing you should know about appendices is that, sometimes, they are necessary. Appendices contain detailed information that is important but would be distractful if placed in the main body. For example, appendices might include lists of terms, mathematical proofs, research data, lists of tools, etc. Writing consultants from Writers-House service prepared this guide so that you can learn more about appendices and other additional elements of a paper, such as endnotes and footnotes.
The Format
Keep in mind that there may be more than one appendix in your paper. For example, you might have an appendix for every chapter. If there is only one appendix in your paper, you should title it “Appendix.” If there are two or more than one appendices, use letters: “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” “Appendix C,” etc. You can also use these labels when referring to the appendices in the main body.
The format of an appendix depends on its content. Thus, there is no universal format for all kinds of appendices. When using APA style throughout the paper, organize the content of your appendix according to the APA rules.
Footnotes/Endnotes
Apa style implies using parenthetical citations. However, there are also other citation styles which require you to include footnotes or endnotes. First of all, you should use footnotes to explain something. However, you might also use them for copyright purposes. The general purpose of content footnotes is almost the same as that of appendices because they include additional information that is valuable but unnecessary in the main body of your paper. The difference is that, in footnotes, you cannot include as much information.
Keep in mind that one footnote should only focus on one idea. If there is too much information and you realize that your footnote will be a few sentences long, we recommend that you provide this information in an appendix instead. There are many authors who avoid footnotes because they don’t want their readers to get distracted. In this case, authors either incorporate the necessary information in the main body or provide it in an appendix.
When using long quotes (500 words or more), as well as figures or tables used in other works, you should also include a footnote to acknowledge the fact that you have permission to use these materials.
Tables
Tables are always a good option if you need to show a lot of data in a format that is easy to comprehend. However, you shouldn’t try to present all of your data as tables. We recommend that you use tables only if the amount of data doesn’t allow you to present it as text. If there are just a few numbers, we suggest that you provide them in the textual format.
How to Use Tables
Every table in your document should have its number. Number your tables chronologically and explain where your readers can find them. Don’t include too many tables if you can provide all the necessary information in the text and use tables for the most important information.
Make sure that your tables make sense for every reader. Provide explanations for any abbreviations and specify the units of measurement. When writing your paper according to APA style, don’t forget that it has specific requirements for tables. Put your tables at the end of the paper, right after the list of references and before appendices. Every table should have its label and a unique title. Make these titles brief and explanatory.
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