Does no one use footnotes?

[pangmida]

I see, I usually see them a lot in chinese webnovels to explain stuff that it's meanings can't be grasped by direct translation (Ex: A chinese pun)

Ahh, that makes sense. The language and cultural differences between English and Chinese are huge (coming from a Chinese-speaker). Unfortunately, there are many things you really just can't directly translate—titles, idioms, jokes, etc... That's why Chinese webnovels often need to include a little dictionary in footnotes to provide explanation.

I've sometimes seen footnotes from older English novels where certain items, slang, or concepts might need explanation due to the generational gap. Otherwise, I doubt that English webnovels on English sites would normally provide footnotes, since you don't really have much gap in understanding.

 

[Grizzly18]

Footnotes are more academic where this is casual writing. Not a ton of modern authors use footnotes unless its for more detailed explanations about stuff on the page. Most writers nowadays just explain everything that doesn't make sense so there's no need.

 

[DireBadger]

I use footnotes EXCLUSIVELY online, as a way to gauge and encourage reader enthusiasm.

Right now I am doing stuff like...

[author]
Our protagonist's walls are finally coming down. What do you think of his reasons for staying single? Is he being smart, self-destructive, or just a coward as he claims?
[/author]

I am trying to keep a reader's interest. seems to be working.

 

[Racosharko]