A paper-first reading field guide
Mark When a Footnote Changes the Main Claim
Use three linked fields: main-text claim, footnote change, and revised scope. Keep each field brief and attach the page or chapter landmark that supports it.
Notice when a footnote adds a condition, source dispute, or exception that changes how the main sentence should be read. A compact three-anchor trail keeps the note useful when you return later or discuss it with someone using another edition.
Step 1
Anchor the location
Record the page or chapter before interpreting the moment. Add the current reading boundary when later knowledge could change the note.
Step 2
Main-text claim
Paraphrase the main sentence before opening the note.
Step 3
Footnote change
Record the condition or exception supplied below the page.
Step 4
Revised scope
Rewrite the claim narrowly enough to include both.