Marginal notes, in Printing , are short lines [of text] placed in the margin and set in type which is usually two sizes smaller than that of the main text. They must either be placed directly opposite the line to which they refer or marked with a * star or by the letters a, b, c , etc. They carry dates, references to authors, or a summary of the article beside which they are placed. When the notes become too large for the marginal space, and when one does not wish to continue them onto the next page, the note is broken up [ hachée ], that is, as many lines of the main text are removed as is necessary to accommodate the overflow of the notes which then run in lines across the whole width of the page including the note margin.