Margin Notes As An Interface

I like sites where the writing is the product.

So: notes should not be a separate page, or a modal, or a tooltip circus. They should be part of the reading rhythm.

The feature

• Desktop: margin notes appear in the outer gutter.
• Mobile: the same notes become inline callouts.

Example

Here is a sentence with a note.¹

Why it works

• Feels editorial (Gwern-ish)
• Adds depth without clutter
• Makes the site memorable while staying minimal