Indexing Tips

When you pick up a book, how often to you contemplate the index? We certainly use indexes, but how many of us really think about how that got to be in the back of our book? The answer is that someone sat down and wrote that index.

Creating the index for a book can be quite a challenge. First, an indexer must decide what information should be included in the index and then determine how to organize that information in a logical manner. An indexer reads the book and pulls out the major themes, ideas, and facts and puts all of that information in an alphabetical list with terms an average reader would look up.

If you are trying out indexing, keep the following tips in mind.

Be consistent.

Have the index page number styling match the styling system in the book or style manual being used. For example, 342-43 and 100-101 are Chicago style. Another style manual may have 342-343 and 100-101 or 342-3 and 100-1.

Keep cross-references logical.

Focus on convenience for the reader. If it takes equal or less space to supply a page number instead of writing a cross-reference, double post the page number. If there are several page numbers, a cross-reference may be the better choice. Also, only use cross-references if there is additional information at the other entry.

Only use page numbers that relate to the topic.

Make sure all of the page numbers you are listing pertain to the actual entry. Just because the entry is mentioned, if it is not discussed, that page number should not be referenced in the index.

Think like a reader.

Whatever you decide to include and however you decide to organize it, make sure a reader would be able to find the information easily and use the index effectively.