E-Book Text-Reflow Problem Why do the vast majority of e-books today come without indexes? Primarily, because of implementation challenges. A reader’s ability to adjust font size plays havoc with page references. Where, for example, in an e-book should index entries point to? At certain font sizes, hyperlinked numbers might lead exactly where you want to… Continue reading Problems with e-Book Indexes
Author: Lisa Ryan
Missing the e-Book Index
A well-designed index can help facilitate smarter e-books, making it easier for readers to find and retrieve information more efficiently. Unfortunately, at least for the immediate future, indexes won’t likely be appearing in most e-books on the the main e-reading systems, such as Kindle and Nook. The companies behind these reading platforms haven’t programmed their reading software… Continue reading Missing the e-Book Index
Special Topics on Alphabetizing in Indexes
When articles, conjunctions, or prepositions appear as the first term in a main heading, the phrase is probably a title of a book, an article, a play, or a painting. If the first term is an article, such as A or The, the term is not alphabetized. For example, the book title A Tale of… Continue reading Special Topics on Alphabetizing in Indexes
Alphabetizing in Indexes
Letter-by-Letter or Word-by-Word? The two principal modes of alphabetizing – or sorting – indexes are the letter-by-letter and the word-by-word systems. Indexers must decide which mode to use before indexing begins. Dictionaries are arranged letter-by-letter, while library catalogs are arranged word-by-word. Most university presses, such as Chicago University Press, and many other publishers have traditionally preferred… Continue reading Alphabetizing in Indexes
More on Cross-References in an Index
Continuing our discussion of cross-references, this post explores additional references in the form of see under and see also under. When a cross-reference directs readers to a subentry another a main heading, see under may be used. The use of “under” indicates that the term will be found explicitly as a subheading below the main… Continue reading More on Cross-References in an Index
Cross-References in an Index
Cross-reference refers to internal index navigation guides. These guides generally take the form of See or See also. The See cross-reference performs a vocabulary control function. It directs readers from a term not used in the index to a term that is used: cars. See autos See references direct a reader from, for example, an… Continue reading Cross-References in an Index
Double Posting of Index Entries
In an index, the indexer may choose to provide multiple access points for the same information. Given the importance of the main heading, it may be reasonable to assume that readers may look up a topic in more than one way. One reader may look up automobiles, while another reader may be just as likely… Continue reading Double Posting of Index Entries
Long Strings of Reference Locators in an Index
As a follow-up to my last posting, Guidelines for Editing Indexes, I wanted to explore in detail one of the guidelines. A main entry followed by a long string of undifferentiated reference locators or page numbers at the main heading level should be broken down into subheadings. A common rule of thumb is that more… Continue reading Long Strings of Reference Locators in an Index
Guidelines for Editing Indexes
When the indexer finishes compiling the last line of an index, it is only the first draft, and like any piece of writing, it requires editing. Substantive editing tasks, rewriting or reorganization of material, should be undertaken by the indexer alone. The indexer should produce an index manuscript that is in need of few copyediting or… Continue reading Guidelines for Editing Indexes
Index Formats
Run-In Versus Indented Indexes The Chicago Manual of Style describes two index formats that publishers use: run-in and indented. In run-in style, the subentries follow one another without each one’s starting a new line. In indented style, each subentry begins a new line and is indented (usually one em). The Chicago Manual of Style gives further… Continue reading Index Formats