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

The Indexer’s Reference: The Chicago Manual Of Style

The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition, which was recently published by the University of Chicago Press, remains the authoritative reference for indexers.  Indexers consult the one chapter on Indexes in The Chicago Manual of Style for guidelines relating to kinds of indexes and components of an index, as well as general principles of indexing.  Rules… Continue reading The Indexer’s Reference: The Chicago Manual Of Style

Indexes vs. Full-Text Searching

Researchers who rely entirely on full-text searching, i.e. searching the Web using a search engine such as Google, are missing information.  Indexes improve searching not only in terms of accuracy and thoroughness, but also speed, according to Mary Elizabeth Williams in the article “Dr. Searchlove: Or how I learned to stop Googling and love pre-coordinate indexing.”… Continue reading Indexes vs. Full-Text Searching

Glossary v. Index

Why are index entries in the plural and glossary entries in the singular?  A glossary is a collection of difficult or specialized terms with their meanings, but each entry is in the singular.  An index, as we have discussed, is an alphabetical list of items treated in a printed work with the page numbers where… Continue reading Glossary v. Index

Indexes in E-Books

Electronic book readers such as the Kindle and the Nook have changed the way people read books. With the electronic book reader, pages are turned electronically and silently, but what happens when the user tries to look up a subject in the index?  The index is static.  It has the same list of subjects and page references… Continue reading Indexes in E-Books

Concordances vs. Indexes

An index requires a degree of sophistication and skill lacking in a computer-generated concordance.  A concordance is an alphabetical list of words with locations in the text, a somewhat rudimentary index.  The computer automates the process, parsing the text and collecting the index words and the locations in the text, then writing the generated concordance… Continue reading Concordances vs. Indexes

Going Rogue without an index

Sarah Palin’s autobiography, Going Rogue: An American Life, published in November 2009, lacked an index.  Why?  An index, as explored in the previous post, would have been an invaluable tool to the scholars who will undoubtedly refer to the 413-page book to survey the political climate during the 2008 presidential election and Sarah Palin’s role… Continue reading Going Rogue without an index