Run-In Versus Indented Indexes This is the reprint of a blog posting that was originally printed on September 27, 2010. 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 starting a new line. In indented style, each subentry begins… Continue reading Index Formats
Tag: indexes
Solutions for the Index Locator Problem with e-Book Indexes
A paragraph-numbering system for locators, such as the one the Chicago Manual of Style uses, might possibly work for linking all e-book version of indexes the same way. But this might happen only if all e-reader devices would use a paragraph-based system, a standardized method of numbering screen pages/locations, and consistent placement of the index… Continue reading Solutions for the Index Locator Problem with e-Book Indexes
Problems with e-Book Indexes
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
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
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
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
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