Who is the index for? This may seem like a trick question. You are probably thinking, “The reader, obviously.” So let me rephrase the question. As the indexer, who are you trying to please? I hope you are still trying to please the reader, but when writing the index, the… Read More »Who to Serve: the Client or the Reader?
If the index structure can be likened to a skeleton, and the information that the index seeks to convey the lifeblood, then perhaps all the small details that shape and bind an index together can be considered the muscle and sinew. It is this attention to detail that can elevate… Read More »On Double-Barrelled Entries
I was recently talking with a new indexer who was struggling with how much detail to pick up and include in the index. The issues were, how granular the index should be and how much of the author’s argument should be revealed in the index. This discussion got me thinking… Read More »On Rewriting the Book in the Index
Last week I wrote about internal consistency in an index, and how internal consistency can help make for a smoother user experience. But external consistency is also important, for the same reasons. The index should align with the text. Most obvious, of course, is alignment of content. The index should… Read More »External Consistency in Indexes
Consistency is key in the quest to provide a smooth user experience. How the index works should be largely invisible to the reader. What we do not want is the reader to find errors or inconsistencies which cause them to question whether their interpretation of the index is correct or… Read More »Internal Consistency in Indexes
Cutting an index to fit a tight space limitation is never fun. At least, I do not enjoy it. By cutting, I mean shortening the index beyond what I think the index should be. Editing may lengthen or shorten the index, depending on what needs to be done to make… Read More »Using Triage to Shorten an Index
Indexers hold great power, more than I think we often realize. Since the index we write will serve as a major entry point into the text for readers, we have a lot of influence over what readers find and how. I first came to this realization a few years ago… Read More »The Power to Reveal and Conceal in an Index
First, a definition. An entry, sometimes also called an entry array, is a single unit comprised of the main heading and everything that goes with it, which can include subheadings, locators, and cross-references. It is complete unto itself. Yet though complete unto itself, a single entry is not an index.… Read More »Index Entries, Reconsidered
Early in my indexing career I indexed a gardening book. In trying to follow the principle of specificity, I decided to create an entry for each tool which was discussed within a brief section on gardening tools. In her review, the client, who was also the managing editor for the… Read More »Choosing Appropriate Depth for an Index