Here are some frequently asked questions when considering an index:
If a book is well-written and contains a clear table of contents, a reader should be able to find what he or she is looking for without too much trouble, right? Not necessarily. A good index acts as a bridge between the author’s thinking and the readers’ particular needs. More specifically:
- A good index saves the user time. Whether it’s one key date or an in-depth discussion of a complex topic, an index that is concise, accurate, and unambiguous sends its user directly where he or she needs to be.
- A good index may be a reader’s primary road into the work. Some books, particularly those that are more technical in nature, may never be read cover-to-cover. Users may, instead, look to the index to find the pieces of information they need at that moment.
- A good index gives potential readers a clear sense of what is contained in the book. Teachers, researchers, librarians, and reviewers all look to the index to tell them how comprehensive or detailed a piece of literature may be. For these potential “customers,” the index is the all-important first impression.
Can my computer create my index for me?
Computers are capable of many things, but creating an index is not one of them. Here’s why:
- A computer cannot distinguish between what is important and what is not. Many concepts contained in a text are mentioned only in passing and would not be useful to a reader looking for substantive information. A computer is not able to tell the difference between the two and would include all mentions, quickly overwhelming your readers.
- Subtlety is lost on a computer. Many cross-references within a text may be nuanced. Similarly, a topic may be discussed at length without ever being mentioned by name. In the absence of a specific term on its search list, a computer could not possibly catch these situations and they will be left out of the index.
- A computer does not know how to adapt. A human indexer can remain true to required style guidelines while staying flexible to increase the utility of the index.
- A computer is not self-reflective. At least half the work involved in indexing is visiting and revisiting the index to improve upon it. A computer may be able to generate a list of words contained within the text, but its work stops there.
How do I hire a professional indexer?
In order to get started with a professional indexer, you will need to provide several key pieces of information:
- Topic of the book. The indexer will want to insure that your text is a good match for her expertise.
- Number of indexable pages anticipated. This information will help the indexer determine the cost for the project and the length of time needed to complete it.
- Key dates. Knowledge of the date that the page proofs will be ready and the deadline for the completion of the index allow the indexer to schedule sufficient time for completion of the project.
- Style specifications. These include, but are not necessarily limited to: index format (run-in or indented); alphabetization method; cross-reference style. This information is available from your publisher.
- Any other special requests. This may include type(s) of indexes (author, titles) needed.
Please contact us at info@SmartRoadIndexing.com for more information or to get started on your index.