Index (publishing) facts for kids
An index is like a helpful guide found in books or online. It's a list of important words or topics from a document. Next to each topic, you'll find "pointers" that tell you exactly where to find more information about it. Think of it as a super-organized map to help you quickly find what you're looking for!
An index is different from a table of contents. A table of contents lists chapters in the order they appear in the book. An index, however, lists topics in alphabetical order, no matter where they are in the book. It helps you find specific details quickly.
In a traditional book, the index is usually at the very back. It lists important people, places, events, and ideas from the book. The "pointers" are usually page numbers. The person who creates an index is called an indexer. This can be the author, editor, or a professional indexer.
Indexes are also used in library catalogs. Here, the words might be authors, titles, or subjects. The pointers are call numbers that tell you where to find the book. Even internet search engines like Google work a bit like indexes. They help you find information, but they aren't as carefully organized or selective as a human-made index.
Contents
What is an Index?
An index helps you find specific information in a large document. It lists key topics and tells you where to find them. This is much faster than reading the whole document!
Index vs. Table of Contents
- A table of contents shows you the main parts of a book in order.
- An index lists specific topics in alphabetical order. It helps you jump straight to a detail.
Index vs. Concordance
- An index focuses on the subject or idea of the text.
- A concordance lists every time a specific word appears in a text. It's more about the exact words used.
Early Examples of Indexes
Indexes have been around for a long time! In English, people talked about indexes as early as 1593. The famous writer Christopher Marlowe mentioned them in his poem Hero and Leander:
Therefore, even as an index to a book
So to his mind was young Leander's look.
Another famous writer, William Shakespeare, also mentioned indexes in Troilus and Cressida (written nine years later). Back then, an "index" often meant what we now call a table of contents. Books sometimes had very long chapter titles that acted like a simple guide.
One of the first true indexes, like the ones we use today, was in Leonard Mascall's book about planting trees in 1575. Another was in Sir Thomas North's 1595 translation of Plutarch's Parallel Lives.
Where Does the Word "Index" Come From?
The word "index" comes from Latin. In Latin, index means "one who points out" or a "forefinger". It makes sense because an index points you to information!
Plural Forms: Indexes or Indices?
Both "indexes" and "indices" are correct plural forms.
- "Indices" is often used in math and computer science.
- "Indexes" is more common in publishing and general use.
Most style guides today prefer "indexes" for books and documents.
How Are Indexes Made?
Creating an index is a careful process.
Traditional Indexing
An indexer reads through the text. They look for important ideas and concepts. Then, they create headings for these concepts. These headings are phrased so they can be easily found when listed alphabetically. For example, they might write 'indexing process' instead of 'how to create an index'.
The indexer then adds "locators" (like page numbers) to each heading. They use special indexing software to help organize and format the index. After all the entries are made, the index is checked for consistency.
Indexers don't just list words. They analyze the text to find hidden ideas. They make sure the index helps the reader, not just the author. In the United States, authors are usually responsible for the index, but most hire professional indexers. Before computers, indexers used small slips of paper or index cards. They would write entries on these cards, then shuffle them into alphabetical order by hand!
Indexing Software
Today, special software helps indexers. These programs help with sorting and organizing the entries.
Embedded Indexing
Some indexes are "embedded." This means the index headings are placed directly within the text itself. They are hidden by special codes so you don't see them when reading. When the book is finished, the index can be created automatically from these hidden headings.
The cool thing about embedded indexing is that if the page numbers change (for example, if you add or remove text), the index can be quickly updated. This saves a lot of time compared to manually changing every page number in a traditional index.
Why Are Indexes Important?
Indexes are designed to help you find information quickly and easily. A good index is not just a list of words. It's an organized map of the content. It includes cross-references, which tell you to "See also" related topics. It also groups similar ideas together.
For example, a book index might look like this:
- sage, 41–42. See also Herbs ← tells you to look at related topics
- Scarlet Sages. See Salvia coccinea ← redirects you to the term used in the text
- shade plants ← a general topic that might not be a specific heading in the book
- hosta, 93 ← specific examples under the general topic
- myrtle, 46
- Solomon's seal, 55
- sunflower, 47 ← a regular entry
Indexes are usually at the end of books. They work with the table of contents. The table of contents gives you a general overview, while the index helps you find specific details.
What Makes a Good Index?
A good index is clear and helpful. Here are some tips for good indexing:
- Make sure each important topic has several entries in the index.
- Think about who will read the book. What words will they look for?
- Be consistent! Use the same style for all entries (e.g., always singular or always plural).
Common Indexing Mistakes
Sometimes indexes can have problems:
- Important topics might be missing from the index.
- Listing things that are only mentioned briefly.
- Cross-references that send you in a circle (e.g., "Cats. See Felidae" and "Felidae. See Cats").
- Spreading information about one topic across many different headings.
- Mixing up similar names (e.g., Henry V of England and Henri V of France).
- Incorrect alphabetical order.
- Bad subheadings that don't make sense.
Who Are Indexers?
Indexers are professionals who create indexes. They often specialize in certain types of documents or subjects.
Indexer Specializations
- Scholarly books: Indexing academic books.
- Web indexing: Creating indexes for websites.
- Database indexing: Using special lists of words (called controlled vocabulary) to categorize articles for databases.
- Periodical indexing: Indexing newspapers, journals, and magazines.
Some indexers are also taxonomists or ontologists. This means they help organize knowledge and information systems. Indexers can specialize in almost any subject, like history, medicine, or technology.
Indexing Standards
There are international rules for how indexes should be made. One important standard is ISO 999:1996. This guide helps make sure indexes are clear and well-organized.
Indexing Societies
Many groups exist to support indexers and promote good indexing.
- The American Society for Indexing, Inc. (ASI) is a group in the United States. It helps indexers and teaches people about how valuable good indexes are.
- Other similar groups are found around the world, like the Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers and the Indexing Society of Canada.
See also
In Spanish: Índice para niños
- Concordance (publishing)
- Indexing and abstracting service
- Subject (documents)
- Subject indexing
- Table of contents
- Web indexing
