Book Indexing Services

• Creating indexes for books (including reports & studies)
• Developing index specifications for your project

Factors Affecting Book Indexes

• Complexity of the material (trade, scholarly, technical)
• Density (amount of text per page)
• Depth (number of index entries per page)
• Additional material to be indexed (illustrations, figures, tables, footnotes, endnotes)
• Number of indexes desired (combined or separate name and subject indexes)

Specifications

Each index is unique and index specifications are determined before indexing commences. Check with your publisher or organization's publication department for any in-house guides. If none exist, a standard style guide such as the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), can be adapted to meet your needs. Below are the primary specifications to consider for any book index.

• Number of indexes: single or multiple (e.g. combined or separate name and subjects)
  
• Available space: Number of pages or lines devoted to the index
  
• File format/delivery method: RTF, E-mail, other
  
• Format: indented or run-in
  
  Indented (easier to read and add sub-subheadings):
  
      inflation
         causes, 3-5
         effects of, 7, 14
         measures of 8-9, 12
  
  Run-in (saves space):
  
      inflation: causes, 3-5; effects
         of, 7, 14; measures of, 8-9,
         12
     
  
• Arrangement of main headings: word-by-word or letter-by-letter
  
  Word-by-word (will keep like names and compound headings together):
  
      class discrimination
      class identity
      classes
  
  Letter by-letter ("dictionary" style):
  
      class discrimination
      classes
      class identity
  
  
• Arrangement of subheadings: alphabetical, chronological, other
  
• Arrangement of numbers and symbols: as spelled out, beginning of index, beginning of alphabetical grouping, ASCII
  
• Level of subheadings: one level or additional sub-subheadings
  
• Cross reference format: placement of See and See also references
  
  See also as last subentry:
   
      economic assistance
         history of, 24-31
         U.S. budget for, 5, 41-44
         See also military assistance
  
  See also as first subentry:
  
      economic assistance
         See also military assistance
         history of, 24-31
         U.S. budget for, 5, 41-44
  
  
• Capitalization: initial caps or proper names and nouns only
  
• Acronyms and abbreviations: sort as spelled out, as acronym, other
  
• Page number format: full or elided, e.g. 127-129 vs. 127-29 vs. 127-9
  
• Page numbers referring to illustrative matter: typeface or abbreviations, e.g. fig., map, n (for note), 23 (photographs appear in boldface)
  
• Coding: Special coding or tagging for typesetting