The most memorable characteristic of an index is the arrangement of the entries in alphabetical order*. It makes it easy to find what you’re looking for, and even the picky differences between word-by-word and letter-by-letter arrangement aren’t noticeable to a casual user. But what about numbers? Since they’re not letters and therefore not obviously subject […]
Usability: Understanding Cross References, Part II
Note: This is an updated version of a post that appeared in 2016. Cross references are the instructions in an index that point a user from one place to another, usually taking the form of See or See also. They’re awfully convenient for indexers, providing a way to collect information outside the structure of the index. That is, […]
Usability: Understanding Cross References, Part I
Cross references — those little notes that tell a reader to look elsewhere in the index for information — are a much-loved tool for many indexers (Hans Wellisch gives them 10 pages in Indexing from A to Z). They’re quiet instructions, helping readers get acquainted with the author’s word choices. They neatly connect bits and pieces of the index, highlighting […]
Tech Tips: Creating Custom PDF Stamps in iAnnotate
I’ve mentioned using PDF stamps for proofreading and index editing before. While you can import proofreading stamp sets — here’s an old post about that — I like to make my own, especially for editing my indexes. Indexers who mark up page proofs prior to entering terms in their indexing software may also find it useful […]
Happy Indexing Day!
For our friends in the UK, it’s the inaugural National Indexing Day. A celebration of the Society of Indexers‘ 60th anniversary, National Indexing Day is a great way to promote indexing and raise awareness of the value of indexes—and indexers. After all, contrary to popular belief, indexes don’t write themselves! SI was formed in 1957, and within a year had 100 […]
PI Associate Interview: Martha Malnor
We’re running a series of interviews to introduce you all to our wonderfully talented group of independent indexers and taxonomists who enable us to say “yes” to the variety of project types and turnaround times our clients are looking for. Today, we’d like you to get to know our talented book indexer, Martha Malnor Your Business PI: […]
