Sage-Tips

How do you create an index for a nonfiction book?

Readers come to a nonfiction book looking for information….The basic process of making an index is simple:

1. Create a list of topics.
2. Use a computer program like Word or InDesign to mark the entries on each page of your document.
3. Let the program generate your index.
4. Tweak and repeat until satisfied.

What is the index of a nonfiction book?

An index is essentially a roadmap to the book, listing names, places, and things in alphabetical order and giving the page numbers associated with each topic. For nonfiction books, packed with valuable information, a well-made index can help quickly direct the reader to the information they’re trying to find.

How do you compile a book index?

How to Write an Index

1. Read the book. The first step may seem obvious, but it’s important to do a thorough readthrough of any book before you start on the indexing process.
2. Use indexing software.
3. Mark up the book.
4. Address formatting questions.
5. Make index entries.
6. Order your index entries.
7. Edit your index.

How do you create an index for a book in Word?

Create the index

1. Click where you want to add the index.
2. On the References tab, in the Index group, click Insert Index.
3. In the Index dialog box, you can choose the format for text entries, page numbers, tabs, and leader characters.
4. You can change the overall look of the index by choosing from the Formats dropdown menu.

How do you use an index for a book?

Simply flick to the back of the book and check the index for the page number. An index is a list of all the names, subjects and ideas in a piece of written work, designed to help readers quickly find where they are discussed in the text.

Does every book need an index?

Since you’re the author, it is up to you whether you decide to include an index for your book or not. If your book is a non-fiction book then the reader will surely need an index for it, and the index should be well made.

Where does an index go in a book?

In books, indexes are usually placed near the end (this is commonly known as “BoB” or back-of-book indexing).

How do I arrange index in Word?

Place the index in the Word 2016 document

1. Position the insertion pointer where you want the index to appear. If you want the index to start on a new page, create a new page in Word.
2. Click the References tab.
3. In the Index group, click the Insert Index button.
4. Click the OK button to insert the index into your document.

How do you format a nonfiction manuscript?

Here’s what’s expected for a standard manuscript format.

1. Use black, 12-point, Times New Roman as the font.
2. Use the U.S. standard page size of 8.5×11 inches and set your margins to 1 inch on all sides.
3. Set alignment to left justified.
4. Use a single space after periods.
5. Use double-spaced line spacing.
6. Indent all paragraphs by .

Is indexing for non-fiction books expensive?

Indexing need not be expensive – and an effective index is the key to a good non-fiction book. WritersServices’ Indexing service can help. Our indexer will be a skilled professional with many years of experience of indexing, which is a highly skilled job.

What should the author and indexer know about indexing?

Any changes to the text made after the index is completed may render the index useless. The author and the indexer each have an important contribution to make: the author knows his readership extremely well, and the indexer knows how a reader is likely to use the index.

Should you hire a professional indexer to publish your book?

For very complex projects, it is best to hire a professional indexer, but if you’re self-publishing your book on a budget, you can definitely do it yourself. If you plan to publish your book using Microsoft Word and want to create an index, Word’s indexing feature is a good option.

What is the best book indexing software for beginners?

Two of the most popular book indexing software programs recommended by the U.K. Society of Indexers are: 1. Sky – Software. SKY Software provides a free demo version of SKY Index Professional 7.0. They have just released an updated version (8.0) of their software but a demo version isn’t available for that one yet.