What is an index in a paper?
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. Usually found at the end of the text, an index doesn’t just list the content (that’s what a table of contents is for), it analyses it.
Where is the index in a book?
Also known as back-of-the-book-index, indexing is found at the end of the book and mostly sorted in alphabetical order. The main role of the index in a book is to identify the concept of the paper and guide the reader to information by gathering scattered relationships or references and to locate keywords and concepts.
Why is an index in a book?
The purpose of the index is to give the reader an informative, balanced portrait of what is in the book and a concise, useful guide to all pertinent facts in the book. These facts, in the form of an alphabetically ordered list of main entries and subentries, will include both proper names and subjects.
Is the index in the front or back?
Located in the back of the book, an index helps a reader locate key terms, concepts, and ideas that were referenced in the contents of your book. Each term or concept has a corresponding page number. When the reader wants to access that information, they simply refer to that page of your book.
How do I index a book in Word?
How to Create and Update an Index in Word
- Select the text you want to include in the index.
- Click the References tab.
- Click the Mark Entry in the Index group.
- Adjust the index entry’s settings and choose an index entry option:
- Click the Mark or Mark All button.
- Repeat the process for your other index entries.
What should be in a book index?
Helpful hints
- Put yourself in the role of reader.
- Identify the most likely search terms.
- Provide a consistent level of indexing throughout.
- Index all important themes and concepts including those not directly mentioned in Contents or heading structure.
What is an index in 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.