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Introduction to Indexing for Editors

By

22 March 2013 (Fri)
9.30am – 5.30pm

Course Fee: $250.00

This is a past course. View upcoming courses.

This course is designed as an introduction to indexing for editors and assumes no knowledge of indexing concepts at all. Editors or editing students who would like to develop a basic understanding of indexing will benefit greatly from this one-day course.

  • Essential difference between a table of contents and an index.
  • Purpose of the index
  • Publishing process – how does the indexer get involved?
  • What should the editor tell the indexer, and what does the editor need to supply?
  • In what format will the indexer return the completed index?

Indexing software

Dedicated indexing software
Embedded indexing software

Headings (Keywords/Main headings)

Direct entry
Nouns
Spelling
Selected headings

Subheadings

Definition
Relationship of subheading to main heading
Prepositions and conjunctions
Logic of subheadings
Run-on and Set-out style

Filing order

Basic order
Punctuation
Signs and symbols
Numerals
Contractions
Order of words
Homographs

Factors influencing the compilation of an index

Appropriateness of the index
Categories of subjects
Length of index
Number of indexes

Names

Personal names - Western names, Asian names
Corporate names
Place names
Other proper names

Cross-references

see references
see also references

Style issues

Initial articles
Separating locators from headings
Page spans
Principal references
Illustrations
Tables, figures and glossary
Header letters

Editing the index

  • From the indexer's pespecitive
  • From the editor's perspective (1) - Practicalities

Is the index alphabetical
Are there long strings of undifferentiated locators?
Unnecessary entries
Unusual Latin expressions
Spelling
Cross-references
Head note to explain symbols

From the editor’s perspective (2) – cutting the index down to size

Determining how much needs to be cut
Pruning strategies
Changing number of columns
Removing subheadings
Changing indexing style
Deleting entries
Reducing turnover lines
Other strategies

Assessing an index – practical example

About the Trainer:

Registration Details

Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis and workshop fees must be paid before the workshop. If the minimum number of participants is not met for the class, the organisers will inform all participants about possible postponement and cancellation, two weeks before the workshop date.

Cancellation & Substitution

The workshop can be cancelled or postponed two weeks before the workshop date if the minimum number of participants is not met. Participants will be fully refunded for workshops cancelled by us.

Participants who are unable to attend a workshop they have registered for are to inform us of the reason two weeks before the workshop date. They will be fully refunded in the event of extenuating and mitigating circumstances (E.g. illness, bereavement, accidents) . Those who inform us up to five (5) working days before the workshop date will receive a 50% refund. Participants can also attend another course at the same value within the same year.

Upon registration, you are deemed to have read and understood the cancellation, withdrawal and substitution policy and accept the terms contained therein.