Indexing Specifications

Each index is unique and indexing specifications will be determined prior to starting work on a particular index. If the client has a particular house style for indexes, the guide (or an example index constructed using this house style) should be sent to the indexer. The British Standard ISOS 999:1996 Information and documentation - guidelines for the content, organisation and presentation of indexes will be used.

• Number of indexes: single or multiple (e.g. combined or separate name and subject indexes)
  
• Space available for index: number of pages reserved for the index. More specific information would be page size, number of columns and number of lines per column
  
• Arrangement of main headings: word-by-word or letter-by-letter
  
  word-by-word (will keep like names and compound headings together):
  
      data formats
      data structures
      databases
  
  letter-by-letter ("dictionary" style):
  
      databases
      data formats
      data structures
  
  
• Layout of subheadings: set-out or run-on
  
  set-out (indented, so easier to read):
  
      depression
         aetiology 239-40
         gender differences 328
         symptoms of 326-7
  
  run-on (saves space):
  
      depression: aetiology 239-40; gender
         differences 328; symptoms of 326-7
     
  
• Arrangement of subheadings: alphabetical (normal style), chronological (e.g. biographies), other
  
• Numbers and symbols: placed at beginning of index or as spelled out
  
• Level of subheadings: one level or additional sub-subheadings
  
• Cross references: position of see and see also references
  
  see also as last subentry:
   
      information and communication technology (ICT)
         effect on organisations 279-80
         funding for 285, 291-4
         see also technology
  
  see also as first subentry:
  
      information and communication technology (ICT)
         see also technology
         effect on organisations 279-80
         funding for 285, 291-4
  
  
• Capitalisation: except for proper names, index terms generally start with a lower case letter
  
• Acronyms and abbreviations: alphabetic ordering of: either as spelled out, as acronym
  
• Page number format: full or elided, e.g. 127-129 (full); 127-29 (semi-elided) 127-9 (maximally elided)
  
• Punctuation: between the index term and the initial page number
  
• Illustrations - page number format: e.g. italic typeface: 23 or abbreviations, e.g. fig (for figure), tbl (for table), n (for note)
  
• Typesetter Codes: Special coding or tagging for typesetting, for instance, enclosing italicised text within tags
  
• File format/delivery method: This is normally an RTF (rich text format) file, sent by email