Jump to: [ Options for reducing indexes || Examples ]

Length limits can make a huge difference in the overall quality of an index. The length of an "average" index is usually 5-7% the length of the main text. So, for a 200 page text, at least 10 pages should be set aside for the index. Indexes for technical or specialized works should reserve 7-10% of the length of the main text.

Usually, by the time an indexer is contracted for the project, it is often too late to negotiate for more pages in the final product. You can see how important it is for publishers and editors to consult indexers while they're in the planning stages of their books.

The examples you see here are from a gardening book for which I had the challenge to create an index. The publisher wanted both the Latin and the common name of all plants to appear as main entries, which will inflate the length needed for a decent index by about another 2/3. So, for this 200 page book, the length needed for a good index is around 16 pages. However, they had reserved the typical 10 pages for the index. After my first edit through the index, it was around 20 pages. I was able to produce a shortened index to be published that fit into 10 pages. The polished (longer) version of the index was 16 pages. Is it worth the extra 6 pages?

Reducing Index Size

Reducing the size of an index is something that should be done by the indexer, not the editor (unless the editor has extensive experience with indexes). The indexer is intimately aware of the index structure, and will have an easier time maintaining that structure while reducing the entries.

Some ways to squeeze an index into the allotted space:

• Publishers can make the font smaller. The typical index is in a font two points smaller than the text. It is entirely possible, and quite common, to see indexes in fonts as small as 6 points.
• Publishers can decide to cut the one or two blank pages between the end of the text and the index, and use that space for the index. Often, just one page will make a huge difference in index depth and usefulness.
• Indexers can whittle the index down to it's core. The index may end up having broad, general headings with a long list of page references and few subheadings.

For my example index, there are a couple of obvious choices for my whittling the index:

• Select either the Latin or common names of plants to be indexed. The catch is that for readers to find a plant in the index, they must know which name to use. If your index only includes the Latin names, readers who know the plant known as Columbine, will not know to look under Aquilegia in the index.
• Focus on plants rather than subjects. Ouch. This means, the index will only include broad topics directing readers to 5-10 page spreads. That is what you will see the index used as an example here. In the highlights (or lowlights), you can see how this affects subject access for readers.

View the Examples

• Highlights from both (NOTE: this page makes use of tables. If you are using a browser that doesn't display tables, e.g. AOL, these samples will not display correctly. As an alternative, view each sample separately.)
• Longer, polished version (A-G only)
• Short, published version (A-G only)

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