Question 1

What is an index?

Accepted Answer

An index, in its traditional form, is an alphabetized list of names, events, ideas, etc. placed at the end of a nonfiction book. In the digital age, an index can also appear on a website or in an ebook. The primary function of an index is to facilitate information retrieval. A good index will gather related information across multiple access points: main headings, subheadings, double posts, and cross-references. Such an organizational scheme greatly enhances the accessibility of information for the reader. An index is not a concordance. A concordance is simply a list of each occurrence of the keywords in a given text. The structure of an index is much more complex, reflecting an analytical breakdown of the text, which is more useful to the reader.

Question 2

Does a book need an index?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The index is an essential reference tool. Researchers and casual readers will often decide whether or not they will read or purchase a book based on the index. The table of contents (a type of index, really) can give a certain idea of what's in the book, but a reader might want to know if a specific person, event, etc. is discussed, and a thorough index can provide that information. A professionally-written index significantly enhances a book's usability.

Question 3

Can authors index their own books?

Accepted Answer

While authors can certainly index their own books, hiring a professional indexer is recommended. Even though authors are the experts on their books, they are often 'too close' to the material to be able to think from the perspective of a reader. An indexer bridges the gap between author and reader, accurately relating the concepts of a text and maximizing readers' ability to retrieve those concepts. The index is also prepared in the final steps of publication, and an author can understandably be so exhausted with the whole process that hiring an indexer is a welcome option. Furthermore, authors are likely unfamiliar with the standards and methodology behind indexing, making a professional indexer's expertise indispensable.

Question 4

Can a computer program or AI generate an index?

Accepted Answer

No, a computer cannot create an index, though a program could generate a simple concordance or keyword list. As stated above, an index is a complex analysis of a text, and a computer cannot identify related ideas the way the human mind can. That being said, computer software can greatly aid the process of creating an index. There are a few indexing programs available, and I use Cindex to write indexes. The software handles such tasks as formatting, style, and sorting, allowing the indexer to focus on the analytical tasks.The rise of AI has also generated much discussion among publishing professionals, including indexers. I do not use any AI tools for writing indexes. The AI Committee of the American Society for Indexing released white papers on the quality of AI-generated indexes, which are available here. They conclude that “AI cannot replace professional book indexers and we are doubtful that it will be able to do so soon, or even at all.” The Digital Publications Indexing special interest group also put together a statement on the role of AI in indexing, the compressed version stated as follows: “The current assessment is that using large language model AIs (LLMs) such as ChatGPT to generate indexes does not produce results that come anywhere near meeting standards for excellence in Indexing. Future developments in AI may bring improvements, but at present the human brain of a professional indexer is still the best tool for analyzing, writing, and editing an index in full awareness of context as per quality standards.”

Question 5

How much does an index cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of an index depends on several factors, such as the type of book (i.e. trade book, scholarly, textbook, etc.), text density, and deadline. Rates are approximately $4-8 per page. For a more exact quote, please send me a sample chapter or two from the middle of the book, as well as deadline information and the approximate number of indexable pages.

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