The Index as Editor

Abstract

No one doubts that indexes are of value to readers. But they can also be of value to their own authors as editing tools. Because an index provides a microcosm of the main text, errors in that text will often be reflected in the index, and reflected in a way that makes them more visible. As he creates the index, the author can use it to spot errors in the body of the work—errors of terminology, of arrangement, of proportion, and of omission. This technique can be used to supplement the normal editing process.

Chapter 8: Writing Technical Information

“…In a sense, this division between the processes of generation and revision is too rigid. The use of tools such as automatic indexing systems (e.g., Bethke, 1979) can both facilitate the generation of material and also provide the author with insights concerning the structure and coverage of the text. These insights, in their turn, may facilitate revision.…”

Manual dexterity-a user-oriented approach to creating computer documentation.

“…Software may also offer valuable support when it comes to chores such as compiling indexes. Bethke (1979) has suggested that the creation of an index can itself be a design tool, since it can highlight errors of terminology and organisation within a manual.…”