What Mistakes Should Publishers Avoid When Indexing Books?

As someone who's spent years browsing bookstores and libraries, I've noticed publishers often make indexing mistakes that frustrate readers. The worst is when the index doesn't match the actual content—nothing kills credibility faster than looking up a key term and finding it's not there. Some publishers cram too much into one index, making it overwhelming to navigate, while others oversimplify to the point of uselessness. Alphabetical ordering errors are surprisingly common too, especially with names starting with 'Mc' or foreign words. I once wasted 20 minutes searching for 'Macbeth' under 'M' before realizing it was indexed under 'The Scottish Play'—creative but impractical. Consistency across series matters too; changing indexing styles mid-series is jarring. Cross-references need careful attention—'see also' should actually lead somewhere helpful. For digital editions, clickable indexes that don't work properly are my personal pet peeve.

Having worked closely with publishing processes, I can pinpoint several critical indexing pitfalls. Publishers frequently underestimate how much readers rely on indexes for research and casual browsing alike. One major mistake is prioritizing aesthetics over functionality—fancy fonts or layouts that sacrifice readability. Another is failing to update indexes properly between editions, leaving outdated references that confuse readers checking newer versions against older citations.

Technical books suffer particularly when publishers don't collaborate with subject matter experts during indexing. Medical or legal texts with amateurish indexing can become dangerously misleading. Fiction isn't immune either—historical novels need proper name variants indexed, while fantasy works require consistent spelling of invented terms across maps, glossaries, and indexes.

Digital publishing introduces new challenges. E-book indexes often lack proper deep linking, and search functions don't compensate for thoughtful indexing. Some publishers skip indexes entirely in digital formats, assuming Ctrl+F replaces human curation—it doesn't. Audio books present entirely different indexing needs that many publishers neglect. The best publishers treat indexing as an integral part of content design, not an afterthought.

Seasoned readers notice when indexes reflect actual reader behavior rather than publisher assumptions. A cookbook index should list ingredients multiple ways (by formal name, common name, and appearance in recipes), not just alphabetically by recipe title. Travel guides need geographical and thematic access points. These thoughtful touches separate professional indexing from amateur work.

From a collector's perspective, poor indexing can ruin an otherwise beautiful book. I've seen gorgeous art books where the index lists plates by some obscure catalog number instead of page numbers or visible titles. Historical texts often commit the cardinal sin of indexing only proper names while ignoring concepts—try finding 'feudalism' in a medieval history book that only indexes people and places.

Publishers sometimes treat indexes as space fillers rather than research tools. Either they're too sparse, missing obvious entries, or too dense, including every minor mention without distinguishing significant references. I own a philosophy anthology where 'Plato' has 87 undifferentiated page numbers—useless without context.

Series consistency drives me particularly crazy. When volume 3 suddenly changes how character names are indexed from volumes 1 and 2, it breaks the research flow. Genre-specific conventions matter too—mystery novels should index clues and red herrings differently, while technical manuals need clear distinction between definitions, examples, and main discussions. The best publishers understand their genre's indexing needs and reader expectations.