What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to analyze the different indexing practices and decision-making challenges faced by eight indexers.

June 18, 2026

Eight indexers, eight indexes, one book: an examination of indexing practices

Key Points

The aim is to analyze the different indexing practices and decision-making challenges faced by eight indexers.
Eight indexers created full indexes for the same book.
Discussions were held on their decision-making processes and challenges encountered.
A comparative analysis of the produced indexes, focusing on structure and usability, was conducted.
Differences in indexing practices were evident between North American and British indexers.
The study highlighted unique approaches to challenging aspects like fictional names.
Usability and index structure varied significantly among the eight indexes.

Abstract

For two book indexing conferences in 2025, eight indexers prepared full indexes to the same book, then discussed their decision-making processes and the challenges they faced. This article builds on those initial conversations by performing an in-depth analysis of the eight indexes with the aim of showing what we can learn from this kind of exercise. It considers index structure, usability, and how to tackle conundrums like fictional names. As part of the process, it also examines whether regional differences are detectable between the five North American and three British indexers in the work they produced.

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