Checking Cross-references

Before publishing your index, you need to ensure that the “See” and “See also” cross-references work correctly.

The text in each cross-reference must exactly match the text in the index heading it refers to. In the following example, the index headings, “Migration” and “Protection, legal,” are quoted exactly in the “See also” cross-reference.

Habitat, protection, 25, 221, 232
See also Mitigation; Protection, legal
…
Mitigation, 183, 193–204, 206–207
…
Protection, legal, 24, 26–28, 31, 194–195

Check for circular cross-references. In the following example, the “See also” cross-reference under “annotations” is circular and should be removed.

annotations, 203
    See also commentary
    annotating authoritative works 179
    letting users talk back 201
    linking to comments 129, 136, 165, 179
    for pictures 301
...
commentary. See annotations

Also ensure that cross-references go directly to a heading, not to another cross-reference. In the following example, the “See also” reference under “weight control” should be changed to go directly to “fitness.”

exercise. See fitness
...
fitness, 21–25, 81, 124
...
weight control, 16, 45–48
See also exercise

Cross-references help guide your reader to the right place in the index. Be sure your cross-references give good directions.

Fred Brown
Allegro Technical Indexing
fred.brown@allegrotechindexing.com
(613) 728-9373

February, 2002
Allegro Time!