The Indexer: The International Journal of Indexing

Stop words in the filing of subheadings

The Indexer: The International Journal of Indexing (2016), 34, (2), 68–70.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2016.18
Language
English
Pages
3

Abstract

Whether stop words – prepositions, conjunctions and articles – should be ignored in the filing of subheadings is a debatable topic among indexers. Without clear guidance from editors or publishers on this point, indexers rely on the default settings within their indexing software to provide the sort. Comparing the same subject index using the default stop word settings of CINDEX, Macrex and Sky Index produces unsettling results. An alternative approach is to forget stop words and file the subheadings in strict alphabetical order. Discussion of the management of stop words is provided.

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AS/NZS 999:1999 (1999) Information and documentation – guidelines for the content, organization and presentation of indexes. Homebush, NSW: Standards Australia. Google Scholar

Booth, P. F. (2001) Indexing: the manual of good practice. Munich, Germany: Saur. Indexing: the manual of good practice Google Scholar

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Mulvany, N. C. (2005) Indexing books, 2nd edn. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press. Indexes Indexing books Google Scholar

AS/NZS 999:1999 (1999) Information and documentation – guidelines for the content, organization and presentation of indexes. Homebush, NSW: Standards Australia. Google Scholar

Booth, P. F. (2001) Indexing: the manual of good practice. Munich, Germany: Saur. Indexing: the manual of good practice Google Scholar

CMOS (2010) ‘Indexes’, chapter from The Chicago manual of style, 16th edn. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press. Google Scholar

Mulvany, N. C. (2005) Indexing books, 2nd edn. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press. Indexes Indexing books Google Scholar

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Details

Author details

McMaster, Max

McMaster, Max