The current assessment is that using large language model AIs (LLMs) such as ChatGPT to generate indexes does not produce results that come anywhere near meeting standards for excellence in Indexing. These LLMs fail at the indexer’s primary task: to ensure readers find needed information. Tests have shown that LLMs typically underindex book-length works, do […]
Archive | Indexing education
Your research deserves to be found – an index is the key
Nonfiction writers know how much research is involved in writing a book. Hours, days, weeks, months, years… all the substantive data you have discovered and finessed into a written treasure trove of information for your readers took significant research to uncover. Offering access to that wealth of information shows respect for your hard work and […]
National Indexing Day
Indexing: the art of connecting readers with knowledge.Indexers: the detail oriented artists who make that happen. I’ve been a professional indexer for 18 years. It’s been a gift – reading books, being creative in how to make information accessible for readers, adding value to books that authors have worked so hard to write, working from […]
Index vs. search function
Does my book need an index? That is a question writers should always ask. Will a search function do the job instead? The short answer – no. Indexes create a map to the information in a book. The index will inform the reader where to find a given topic. The index will inform a possible […]
The Skills We Bring to Publishing from Our Former Professions
Indexers usually become indexers later in life as a second, third, or twelfth career move. I suspect the same is true of many professionals in the publishing world. Bringing life and professional experience to the table increases our proficiency and depth of understanding. Learning what professions or experiences other indexers bring to their indexing careers […]